Select committee: Communications and Digital Committee
Conclusion 27
1st Report - Public service broadcasting: as vital as ever
Published 5 Nov 2019
Paragraph 219
Communications and Digital Committee Public service broadcasting in the age of video on demand inquiry All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Children’s health is of the utmost importance and we share concerns that more needs to be done to reduce childhood obesity. We note the role public service broadcasters play in promoting healthy living and feel that consideration should be given to enhancing this role, including looking at evidence from other countries. However, we do not think that there is sufficient evidence that the proposed ban on high in fat, salt and sugar advertising before 68 PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING: AS VITAL AS EVER the 9pm watershed would significantly reduce childhood obesity. We are concerned that such a blanket ban could undermine the funding model of commercial broadcasting in the UK without delivering significant benefits to children’s health. A ban might also be counterproductive if manufacturers divert advertising spending to fund price promotions. There would be a further risk if the ban is not sufficiently targeted at what would normally be considered ‘junk food’ but it indiscriminately includes products such as olive oil that are part of a healthy diet.
From: Communications and Digital Committee, 1st Report - Public service broadcasting: as vital as ever, paragraph 219, 5 November 2019
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 18 February 2020.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government shares the Committee's view on the importance of public service broadcasting, while saying that broadcasters will need to adapt and that legislation and regulation will need to evolve.
- On the listed events regime, the Government "does not plan to review the list", saying it "strikes an appropriate balance". It has announced the Paralympic Games will be added to group A and will set out next steps on women's equivalents "in due course".
- On BBC funding, it "has no plans to introduce a Licence Fee Commission" and considers it "appropriate to determine the level of the licence fee in discussions with the BBC".
- On prominence, the Government "has committed to act on Ofcom's prominence recommendations and is exploring the potential for legislation", and will set out next steps "in due course".
- On a levy on video on-demand subscriptions, the Government agrees one "is not appropriate at this time" and has no plans to introduce one, but "will keep the situation under review".