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Business of the House

I share the concern that there should not be lavish spending at the top of the BBC, whether it is on managers, governors or celebrities. However, I am slightly concerned that while we hold the BBC to account for licence payers' money, we should not tip over into BBC bashing, which has started to colour some of the Opposition's comments. I would also like to place it on record that I think it absolutely shocking that Arlene Phillips is no longer going to be a judge on "Strictly Come Dancing". As the Minister for Women and Equality, I am suspicious that there is age discrimination there, so I should like to take this opportunity to say to the BBC that it is not too late—we want to see Arlene Phillips in the next edition of "Strictly Come Dancing".