HL Deb 16 December 1999 vol 608 cc53-4WA
Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their response to the findings in the research report Include Me In, published by the Broadcasting Standards Commission, that broadcasting lags behind the society in reflecting the multicultural nature of the United Kingdom" and that programmes are not representing everyday life. [HL316]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The Government welcome the Include Me In report as a reminder to broadcasters and regulators of the need to ensure that programming keeps pace with the evolution of the United Kingdom's multicultural society. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport intends to explore these issues with employers in film and broadcasting, focusing on what can be done to encourage greater involvement of people from ethnic minorities in programme making.