56th Report - BBC Accounts and Trust Statement 2024–25

Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee HC 1230 21 November 2025
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 32 items (6 recs)
Source View on Parliament website
Government Response (AI assessment · 31 of 32 classified)
Accepted 8
Accepted in Part 9
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 5
Rejected 1
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fifty-sixth report from Session 2024-26 · published 19 Jan 2026
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Recommendations & Conclusions

9 results
11 Conclusion Acknowledged
Licence fee collection costs increased significantly, driven by postal expenses.
Conclusion
In 2024–25, the BBC spent £166 million on collection of the licence fee, (equivalent to 4.3% of licence fee income), up from £143 million (4.0%) in 2023–24. It issued 60.2% of licences electronically, and around 40% paper licences.19 The BBC … Read more
Government Response Summary
The BBC will consider the regulatory aspects and practicalities of making an e-licence the default position and will give an update on this in the Licence Fee Trust Statement for 2025/26.
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion
BBC faces sustained financial pressures from real-terms licence fee reductions, requiring significant PSB savings.
Conclusion
The BBC faced sustained financial pressures due to real-terms reductions in licence fee income, which rose only modestly to £3.8 billion in 2024–25, compared to £3.7 billion in 2023–24. The rise was due to an increase in the cost of … Read more
HM Treasury
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25 Conclusion Acknowledged
Fierce competition and fragmented media habits challenge BBC's engagement with younger audiences.
Conclusion
The BBC told us that it operated in an environment of “phenomenal competition” from global streaming platforms and social media, which had transformed audience behaviour.55 The BBC noted that younger audiences were increasingly fragmented in their media habits, with almost … Read more
Government Response Summary
The BBC is committed to delivering outstanding value to all audiences as a universal public service, and to serving younger digital-first audiences and making services available to unconnected audiences.
HM Treasury
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26 Recommendation Acknowledged
Universal broadband availability is crucial for the BBC's equitable transition to online services.
Recommendation
The inability to maintain “universal, easy-to-access distribution” is one of the BBC’s principal risks.59 When we asked about how the BBC is preparing for the transition to online, the BBC told us that any move towards it must ensure “no … Read more
Government Response Summary
The BBC is committed to delivering outstanding value to all audiences as a universal public service, and to serving younger digital-first audiences and making services available to unconnected audiences. The BBC’s digital-first strategy aims to serve all audiences, while keeping in line with its commitment to universality; they cite usage stats and initiatives.
HM Treasury
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27 Recommendation Acknowledged
Digital transition requires sequenced improvements in broadband availability to protect audience access.
Recommendation
The BBC cautioned that without universal provision of affordable broadband, a switchover would be “a self-inflicted wound” and reiterated the BBC’s commitment to maintaining significant broadcast services during the transition.62 It noted that, during the analogue switch off, it introduced … Read more
Government Response Summary
The BBC is committed to delivering outstanding value to all audiences as a universal public service, and to serving younger digital-first audiences and making services available to unconnected audiences. The BBC’s digital-first strategy aims to serve all audiences, while keeping in line with its commitment to universality; they cite usage stats and initiatives.
HM Treasury
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28 Conclusion Acknowledged
BBC’s 'Across the UK' programme aims to strengthen connections with regional audiences.
Conclusion
We heard that the BBC is widely trusted, with the Chair highlighting the World Service as a clear illustration of the BBC’s global reach and reputation.65 At the same time, the BBC is also focused on strengthening its connection with … Read more
Government Response Summary
The BBC agrees to communicate how its Across the UK programmes and other initiatives will lead to better representation of the UK’s local communities as part of its Annual Report and Accounts.
HM Treasury
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30 Conclusion Acknowledged
BBC needs to articulate clear outcomes for licence fee payers beyond staff relocation.
Conclusion
We asked the BBC how the Across the UK programme and other initiatives would lead to better representation and connection for communities, beyond relocating staff and spend. The BBC told us it would measure change through audience perception within regions … Read more
Government Response Summary
The BBC agrees to communicate how its Across the UK programmes and other initiatives will lead to better representation of the UK’s local communities as part of its Annual Report and Accounts.
HM Treasury
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31 Conclusion Acknowledged
BBC struggles to demonstrate clear pathway from structural changes to improved audience outcomes.
Conclusion
The BBC highlighted its ongoing audience research and engagement, aiming to avoid institutions feeling “distant” from the people.75 The BBC also told us about persistent differences in engagement and the extent to which people across geographies and socio-economic backgrounds feel … Read more
Government Response Summary
The BBC agrees to communicate how its Across the UK programmes and other initiatives will lead to better representation of the UK’s local communities as part of its Annual Report and Accounts.
HM Treasury
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32 Conclusion Acknowledged
Concerns remain that \
Conclusion
We asked whether choices labelled “local” are genuinely relevant to smaller communities, particularly in radio and local news. We underlined that local radio remains a “lifeline” for older audiences, and emphasised that, for example, “in Sheffield, local means Sheffield” rather … Read more
Government Response Summary
BBC will share information on an annual basis as part of the BBC Annual Report and Accounts which identifies the level of investment in its content from the Nations and Regions of the UK as well as audience data; target date 2026.
HM Treasury
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