Crawley MP Henry Smith has spoken in the House of Commons (on Tuesday, 18th October), during a debate on the Draft BBC Charter and Draft Framework Agreement, in support of BBC local radio in Sussex and Surrey.

Henry said;

“BBC local radio best represents the BBC’s commitment to public service, and its Reithian values of working to inform, educate and entertain. I was pleased to commend this commitment in the House of Commons.

“Just hours before this Commons debate I was pleased to speak to BBC Sussex – I’m grateful for the attention they show to local issues, and the opportunity they provide for important causes to be highlighted.”

Henry Smith MP asked the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport;

“Does the Secretary of State agree that one of the most distinctive forms of BBC output and the way in which it probably comes closest to meeting its public service requirements is BBC local radio? It provides the very focused and, I would argue, often unique output that is very valuable to many communities up and down the United Kingdom.”

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP, responded;

“I agree with my hon. Friend that BBC local radio is very important for all our local areas. I will give BBC Radio Stoke a plug, because I know it would be disappointed if I did not do so. [Interruption.] The hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent North (Ruth Smeeth) seems to agree with that point. I am sure we all feel the same about our local radio. The point of the charter and the framework is to provide such a regional focus and to ensure it is maintained.”