News
Byron Review cost Government £275,000
Tim Ingham Apr 25 2008, 3:40pm
Comments (5)
Minister reveals full price of inquiry to Parliament
UK Minster Margeret Hodge has revealed that Tanya Byron’s Review into the availability of inappropriate digital material to young people cost the UK Government £275,000.
The Review, which was immediately backed by Government, recommended that BBFC ratings should appear on all games released in the UK – with anew statutory ‘12’ BBFC age rating joining up with the current ‘15’ and ’18 ratings.
It also proposed PEGI should be responsible for monitoring all ‘3+’ and ‘7+’ games.
After being published last month, Byron has recommended an 18-month consultation period, in which the industry should open dialogue with the Government on the issues.
Hodge’s written remarks said:
“The Review has just ended and while accounting procedures are still to be completed, we estimate that a total of around £275,000 has been spent on the review, not including salaries and expenses of the civil servants on the Review’s secretariat.
“This included expenditure on consultation with parents and other stakeholders, and a comprehensive literature review.”
In a recent BBC 2 programme, Tanya Byron compared the supposed addictive qualities of video games to heroin.
Link: Gamepolitics
Comments
“Cheap!”
Posted by: Bovvered - Apr 25, 4:26pm
Based on the amount of money the government are reported to waste on 2nd homes, MP's expenses and various "other" costs this seems like a pretty reasonabel cost (they couldn't have bought the same amount of exposure if they had invested it in media!)
Can't wait to see the bill from "doctor" byron (same name as the BH PR head-honcho - coincidence?) for the 18 month consultation period!
“Priceless research...”
Posted by: ChrisMc - Apr 25, 4:36pm
Hey, those diamond-encrusted neck negligees don't come cheap...
“Re: Priceless research...”
Posted by: Sam - Apr 27, 1:08pm
£275,000 for such a crap review ?!?
It seems the UK gouv. has a lot of money to loose.
“Re: Priceless research...”
Posted: Apr 28, 12:48pm
could have done it myself for £2.50? i been saying the same for years!
“Re: Priceless research...”
Posted: Apr 28, 1:08pm
What makes her opinion of the gaming industry so great....WHO IS SHE?????!!!!