Asked by: Eddie Hughes (Conservative - Walsall North)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that public broadcasters reflect and provide for the whole of the UK.
Answered by Margot James
We are committed to spreading jobs and prosperity throughout the UK, and it is important that our broadcasting sector reflects and provides for the whole country.
This government is committed to spreading jobs and prosperity throughout the UK, and it is important that our broadcasting sector reflects and provides for the whole country. That is why Public Service Broadcasters are legally obliged to produce a proportion of their content outside of London, as well as make regional programming. This supports the many creative hubs around the UK and widens access to the UK's world class creative industries
We have worked with Channel 4 to secure a commitment to move a minimum 300 staff outside of London, and to increase out of London commissioning spend from 35% to 50%. The government has made clear that we expect other broadcasters to follow Channel 4’s lead.