§ Angela EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research has been
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2000 2000 Region Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 2000 total 2001 Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4 2001 total EastMidlands 1,232 986 1,218 1,075 4,511 1,019 880 950 1,029 3,878 Eastern 1,253 832 1,162 882 4,129 1,029 882 1,048 1,027 3,986 London 4,907 4,844 5,055 4,994 19,800 5,519 4,801 6,063 5,451 21,834 Merseyside 421 378 383 537 1,719 357 1,053 1,982 397 3,789 North East 717 523 595 518 2,353 500 677 555 621 2,353 North West 1,786 1,329 1,672 1,531 6,318 1,322 1,281 1,262 1,591 5,456 South East 1,464 1,455 1,301 1,299 5,519 1,311 1,311 1,911 1,552 6,085 South West 875 546 561 567 2,549 504 526 456 555 2,041 Wales 841 665 773 811 3,090 761 787 774 757 3,079 West Midlands 1,548 1,415 1,489 1,693 6,145 1,861 1,956 1,923 1,816 7,556 Yorkshire and Humber 1,432 1,322 1,315 1,379 5,448 1,497 1,240 1,558 1,268 5,563 England and Wales 16,476 14,295 15,524 15,286 61,581 15,680 15,394 18,482 16,064 65,620 commissioned by her Department into the gender balance of television sports coverage; and if she will make a statement. [139568]
§ Estelle Morris[holding answer 19 November 2003]This Department has not undertaken any research in this area because broadcasters are generally free to respond to the needs and preferences of viewers in making their scheduling decisions. It is a well established principle of broadcasting that Government only intervenes in the sports broadcasting market to seek to ensure that all viewers, including the lower paid and the elderly, have "free to air" access to listed sporting events.