Open letter to Elan Closs Stephens, Wales Trustee of the BBC from Bethan Jones Parry, President of Dyfodol i’r Iaith

BBC ACCUSED OF BREAKING ITS CHARTER BY LANGUAGE GROUP DYFODOL I’R IAITH

The BBC is breaking the terms of its Royal Charter by not giving a fair fee to Welsh performers, according to language group Dyfodol i’r Iaith .In a letter to Elan Closs Stephens, Wales Trustee for the BBC, Bethan Jones Parry, President of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, says the BBC is breaking some terms in its Charter by failing to give sufficient payment for playing Welsh records.

Bethan Jones Parry said, “There is an evident decline in the service on Radio Cymru since the beginning of the year and there are signs that listeners are turning to other services. Radio Cymru is no longer providing a service for Wales and it is not promoting creativity, as demanded by the Charter.”

The Royal Charter notes that “promoting creativity and cultural excellence” and “representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities” are some of the basic public purposes of the Charter.

Bethan Jones Parry said, “It is evident that the BBC at present is operating in contravention of these purposes and therefore operating against the Charter that the Trustees are obliged to uphold.”

Dyfodol i’r Iaith is asking Elan Closs Stephens to use her influence to ensure that the BBC adheres to the terms of its Charter and reintroduces a full Welsh language service .An integral element is to give fair recognition to performers.