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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the work of the Local Democracy Reporting Service; and whether they plan to enhance its effectiveness in supporting local journalism and democratic accountability.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) plays an important role in supporting local journalism. LDRS reporters have been able to uncover stories that publishers may have otherwise been unable to discover due to increasing constraints on their resources. This is an area of reporting that is often significantly under provided but is essential to journalism’s role of holding those in authority to account.

The Secretary of State has recently announced her plans to develop a Local Media Strategy, in recognition of the importance of this vital sector. We are working across Government and with the sector and other stakeholders as we develop this strategy, and recognise the continued importance of the LDRS.