To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) economic viability and (b) social contribution of local radio. (279293)

[holding answer 12 June 2009]: Following the Interim Digital Britain Report, my Department commissioned an independent review of the localness regime which regulates local content on radio. This review also considered the current economic viability and social contribution of local radio. The report undertaken by John Myers, "An Independent Review of the Rules Governing Local Content on Local Radio" is available on my Department's website

www.culture.gov.uk.