Despite having pledged to "act immediately" on implementing the recommendations of Byron Report into violence in game and children over two months ago, the UK government still hasn't initiated the public consultation period recommended - never mind altered the ratings system.

Margaret Hodge, the Minister of State for the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), was asked by Jeremy Hunt, who shadows her for the Tories, "whether the public consultation on video game age ratings classification will include examination of the merits of the (a) British Board of Film Classification system, (b) Pan European Games Information system and (c) hybrid system recommended in the Byron Review."

Hodge's response was, "Details of the consultations are not yet finalised. The purpose of the consultation exercise is to take forward the recommendations in the Byron Review, not to repeat the analysis Dr. Byron concluded for her report." (our emphasis).

SPOnG's left wondering when, exactly, the details will be finalised. It's now been over two months since a government announcement told us, "Ed Balls and Andy Burnham today welcomed the Byron Review of the risks to children of potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the Internet and in video games. Accepting all Dr Byron’s recommendations, they pledged to act immediately on taking forward her proposals."

It's almost a month since Lord Adonis, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Schools and Learners) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families told us nearly the exact same thing. The definition of the word "immediately" seems to be broadening with each passing day.

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