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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reason the Government did not commit to the recommendation set out in the Digital Radio and Audio Review on introducing a set of rules to guarantee access to UK radio on smart speakers in the future.

As set out in the government’s response to the Digital Radio and Audio Review, published alongside the broadcasting white paper on 28 April 2022, we agree that the case has been made for taking action to protect radio’s long term position in the context of the rapid growth in usage of smart speakers. We are looking at appropriate legislative vehicles through which to take this forward.