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Dateline: 15th December, 2009
Children and Performance On 14th December Ed Balls, Secretary of State at the Department for Children, Schools and Families, in a written statement to the House of Commons, announced the appointment of Sarah Thane CBE to develop proposals about the regulation of child performance. "Our starting principle," he said, "is that performing is good for children because of the opportunities it offers them to develop their skills and talents, to have these recognised and praised and to develop more self-confidence as a result. Performing is often highly enjoyable for children, while also giving great pleasure to many people beyond children's families and friends. "As a country, we want to continue celebrating the brilliant performances of children in stage shows like Billy Elliott or programmes like Britain's Got Talent, and it is right that our talented children should continue aspiring to appear on those stages." Criticising programme makers who "seem determined to keep pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable, to provide shock value for viewers and push up ratings", he said that there are difficulties with the Children and Young Persons Act 1963 and the 1968 regulations which relate to it. "Concerns have also been raised," he went on, "that the regulations are often misapplied, or sometimes not applied at all. Some have also asserted that the current regulations do not reflect current thinking about the nature of the biggest risks to children, or children's greater maturity today compared to 50 years ago. "Questions have also been raised about whether there is sufficient information and guidance currently available to parents who are considering agreeing to their children taking part in performance activities, or indeed to all of those putting on performances, and of parents." Earlier this year his Department held informal discussions with interested parties regarding undating the 1968 regulations and cvame to the conclusion that simple updating would not be enough. "I and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport have therefore decided jointly to commission a piece of work to explore these issues in greater detail, with a view to deciding what a modern, effective and proportionate set of arrangements for the regulation of child performance should look like, and we have appointed Sarah Thane, CBE, to lead it. Sarah Thane is a former chair of the Royal Television Society, a former adviser to Ofcom on regulation and content, and a member of the governing board of Teachers TV, and therefore brings considerable, relevant experience and expertise to the task. "Sarah Thane will engage and work with all those with an interest in this area, including organisations representing children and parents; children's charities; broadcasters, programme and film makers; representatives of local arts and drama organisations; theatre organisations and local authorities, among others. Sarah Thane will report her conclusions to us by the end of February 2010."
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