Licence Fee should not be used as Chancellor's cash cow

6.04.28pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 11th Oct 2005

Commenting on the BBC's request for a rise in the License fee, Don Foster MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DCMS Secretary said:

"Plans for more quality programmes, fewer repeats, expanded education provision, and access to programmes online and on demand are welcome

"Achieving all this for a real terms increase of an extra 5 pence per week each year, seems good value and subject to close scrutiny of the details, we will support these proposals.

"But it's difficult to see why Licence Fee payers should pay for more than their fair share of the digital switchover. The licence fee must not become just another Government stealth tax. Viewers should be protected from a licence fee smash and grab.

"The Chancellor cannot treat the world's leading public service broadcaster as a cash cow to plug his growing deficit."