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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) jobs in the creative industries and (b) representation of northern voices on radio in the North East of Bauer medias takeover of local radio stations.

Whilst no such assessment has been made, we note Bauer Media’s existing presence in the North East, through its ownership of Metro Radio and TFM, which were acquired by Bauer in 2008.

The government places a very high value on local commercial radio stations retaining their local character, and Ofcom retains its regulatory powers to secure that these stations continue to provide an appropriate amount of locally made programmes and programmes including local material. Ofcom's localness guidelines can be found here: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/information-for-industry/radio-broadcasters/localness.