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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the role of public service broadcasters on the provision of educational content for children.

We recognise the importance of the provision of children’s content, as it stimulates learning and informs young people’s understanding of the world around them. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of television and radio, is currently reviewing public service broadcasters’ plans to address concerns relating to the current level of children’s programming. We look forward to Ofcom’s report, which is due to be published this Summer.

Government is also supporting children’s content through the Contestable Fund, launching in April 2019. The pilot will provide up to £60 million to support the provision and plurality of children’s content, on free to air, Ofcom-regulated platforms, including the commercial public service broadcasters.