Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with broadcasters on the omission of religion as a category in the diversity monitoring system Project Diamond.
Answered by Margot James
We expect broadcasters to voluntarily publish their data on all diversity characteristics - not just those they are legally obliged to - and the BBC should be leading the way on this.There have been no discussions with broadcasters regarding Project Diamond monitoring categories. Project Diamond is an industry led monitoring scheme owned by the Creative Diversity Network which is made up of all of the UK’s major broadcasters. Therefore, the decision to include or exclude categories is for the Creative Diversity Network alone.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the BBC on (a) the omission of religion in the diversity monitoring system Project Diamond and (b) the effect of that omission on on-off screen diversity monitoring of faith groups working in or with that public service broadcaster.
Answered by Margot James
We expect broadcasters to voluntarily publish their data on all diversity characteristics - not just those they are legally obliged to - and the BBC should be leading the way on this.There have been no discussions with broadcasters regarding Project Diamond monitoring categories. Project Diamond is an industry led monitoring scheme owned by the Creative Diversity Network which is made up of all of the UK’s major broadcasters. Therefore, the decision to include or exclude categories is for the Creative Diversity Network alone.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the letter sent to her by the chair of Ofcom regarding the Communications Acts 2003, 27(6), if she will make it her policy to extend the Communications Acts 2003, 27(6), to include all equality strands covered in the Equality Act 2010, specifically religion or belief.
Answered by Margot James
Our media should reflect the population as a whole. The government believes that broadcasters should be leading the way on improving diversity monitoring in support of this goal, including by voluntarily providing data across all of the equality strands to Ofcom. It is right that voluntary approaches are fully explored before legislative change is considered, and the government urges all parties to work together to improve monitoring of diversity levels. Government will continue to work closely with Ofcom on this matter.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the letter sent to her by the chair of Ofcom regarding the Communications Acts 2003, 27(6), if she will make it her policy to extend the Communications Acts 2003, 27(6), to include all equality strands covered in the Equality Act 2010, specifically religion or belief.
Answered by Margot James
Our media should reflect the population as a whole. The government believes that broadcasters should be leading the way on improving diversity monitoring in support of this goal, including by voluntarily providing data across all of the equality strands to Ofcom. It is right that voluntary approaches are fully explored before legislative change is considered, and the government urges all parties to work together to improve monitoring of diversity levels. Government will continue to work closely with Ofcom on this matter.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government plans to publish its response to the Leveson Inquiry.
Answered by Margot James
The Government has publicly consulted on Section 40 of the Crime and Courts 2013 and Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry. The Secretary of State and the Home Secretary are currently consulting with Sir Brian Leveson. Sir Brian wishes to consider the information properly before giving a formal view on the issues raised. Once we have considered his views, we will be publishing the Government's response to the consultation.