Alliance welcomes Panorama answers to TV phone quiz question

12.41.51pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 23rd Apr 2007

Antrim Alliance Councillor Alan Lawther

Antrim Alliance Councillor Alan Lawther has welcomed news that Panorama is reporting the findings of its investigation into TV phone quizzes. He stated that Alliance raised this problem at the start of February and wants to see a fair system. TV phone quizzes are extremely costly to participants and there has recently been much controversy as regards the way they are conducted

Cllr Alan Lawther said: "I glad to see that this area has been investigated by the BBC's Panorama programme.

"At the start of February, my colleague Trevor Lunn MLA raised the issue and demanded that this contentious are be examined.

"There is an extremely small chance of win and calling a TV quiz phone line can be extremely expensive.

"We have seen an investigation into daytime TV phone quizzes, but now the late night TV quizzes need to be examined as well.

"A ban on TV phone quizzes before the watershed must also be considered because we do not want to see children taking part who do not understand the full cost of calling these lines."

"We need strict regulations to be put in place to govern this sector. I wish to know what the government is actually doing to control this area."

ENDS