The House of Commons held a Westminster Hall debate yesterday on the future of regional broadcasting. There was heavy criticism of Ofcom and its proposals for regional non-news coverage.

There was also a good section on the lack of information provided by the minutes of Ofcom board meetings - something which has been annoying us since they started publishing them - totally useless.

Anyway here’s how John Grogan, MP kicked off proceedings…

Mr. John Grogan (Selby) (Lab): “I hope that hon. Members believe that today’s debate, and the story that I have to tell, is a true winter’s tale, worthy of the presence of the Minister for the Arts. It is a story about the prospect of another chill wind blowing through one of our finest traditions of broadcasting�regional programming�in the new year. It involves differences of opinion in the Cabinet and differences in opinion in the regulator, Ofcom. It is a winter’s tale of intrigue�a tale that involves a former adviser to the Prime Minister, as well as a triple-jumping gold medallist hero.”

A little later Grogan goes on -

“We pay some people in Ofcom, including the former adviser to the Prime Minister, Ed Richards, more then �250,000 a year. For a quarter of a million pounds a year, I would have thought that someone could make a good fist of finding out whether ITV regions are producing quality programmes, and Ofcom has that duty.”

And there’s more yet -

“I call on the Ofcom content board, and Jonathan Edwards in particular, to assert themselves.”

Anyway, it’s all good knock about fun from MPs. Want to know how Grogan’s story ends click here for full transcript.