Call for advert-free 'toddler TV'

"A Labour MP has called for a total ban on advertising food and drink to children under the age of five, in direct conflict with the government's stance...Debra Shipley, the backbench MP for Stourbridge, spoke out against advertising food to young children after the government issued the food industry with a guarantee that it has no plans to outlaw their ads...She also called the advertising for Procter & Gamble's Sunny Delight drink 'ruthless' and 'cynical'...".

According to the article, the culture secretary responded to Ms. Shipley's claims by contending that "the overall quality of children's programming might fall if there were fewer advertising revenues available for TV companies, despite unprecedented rates of obesity among children." However, Shipley stands firm in suggesting something called "toddler TV", which she describes as a time period that is free from any advertising. "TV companies would have to do it or they don't get their franchise," Shipley explained. In response to an MP official who criticised her for putting young children in a bubble, Shipley claimed to want such protection for children. She asked parents to stand up and ask for a change in the rules governing advertising aimed toward children.

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