I am overjoyed with the wonderful news that the Chancellor has extended tax breaks to children’s television productions. This is something I have campaigned on for years as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Children’s Media and the Arts. I have asked questions and spoken on this issue in the House of Lords, supported by Pact (Producers Alliance for Cinema & Television) and the Children’s Media Foundation.

I always say, ‘Childhood lasts a lifetime’ and we can all remember our favourite children’s television programme, they hold fond memories, which are part of our formative years.

But even though children’s programmes are much loved, they are often undervalued and those who contribute to this sector of the creative industries are rarely credited.

I strongly believe children, should be exposed to their culture. Their view of society, through their media experiences, especially UK-produced drama and documentaries, specifically made for them, is vital. And yet production of these type of programmes has been in decline over the last decade or more.

We already have a tax break for animation, so this new tax incentive to support all types of children’s television programming, will be hugely beneficial to the nation’s children’s audience and to our export market. It will also give much needed support to the UK children’s production industry, including our writers, actors, designers and technicians.

Hopefully this announcement will also encourage all the major broadcasters to start commissioning UK- home grown children’s productions- once again, rather than just leaving it up to the BBC to provide for our children’s long term creative well being.

So overall, I am thrilled that the Chancellor has finally recognised the need to support this part of our creative industry and I will be celebrating this welcome change for a long time to come.

* Floella Benjamin is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords