Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of trends in the level of ageism in the media sector.

There are processes in place to track and monitor diversity data across the media, including a statutory role for Ofcom under the Communications Act 2003 to promote diversity and inclusion in the TV and radio sector.

As part of this, broadcasters provide data to Ofcom on the make-up of their off-screen workforce in terms of age, ethnicity, gender and disability, which Ofcom reports on annually. These reports can be viewed at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/equity-and-diversity/diversity-equal-opportunities-tv-and-radio.

In addition, the Equality Act 2010 contains strong protections for older people against age discrimination in a variety of settings, including work and the provision of services. The Act prohibits both discrimination because of age and harassment related to age.