§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he gave to children's television programmes provision in drawing up his White Paper on broadcasting; if he will take steps to ensure adequate funding for specific high-quality British material for children's television; and what steps he will take to ensure a minimum adequate level of income for children's programmes on channels 3 and 5.
§ Mr. RentonThere is at present no specific requirement on the broadcasting authorities to provide children's television programmes, other than schools broadcasts and educational programming—and we see no case for creating such a new requirement in the future.
The general approach of the White Paper on broadcasting is that regulatory bodies should no longer seek to lay down in detail what programmes are shown and when. The White Paper makes it clear that the BBC will continue to be expected to provide high-quality programming across the full range of public tastes and interests. The existing remit of channel 4 is also to be fully sustained. As regards channels 3 and 5, the White Paper proposes that licensees should be subject to a series of quality tests including requirements to provide a diverse programme service calculated to appeal to a variety of tastes and interests.
We see no reason why high-quality children's programmes, sustained by viewer demand, should not continue to flourish on British television after 1992.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department has undertaken into the needs of children for high-quality British programmes other than educational programmes on television.
§ Mr. RentonNone. Market research into the level and nature of the demand for children's television programmes is a matter for the broadcasters.