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Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Answer

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, (1) if she will make representations to Ofcom to prevent the exposure of children to graphic pictures of bullfighting in late afternoon transmissions; [200705] (2) what controls there are on the content of satellite transmissions by Sky television. [200706] Estelle Morris: Responsibility for what is broadcast on television rests with the broadcasters and the appropriate regulator and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State therefore has no plans to make specific representations to Ofcom about this issue. Broadcasters established in the United Kingdom and licensed by Ofcom must comply with their programme code which is intended, among other things, to ensure that children are not exposed to inappropriate material. Some of the channels on the Sky platform are not licensed by Ofcom but by other jurisdictions in Europe. Under EU law, in the Television Without Frontiers (TVWF) Directive, licences granted in EU countries are recognised throughout the EU and stations which hold a licence can also be carried on other countries' domestic satellite platforms. In these circumstances they are subject to regulation by their country of origin only, and not by the second country on whose satellite platform they also appear. The TVWF Directive provides minimum standards for the protection of minors. The UK Government would intervene only if those standards were manifestly, seriously and gravely breached and Ofcom had recommended intervention.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

428 c191W; 200705;200706

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Children Broadcasting EU law Protection Ofcom Satellite broadcasting Television licences Bullfighting

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk