To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the steps currently undertaken by his Department to monitor the level of incidence of violent conduct shown on television.

Under the Broadcasting Act 1990, it is for the broadcasting regulatory authorities—the BBC board of governors, the Independent Television Commission and S4C—to monitor the compliance of television programmes with the statutory requirements and codes of guidance which have been issued to broadcasters about violence on television. In addition the Broadcasting Standards Council has been established to reinforce and monitor programme standards in relation to violence, among other things.