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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans the Government has to purchase more advertising slots on community radio stations.

The Government is strongly supportive of the community radio sector and recognises the great value that it offers to those communities they serve, in terms of providing quality local news, information and entertainment. We are committed to community radio's long-term sustainability, which is why we are currently holding discussions with the Community Media Association (CMA) on how to support it through Covid-19. We recognise that community radio is a useful conduit for disseminating information to hard to reach groups, however decisions regarding the funding and distributing of advertisements is dealt with by the Cabinet Office. I understand that the Community Media Association is liaising with them and OmniGov, the government’s media planning and buying partner.