Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will hold discussions with broadcast media on ensuring balanced coverage of people who claim benefits.
The government does not influence programming decisions, as broadcasters are editorially independent of government. Ofcom, as the independent communications regulator, is responsible for enforcing the Broadcasting Code which sets rules for licensed broadcasters to follow. This includes a requirement for broadcasters to treat individuals within programmes fairly, and material facts must not be presented in a way that is unfair to an individual.
The government is committed to supporting the broadcasting sector to ensure that it provides for and reflects the whole of the UK population, including individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds.