BBC Trust

Background

The Trust ran a four week consultation from the 23 January to 20 February 2014 regarding the draft allocation criteria for Referendum Campaign Broadcasts and Party Election Broadcasts.

Similar to previous referendum and election campaigns, this allocation criteria have been developed by the BBC Executive and will be used to identify those campaigning groups and parties eligible for a broadcast on BBC services in advance of the referendum on Scottish independence on 18September and those elections being held on 22 May 2014 for:

• European Parliament through the UK
• English local government
• Northern Ireland local government.

The Trust's decision

The Trust has approved the allocation criteria with no amendments. The Trust has also published a consultation statement document which summarises the consultation responses the Trust received on the proposed allocation criteria with the Trust’s decision on those issues raised.

The BBC Executive will decide the allocation of election broadcasts after the close of nominations in April 2014. 

Referendum Campaign Broadcasts will be allocated following the Electoral Commission’s decisions on the designation of lead campaign groups in the next few months.

Complaints timetable

The Trust recently approved the allocation criteria for Party Election Broadcasts (PEBs) ahead of the 2014 elections for the European Parliament throughout the UK and local government in England and Northern Ireland. The document below sets out the timeframe in which any complaint about the allocation of PEBs needs to be received and dealt with by the BBC.