Alliance puts pressure on OFCOM for tough laws on TV phone quizzes

2.04.02pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 3rd May 2007

Antrim Alliance Councillor Alan Lawther

The Alliance campaign to crackdown on TV phone quizzes continues with Antrim Alliance Councillor Alan Lawther's correspondence with OFCOM demanding strong regulations on phone quizzes. His correspondence follows the pressure already applied on the authorities by North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley, who wrote to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport last year calling for strict legislation to ensure that phone quizzes are fair.

Cllr Alan Lawther said: " I have had correspondence with OFCOM and have demanded that they act immediately to combat this disturbing trend regarding TV phone quizzes.

"Last week, BBC TV's Panorama exposed the crisis regarding these phone quizzes. I called for urgent regulation of this area before this programme and I am renewing this demand today following my correspondence with OFCOM.

"OFCOM told me that they have launched an inquiry into these phone in quizzes which will be led by Richard Ayre, a member of the OFCOM content Board.

"I am keeping the pressure on OFCOM and I await the findings of their inquiry with interest. I sincerely hope that their investigation is comprehensive and I wish to see them present proposals which can quickly be transformed into legislation to protect the public on this matter.

North Down Alliance Councillor and head of Alliance youth wing, Ian James Parsley, said: "I wrote to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in January 2006, and to this day, there are still no laws in relation to these phone-in quizzes.

"The length of time take to combat this problem is appalling and I hope that the long wait we have endured will be worth it.

"We want to protect the public, and providing the laws to do so must be a key priority for OFCOM."

ENDS