The UK government decided on Monday to extend BBC’s responsibilities to include some aspects of state social policy including subsidizing 75-year-olds with free licenses. The BBC agreed with this decision, although the current company's charter, expiring at the end of 2016, does not recognize the responsibility.
On Thursday, BBC's former chairman Christopher Bland told RTTV channel that the company's consent for such responsibilities will make it grow "closer to the government because it is doing what the government is telling it to do."
"We won’t be commenting on Sir Christopher Bland’s interview," the BBC said.
The UK government decision to force the responsibility for some social policy measures on the BBC came in light of new budget plans presented by Exchequer Chancellor George Osborne on Wednesday.
