Children: Television

Debate between Baroness Walmsley and Baroness Rawlings

Monday 21st November 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

Yes, my Lords; the EPG prominence is an extremely important tool for making certain that as many people as possible have easy access to the full range and diversity of the PSB channels. However, we intend to take the opportunity of the communications review to look into this properly, to make certain that we have a fit-for-purpose system for the long term.

[Baroness Walmsley]

Does my noble friend the Minister agree that children’s radio is a very valuable tool for helping children to develop their language, particularly those children for whom English is not their first language? Does she also agree that the BBC has entirely failed in this despite a great deal of urging from many Members of your Lordships’ House? Is there anything that the Government can do to encourage commercial broadcasters to fill this important gap?

[Baroness Rawlings]

I am sure that that is exactly one of the areas that we will be including in the communications Green Paper. While the whole world outside will be celebrating the Olympics and the Jubilee, your Lordships will have the pleasure of the exciting communications Green Paper and the Leveson review, which will be looking into all forms of broadcasting.