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ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust response to House of Lords' Select Committee report on Chairmanship of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

Date: 03.08.2007     Last updated: 23.09.2014 at 09.53
Category: Committees
Following publication today of a report on The Chairmanship of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ by the House of Lords' Select Committee on Communications, the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust said:

"We are glad that the House of Lords' Select Committee has recognised the unique nature of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ and its leading role in public service broadcasting.



"It was for these reasons that new governance arrangements were introduced in the new 10-year ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Charter and Agreement which came into effect on January 1 this year following an extensive Charter review process.

"The new Charter makes it clear that the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust is the sovereign body within the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½. With his fellow Trust members, the Chairman of the Trust works on behalf of licence fee payers to ensure the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ remains independent, provides quality programmes and services and offers value for money. The Charter indicates that the Chairman of the Trust may be known as Chairman of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½.

"The Charter also defines the distinct responsibilities of the Trust and the Executive Board. At a strategic level, the Trust sets the editorial framework within which the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ must operate, while management is responsible for day-to-day operations, including compliance with the Editorial Guidelines.

"Since its launch on January 1 this year, the Trust has undertaken major strands of work on the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s purpose remits and service licences and on new services such as the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ iPlayer. It has approved the launch of "Freesat" and begun a public value test into the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s proposed high definition television service.

"Following editorial failings, the Trust has required management to carry out a programme of immediate action to ensure that editorial standards are upheld by all ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ content producers so that public trust in the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ can be assured.

"The handling of appointments and the terms and conditions of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Chairman and other Trustees are matters for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Since the launch of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust, all Trustees have signed a non-compete clause. We shall consider the Committee's recommendation in this area with care."

Ends

Notes to editors

The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Charter and Agreement is available on the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust web site at Charter and Agreement

The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust Code of Practice which includes the non-compete clause is available at Code of Practice