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1583652

registered interest
date	03/02/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Television Licences: Older People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many over 75's have been subject to court action for the non-payment of TV Licence in each of the last three years for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	139222
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2023 answer text <p>Collecting and enforcing the Licence Fee is the responsibility of the BBC. The BBC has recently confirmed that no enforcement action has been taken against over-75s for TV licence evasion at this stage.</p><p>The Government has been clear that the BBC must ensure that it supports those affected by its decision on the over-75s concession, and we expect them to do so with the utmost sensitivity.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 09/02/2023 13:35:53 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1582765

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Gender
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that data collected by her (a) Department and (b) Department’s associated arms-length bodies records biological sex as opposed to gender identity.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	137710
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2023 answer text <p>In respect of employee data, DCMS collects both biological sex and gender identity data on our HR System. Our processing and handling of this data is set out in our HR privacy notice published on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-privacy-notice-for-employees-workers-and-contractors-uk/dcms-privacy-notice-for-employees-workers-and-contractors-uk" target="_blank">gov.uk</a>. The Department does not have oversight of staff data collected by its ALBs.</p><p>The Department also follows the Government Social Research and Government Statistical Service guidance and best practice on biological sex and gender identity as published on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to-inclusive-social-research-practices/a-guide-to-inclusive-social-research-practices" target="_blank">gov.uk</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 13/02/2023 15:38:54 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1582919

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Sector: Publicity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to make it easier for public notices to be published in non print publications; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Lichfield
tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
uin	137732
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2023 answer text <p>Policy responsibility for each specific type of public notice lies with a range of different government departments. The Government is mindful of the potential effect that any changes to the existing publicity requirements for public notices might have on transparency and local democracy, as well as the potential effect on the sustainability of the local news sector as a whole. We recognise the continued importance of print local newspapers to the communities they serve and that there will continue to be a need to reach out to people who cannot digitally access information.</p><p>At the same time, to help address the desire for more digitalisation and greater audience reach in the publication of public notices, the local newspaper sector has been working with Google to develop an online Public Notice Portal. The Portal is intended to take advantage of print publishers’ growing digital audiences, providing a centralised resource for all types of public notice. The Government is monitoring the Portal’s development, and the effect that it has on the transparency of public notices.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 09/02/2023 13:36:41 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1582977

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Recruitment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department spent on recruitment consultants in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh West
tabling member printed	Christine Jardine
uin	137942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2023 answer text <p>The Department publishes details of consultancy and professional services spending on an annual basis, in the Annual Report and Accounts. Due to the categorisation of spend within Department systems, it is not possible to extrapolate consultancy spend specifically in relation to recruitment activity. However, a total of £233,056.01 (excluding VAT) has been identified as spend on external recruitment consultants within the last three years, broken down as follows:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Spend (Ex VAT)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020/2021</p></td><td><p>£116,358.67</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021/2022</p></td><td><p>£61,824.44</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022/2023 (to 31 January 2023)</p></td><td><p>£54,872.90</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>£233,056.01</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This spending relates to external consultancy support, engaged by the Department, for the recruitment of substantive Civil Servants at delegated grades, Senior Civil Servants and Board Members, and excludes the recruitment and delivery of Apprenticeship schemes, and contingent labour workers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 16/02/2023 11:28:09 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4634 label Biography information for Christine Jardine

1582275

registered interest
date	31/01/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Conditions of Employment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if they will take steps to (a) publish an equality impact assessment and (b) consult with trade unions when proposing new HR policies for their Department; and if they will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	136651
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>Whilst there is no legal requirement to publish equality impact assessments, DCMS fulfils its duty as an employer to consider how our policies or decisions affect people who are protected under the Equality Act. The Department conducts equality impact assessments when introducing new HR policy or making significant changes to existing policy. As part of our policy development process, DCMS engages with its Trade Unions and other stakeholders (such as employee networks) when developing new HR policies or making significant changes to existing policies.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 07/02/2023 11:16:35 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1582443

registered interest
date	31/01/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Vacancies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an estimate of the (a) number of vacancies and (b) level of skill shortages in (i) broadcast and print media, (ii) theatres, (iii) graphic design, (iv) tourism and (v) sport and leisure.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Mr Toby Perkins
uin	136592
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>While DCMS does not have any estimates on the number of vacancies, the Department has published Experimental Official Statistics for skills shortages (%) in DCMS sectors and sub-sectors. These are for the year 2019, using data from the Employer Skills Survey, carried out by the Department for Education that covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The ESS is a biennial survey, which was delayed by a further year during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with 2022-23 data expected to be published later this year (also currently scheduled to include Scotland).</p><p>Skills shortage vacancies are defined as vacancies unfilled because applicants did not have the necessary skills. Two measures for skills shortages are published:</p><ul><li><p>Percentage of vacancies that are unfilled due to skills shortages</p></li><li><p>Percentage of businesses with at least one skills shortage vacancy</p></li></ul><p>The “Percentage of businesses with at least one skills shortage vacancy” estimates are impacted by the fact that some businesses will not have had a vacancy. Therefore the “% of businesses with at least one vacancy” figure was also published to help provide context.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Sector/subsector</p></td><td><p>% of vacancies unfilled due to skills shortages</p></td><td><p>% of businesses with at least one skills shortage vacancy</p></td><td><p>% of businesses with at least one vacancy</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Audio Visual (i - Broadcast Media)</p></td><td><p>19.2</p></td><td><p>2.1</p></td><td><p>12.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Publishing (excluding translation &amp; interpretation activities) (i - Print Media)</p></td><td><p>10.9</p></td><td><p>3.2</p></td><td><p>11.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Arts (ii)</p></td><td><p>10.1</p></td><td><p>2.3</p></td><td><p>12.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Design and designer fashion (iii)</p></td><td><p>36.8</p></td><td><p>2.9</p></td><td><p>11.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tourism Industries (iv)</p></td><td><p>21.2</p></td><td><p>6.0</p></td><td><p>21.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sport (v)</p></td><td><p>30.1</p></td><td><p>4.4</p></td><td><p>17.2</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Table 1 - Skills shortages in selected sectors. Estimates are not available directly measuring the areas requested. The sectors presented here have been provided as the closest to the requested sectors, for which DCMS have skills shortages data.</p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dcms-sectors-skills-shortages-and-skills-gaps-2019" target="_blank">DCMS Sectors Skills Shortages and Skills Gaps: 2019</a></p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 07/02/2023 11:19:26 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

