BBC 'could face fines under communications bill'

The BBC could be subject to fines if it fails to meet its licence conditions under new Government legislation.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said ministers wanted to see a level playing field of regulation for both the BBC and commercial broadcasters.

Amid fears that the new laws would mean licence-payers footing the bill, Ms Jowell insisted that because of the way the BBC was funded the plans were still under consideration.

The Government is to publish its Communications Bill, which will include provisions for regulation of BBC and commercial broadcasters, next week.

Asked whether the BBC could be fined along with commercial broadcasters, Ms Jowell said: "It's under consideration with the BBC as part of the consultation on the BBC agreement that will lead from the publication (of the Bill)."

She added: "We are keen to see the regulation as far as possible on a level playing field, that's a very important part of maintaining this mixed broadcasting ecology.

"The commercial broadcasters can be fined for failure to meet their licence conditions, the governance of the BBC is different.

"In order to ensure that there is a degree of parity, yes, we are going to look at whether or not the same sort of sanctions should apply to the BBC.

"That's a conversation we will have with the BBC, the outcome is not yet determined."

But the minister added: "I certainly don't think it's quite right that licence-payers' money should, in the event that the BBC were fined, go straight to the Treasury.

"So we need to recognise, in any system of sanction, the unique funding position of the BBC."