BBC Trust

The BBC Trust is responsible for setting standards for the BBC and ensuring that they are upheld. We ensure that BBC management has appropriate frameworks in place to deal properly with complaints from those who feel these standards have not been met. We also act as the final court of appeal if complainants are unhappy with the way their initial complaints have been dealt with by management. One of our overriding principles is that the BBC Trust must act independently of the BBC management in dealing with complaints.

The Trust published a complaints framework which came into operation on 1 August 2008. It applies to all complaints handling within the BBC and sets the principles to which complaints procedures and participants in those procedures must adhere. It allows the BBC to vary the procedures to ensure that complaints covering more than one subject can be dealt with efficiently and effectively. Further information about the new framework and procedures is available on the Trust website.

In the case of appeals against the Director-General's decision not to broadcast the Disaster Emergency Committee Gaza Crisis Appeal on the BBC, appeals to the Trust will be considered in the first instance by an ad hoc committee consisting of Richard Tait (Chairman of the Trust Editorial Standards Committee), Chitra Bharucha (Vice-Chairman of the BBC Trust and Chairman of the Trust General Appeals Panel), and Sir Michael Lyons (Chairman of the BBC Trust). Richard Tait will chair the committee, which will make recommendations to the full Trust for final decision. The decision to hear these appeals via an hoc committee reflects the probability that appellants will raise a range of issues, which may cut across the Trust's usual complaints handling boundaries.

The Trust will deal with this matter speedily – while also ensuring that those who wish to appeal have an opportunity to do so and that all sides, including the Executive, are given a fair hearing.

• The appeals process involves a number of steps. These are:
• Receiving the appeals
• Summarising their contents to ensure that all relevant issues raised are considered by the Trust
• Receiving a response from the Executive to the points raised by appellants
• Presenting this with appropriate legal advice to the committee
• Final consideration by the full Trust.

The decision of the Trust will be posted on the Trust website.

Update of 10 February 2009

Sir Michael Lyons will not now sit on the ad hoc committee that will consider appeals on the BBC decision not to broadcast the DEC Gaza Crisis Appeal. This is because the process has been delayed by threatened legal proceedings, as a result of which the meeting of the committee has been postponed. As Sir Michael Lyons is now out of the country, his place will be taken by another Trustee, Patricia Hodgson. Sir Michael Lyons will chair the meeting of the full Trust that considers the ad hoc committee's recommendation.