Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Howard of Rising (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 25 November 2009.

BBC: Humanism

Question: Will the Minister say why humanism should have preferential treatment over ordinary values that most people in this country share which are totally ignored by the BBC?

Answer: My Lords, I do not think that the argument is for preferential treatment. However, there are specific religious broadcasting slots and the question is whether they should also be available—or one, at least, being "Thought for the Day"—for the humanist perspective. That is a position which the editorial judgment of the BBC rejects at present; it regards the humanist perspective as being reflected in other programmes, and "Thought for the Day" is reserved for religious and belief statements.

Secondary information