Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has warned that the entertainment industry must introduce safeguards, following revelations about David Walliams and Russell Brand's conviction. Speaking in the Commons, she told MPs that ministers "would not hesitate" to take action if the protections put in place are inadequate.
Criticism of BBC Inaction
Ms Nandy criticised inaction by the BBC after reviews into the behaviour of other high-profile broadcasters in the last decade. She also said she would discuss the usage of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) during a meeting with media and entertainment executives next week.
Brand, 51, was jailed this week after being found guilty of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others during his career. Meanwhile, fellow comedian Walliams was named as part of an investigation by the Guardian and ITV News the day after Brand was sentenced.
Allegations Against Walliams
The best-selling author and former Britain's Got Talent judge has been accused of sexual misconduct and abusing his power to groom teenagers as young as 15, but denies any wrongdoing.
Ms Nandy said during departmental questions: "They are the latest in a long line of reported abuses of power in an industry where we've known for so long that power imbalances are huge and that reputation and contacts are the foundations on which careers are built.
"Next week I will be meeting with representatives from across media, entertainment and sport to discuss the action that we need to take. But I want to be clear with this House, that if those protections are insufficient, the Government will not hesitate to take further action.
"For too long too many people have had to choose between their career and their safety. People must be safe in their jobs. Whistleblowers must be protected and those who abuse their position must no longer be able to hide."
Pressure on the BBC
Shadow culture secretary Rebecca Paul asked whether the Government would put pressure on the BBC as part of charter negotiations to investigate workplace complaints and misconduct more effectively. Ms Paul called for a "zero-tolerance" policy.
Ms Nandy replied: "She is right to say that there were significant problems that were uncovered at the BBC through this.
"I have to say I am deeply frustrated that we've had so many reviews, the first the Dame Janet Smith review into Jimmy Savile, we had the review into the conduct of Huw Edwards, we had reviews into the conduct of Tim Westwood.
"Frankly, if you put those reviews next to each other and look at the recommendations, these are the same recommendations that are made over and over again, and I will not accept that we cannot get our act together and make sure that our public service broadcaster of whom this country is rightly very proud cannot uphold better standards and processes than we've seen to date."
