Catalogue description Committee on Financing the BBC

The Committee was appointed by the Home Secretary on 27 March 1985, under the chairmanship of Professor Alan Peacock.

Its terms of reference were: (i) to assess the effects of the introduction of advertising or sponsorship on the BBC's Home Services, either as an alternative or a supplement to the income now received through the licence fee, including (a) the financial and other consequences for the BBC, for Independent Television and Independent Local Radio, for the prospective services of Cable, Independent National Radio and Direct Broadcasting by Satellite, for the Press and the Advertising Industry and for the Exchequer; and (b) the impact on the range and quality of existing broadcasting services; (ii) to identify a range of options for the introduction, in varying amounts and on different conditions of advertising or sponsorship on some or all of the BBC's Home Services, with an assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of each option; (iii) to consider any proposals for securing income from the consumer other than through the licence fee.

The report (Cmnd. 9824) was published in July 1986, and constitutes 14 pieces and was open on transfer. The list of all contributors of evidence can be found in Appendix B of the Committee's report.