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 the effectiveness of Ofcom in protecting freedom of speech in the media.

This Government is committed to defending the invaluable role of a free media. This is vital to a strong and fully functioning democracy where the powerful can be held to account.

Ofcom is the UK’s independent broadcasting regulator. In particular, it is required by legislation, and accountable to Parliament, to draw up and enforce a Broadcasting Code for television to ensure that audiences are adequately protected from harm. It is for Ofcom to determine whether there has been a breach of the Broadcasting Code, and whether to take action. In making any decision, Ofcom is required by the Communications Act 2003 to strike a balance between ensuring an appropriate level of freedom of expression and adequate protection from harmful material. It would not be appropriate for the Government to assess their effectiveness in this regard.