Yr Is-bwyllgor Darlledu
The Broadcasting Sub-committee

Peter Black

Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol Cymru
Welsh Liberal Democrats

Paul Davies

Ceidwadwyr Cymreig
Welsh Conservatives

Nerys Evans

Plaid Cymru
The Party of Wales

Joyce Watson

Llafur
Labour

Stefan Sanchez

Clerc
Clerk

Annette Millett

Dirprwy Glerc
Deputy Clerk

Mr Sanchez: Welcome, everyone. Thank you for attending. As you are aware, the Communities and Culture Committee has agreed to establish this Broadcasting Sub-committee. The first task is to elect a Chair in accordance with Standing Order No. 10.18. I therefore ask for nominations.

Paul Davies: I nominate Nerys Evans.

Mr Sanchez: Are there any other nominations? I see that there are none. Therefore, I declare that Nerys Evans is elected the Chair.

Nerys Evans: Diolch ichi am fy ethol yn Gadeirydd i’r pwyllgor hwn. Hoffwn estyn croeso i Aelodau, swyddogion a’r cyhoedd i’r cyfarfod. Nid yw’r cyfarfod yn debygol o fod yn hir heddiw gan mai dyma’r cyfarfod cychwynnol. Gellir defnyddio’r clustffonau i dderbyn gwasanaeth cyfieithu neu i glywed y trafodion yn well. Gofynnir i chi sicrhau bod unrhyw deleffon symudol neu declyn BlackBerry wedi eu diffodd. Nid ydym yn disgwyl argyfwng ond os bydd angen daw’r tywyswyr i mewn i’n tywys allan.

Nerys Evans: Thank you for electing me as Chair of this committee. I would like to welcome Members, officials and the public to the meeting. We do not expect this meeting to take too long today as this is the initial meeting. Headsets are available for translation and amplification of sound. I request that you make sure that all mobile telephones and BlackBerrys are switched off. We do not expect an emergency but should there be any kind of emergency the ushers will lead us to safety.

Nerys Evans: The establishment of a Broadcasting Sub-committee was agreed by the Communities and Culture Committee at its meeting on 22 October 2008. At this morning’s meeting of the Communities and Culture Committee, the terms of reference and membership for the Broadcasting Sub-committee were agreed. To remind Members, the terms of reference state:

'The committee resolves to establish a broadcasting sub-committee. The remit of the sub-committee is to report by 4 December 2008 on the proposals in phase 2 of Ofcom’s public service broadcasting review and to report on Ofcom’s final report on the future of public service broadcasting within two months of it being published. The sub-committee will cease to exist upon its final report.’

The sub-committee will meet in slots allocated to the Communities and Culture Committee.

I would like to check that Members are happy with the forward work plan and meeting times. It is envisaged that the sub-committee will meet three times in total. This is the first meeting. During the second meeting, which is to be held on 10 December, the sub-committee will scrutinise the Minister for Heritage and Ofcom’s chief executive. In the third meeting, the committee will make observations on Ofcom’s final report on the future of public service broadcasting. Obviously, that meeting will be held after the publication of the report.

Aled Eirug acted as special adviser to the Broadcasting Committee. I invite Members’ views on having Aled Eirug as special adviser to this committee. Are there any views? Does anyone oppose having Aled Eirug as our special adviser? I see that there is no opposition to that.

I also invite Members to consider asking the committee secretariat to produce a report to update the Broadcasting Committee’s response to phase 1 of Ofcom’s second review of public service broadcasting. Are Members content? I see that you are.

The draft report will be circulated electronically by the committee secretariat for sub-committee members’ agreement by 21 November, with comments and feedback to be submitted by 26 November. Are Members happy with that arrangement? I see that you are. It is a very tight deadline and I would appreciate it if you could keep an eye out for the draft report and report back to the secretariat by 26 November.

Members are also invited to approve a formal invitation to the Minister for Heritage to scrutinise the Welsh Assembly Government’s response to phase 2 of the second review of public service broadcasting. Are Members happy with that? I see that you are.

I also seek your approval of a formal invitation to Ed Richards, the chief executive of Ofcom. I see that you are content. Ofcom is planning to publish its conclusions in February 2009. The sub-committee should remain in place to report its view on Ofcom’s findings after they are published.

I thank Members and officials for their attendance. The next meeting will be held on 10 December 2008 at 9 a.m.. This meeting is now closed.