Section 207: Welsh Authority finances
446.It is unlawful under subsection (2) for the Welsh Authority to charge people in Wales for the reception or use of any of their public services, any assistance provided to disabled persons for programmes included in their public services or any of the ancillary services that they provide in a digital format.
*Under subsection (9), the Welsh Authority’s public services are S4C, S4C Digital and other services approved by the Secretary of State under section 205.
447.Subsection (3) states that the power of the Welsh Authority to do anything that is conducive or incidental to the carrying out of their functions includes the power to borrow money. However, they may not do so without the approval of the Secretary of State and the consent of the Treasury. The Welsh Authority must also pay such fees towards the carrying out of OFCOM’s functions as may be agreed between the Authority and OFCOM (or, in the absence of agreement, as are set by the Secretary of State).
448.Subsection (7) amends section 61 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 so that the Secretary of State may increase the annual grant paid to the Welsh Authority if she is satisfied that additional funding is appropriate in light of the costs they incur in providing their public services and broadcasting or distributing such services.
449.Subsection (8) amends section 61A of the Broadcasting Act 1990 so that the Welsh Authority must use the money in their public service fund only for the provision of television programme services that are “public services” as defined by subsection (9). Subsection (8) also amends section 61A of the Broadcasting Act 1990 so that the first broadcast of any programme funded from the public service fund must be on one of the Authority’s public television services.
