Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with Ofcom on the impartiality of reporting by public funded broadcasters of the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

The two public funded broadcasters in the UK are the BBC and S4C.

Under its Royal Charter and Ofcom’s wider Broadcasting Code, the BBC has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. S4C is also required by the Broadcasting Code to provide duly impartial news and information. The BBC and S4C are both independent of the Government in delivering on their respective duties.

The Government believes that it is important that stories about sensitive issues such as the conflict in Sudan are told and heard, but are done so with care, transparency and sensitivity.

Ofcom is responsible for ensuring BBC and S4C coverage is impartial and accurate in accordance with the Broadcasting Code. Ofcom operates independently of Government and DCMS has not had any discussions with it on this topic.