I just want to contribute very briefly to today’s individual Member debate, a debate that brings forward a number of key issues that relate to broadcasting in Wales, and focus on one aspect of the motion that the National Assembly for Wales

‘Believes BBC Wales has a vital role to play in reflecting the lives, aspirations and challenges of the people of Wales.’

When we speak of reflecting the lives, aspirations and challenges of the people of Wales, this must be all the people of Wales regardless of where we live or work. Unfortunately, time and time again on the doorstep and in the community in Delyn, people in Delyn have raised concerns with me that the news output of our public service broadcaster seems all too often to focus on events and people within a restrictive radius of our capital city. Whilst I recognise there might be constraints on resources, many of my constituents quite rightly believe that the BBC has a democratic duty not just to achieve political balance in their output but also better geographical balance as well.

On a positive note, as colleagues have alluded to, we can be proud of the BBC Wales brand exporting excellence throughout the world. I know, from a north Wales perspective, we have moved on from the days when, in the house I grew up in, upstairs you might have got BBC Wales and downstairs you got ‘BBC North West Tonight’. That’s largely thanks to the opportunities that have come through with the advent of digital television. But, clearly, more remains to be done to make sure our BBC reaches out across our country and is both reflected and relevant to our diverse nation.