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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Ofcom's report, children's content review: update, published on 24 July 2018, what discussions he has had with Ofcom on consulting stakeholders and industry on plans for the future provision of children's programmes on television and online.

Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with Ofcom on a range of issues, including on the provision of children’s content.

With the Digital Economy Act 2017, Ofcom was given new powers to publish criteria on commercial public service broadcasters’ provision of children’s programming and, if appropriate, to set related conditions. In response to this, in November 2017 Ofcom launched a review of children’s content. Ofcom has asked the public service broadcasters to develop and share their plans to address Ofcom’s concerns on children’s content and we look forward to Ofcom’s assessment of these plans in due course.

The government is also providing direct support to the development of children’s content through the Contestable Fund pilot, which will provide up to £60 million to help stimulate the provision and plurality of UK-originated content for young audiences and radio.