1582567

registered interest
date	31/01/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Broadcasting: Disability Aids
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, (a) whether she is taking steps to make (i) scheduled and (ii) on-demand broadcast content more accessible via high quality and reliable subtitling; (b) if she will take steps to increase the number of broadcast services which are required to provide subtitling; (c) what progress she has made in working to encourage broadcasters voluntarily to improve subtitling; and (d) what plans she has to bring forward relevant regulations under the Digital Economy Act 2017 following Ofsted's Further Statement: Making on-demand services accessible published in July 2021.
tabling member constituency	Norwich North
tabling member printed	Chloe Smith
uin	136542
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of subtitling and supports television being accessible to all. Under the Communications Act 2003 and Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996, broadcasters are already required to meet targets for access services - including subtitling. Statutory targets are set by Ofcom which include five and ten year targets for licensed television services. Ofcom’s<a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/tv-access-services" target="_blank"> Code on Television Access Services</a> sets out these obligations and provides guidance and best practice on subtitling for broadcasters.</p><p>The regulator Ofcom assesses which broadcasters - including new channels - have a requirement to provide access services and publishes a list on their website annually, according to principles set out in their Code. Some broadcasters already provide television access services such as subtitling on a voluntary basis, and we would encourage broadcasters to continue to do so where possible.</p><p>The Government is committed to legislate to bring in minimum levels of subtitling, audio description, and signing on video-on-demand services and is currently working with Ofcom to develop a legislative framework for these requirements that is clear and fit for purpose. We intend to legislate when time allows and will set out a timetable for this in due course.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 07/02/2023 11:17:37 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith

1581906

registered interest
date	30/01/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps their Department takes to comply with section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992; and if they will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	135306
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>There is a range of HR information which is published on GOV.UK and which is therefore publicly available.</p><p>In addition, DCMS meets regularly with our recognised Trade Unions (PCS and FDA) and presents and shares a range of information and data where it is appropriate and in line with privacy statements.</p><p>This helps to inform decision making through formal negotiation and meaningful consultation and engagement.</p><p>DCMS is therefore complying with section 181 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and we always seek to work constructively with trade unions to reach fair and reasonable settlements.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 08/02/2023 16:58:19 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1581968

registered interest
date	30/01/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Telephone Systems: Rural Areas
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to telecommunication providers transitioning from analogue to digital landlines, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of that transition on rural communities.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	135333
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>The analogue landline network, also known as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is privately owned and the decision to upgrade it has been taken by the telecoms industry. That said, DCMS is working closely with industry to ensure nobody is adversely affected by the upgrade, including the small number of rural areas which have limited digital connectivity. I chaired an industry roundtable in January to discuss how best to raise public awareness for the migration.</p><p>The replacement Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services require a minimum stable connection speed of just 0.5Mbps in order to function correctly. As a result, rural communities with limited digital connectivity can also be upgraded to digital telephony services. For current landline-only customers, it will be possible to order a VoIP landline without purchasing a general internet connection. Moreover, the migration from analogue landlines does not affect the universal service obligations set in the Electronic Communications (Universal Service) Order 2003 which require the designated providers, BT and KCOM, to offer telephony services throughout the UK.</p><p>Ofcom is responsible for ensuring telecoms providers adhere to their regulatory obligations throughout the migration process. Ofcom has published <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/123118/guidance-emergency-access-power-cut.pdf" target="_blank">guidance</a> which states that providers must take steps to identify and protect at-risk consumers, including consumers in rural communities who are dependent on their landline. This guidance states that providers should have at least one solution available that enables access to emergency organisations for a minimum of one hour in the event of a power outage. The solution should be suitable for customers needs and should be offered free of charge.</p><p>DCMS is also working hard to improve rural connectivity through the £5 billion Project Gigabit programme and the £1 billion Shared Rural Network.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 07/02/2023 10:53:02 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight

1581969

registered interest
date	30/01/2023
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Television Licences: Solihull
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many black and white television licenses were issued in the Solihull constituency in 2022.
tabling member constituency	Solihull
tabling member printed	Julian Knight
uin	135334
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>Under the Communications Act 2003 a fee for a television licence is payable to the BBC. The BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the licence fee, not the Government. The Government is therefore not involved in TV Licensing operations and therefore does not hold the data requested.</p><p>The BBC’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2021/22 states that 4,000 black and white (monochrome) licences were in force as of 31 March 2022. The report does not break down this figure on a regional basis, so I recommend that you raise your query directly with the BBC if you wish to request further information about black and white television licences.</p><p>TV Licensing can be contacted by telephone on 0300 790 0368 or in writing at TV Licensing, Darlington, DL98 1TL. Other methods of contacting TV Licensing are set out on its website: <a href="https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/contact-us/index.app" target="_blank">https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/cs/contact-us/index.app</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 07/02/2023 09:59:09 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4410 label Biography information for Julian Knight