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1491386

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2022
	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: Consultants
	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 her Department has spent on external consultants in each of the last five years; and if she will publish a breakdown of (a) the amount paid to each consultancy contracted, (b) the name of each consultancy contracted, (c) the specific matters on which they were consulted and (d) whether each contract was subject to usual Government procurement rules.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
	uin	42239
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>The Department has spent the following amount on external consultancy services in the past 5 financial years. Values include VAT that is non-recoverable, whilst VAT that is recoverable has been deducted accordingly. The values for FY21/22 are subject to change following audit and the final value will be published in the DCMS Annual Report and Accounts FY21/22.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>FY17/18</p></td><td><p>FY18/19</p></td><td><p>FY19/20</p></td><td><p>FY20/21</p></td><td><p>FY21/22*</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Consultancy</p></td><td><p>£2,700,000.00</p></td><td><p>£3,300,000.00</p></td><td><p>£3,900,000.00</p></td><td><p>£16,600,000.00</p></td><td><p>£17,512,000.00</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Details of all Government contracts awarded from 2016 above £10,000 and £25,000 in the wider public sector are published on <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fcontracts-finder&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cemmy.clarkson%40dhsc.gov.uk%7C332dd3e59a5f4b1b1e5308da6b104a3e%7C61278c3091a84c318c1fef4de8973a1c%7C1%7C0%7C637940014946084226%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=EHT%2Bj9EH86g04c73Xn7YYL0Qyi3Lc4Dm8J%2F8B8YuCNE%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Contracts Finder</a>. Each award notice provides information on the name of the supplier, value of the contract, its purpose and information on the type of awarding procedure used. Government departments, their individual agencies and Arms Length Bodies are required to publish all spend against individual suppliers above £25,000 on <a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a>.</p><p>All Government Departments and their individual ALBs and agencies are required to follow the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 in awarding contracts.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 05/09/2022 16:02:56 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
	tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1491448

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2022
	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: Agency Workers
	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 her Department has spent on (a) agency workers and (b) agency retainer fees in (i) 2020, (ii) 2021 and (iii) 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	41936
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>The Department has spent the following on both agency workers and agency retainer fees through contracts in the past 3 calendar years. Values are exclusive of VAT.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>2022*</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Agency Worker</p></td><td><p>£8,403,206.79</p></td><td><p>£8,428,918.79</p></td><td><p>£4,269,004.52</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Agency Retainer Fee</p></td><td><p>£0</p></td><td><p>£0</p></td><td><p>£0</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>*These figures are taken from 1 January 2022 - 24 August 2022 (to date). </em></p><p>The Department engages contingent labour through Crown Commercial Services Framework’s RM3749, ‘Public Sector Resourcing’ and RM6160, ‘Non Clinical and Temporary Fixed Term Staff’.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 05/09/2022 15:13:25 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

1491633

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2022
	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	Broadband: Misrepresentation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment the potential impact of the mis-selling of fibre broadband products on consumers; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Ochil and South Perthshire
	tabling member printed	John Nicolson
	uin	42049
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>In 2017, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK's regulator of advertising, reviewed consumer understanding of the term ‘fibre’ as used in broadband advertising (particularly for part-fibre services such as Fibre to the Cabinet) and any impact the use of this term has on consumers’ transactional decisions. The ASA engaged with stakeholders and received a range of responses from providers of part-fibre and full-fibre broadband services, consumer organisations and other regulators.</p><p>The ASA published their findings in November 2017 and concluded by stating the following:“It is not possible to conclude that the word ‘fibre’, as currently used in part-fibre advertising, is likely to mislead and misinform consumers.”</p><p>Both the ASA and Ofcom are independent regulators and such matters relating to industry rules on advertising and broadband speed claims are a matter for their discretion.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman grouped question UIN 42050 42051 question first answered 05/09/2022 10:18:55 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
	tabling member	4415 label Biography information for John Nicolson

1491634

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2022
	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	Broadband: Misrepresentation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact for consumers of copper and cable products being sold as fibre products.
	tabling member constituency	Ochil and South Perthshire
	tabling member printed	John Nicolson
	uin	42050
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>In 2017, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK's regulator of advertising, reviewed consumer understanding of the term ‘fibre’ as used in broadband advertising (particularly for part-fibre services such as Fibre to the Cabinet) and any impact the use of this term has on consumers’ transactional decisions. The ASA engaged with stakeholders and received a range of responses from providers of part-fibre and full-fibre broadband services, consumer organisations and other regulators.</p><p>The ASA published their findings in November 2017 and concluded by stating the following:“It is not possible to conclude that the word ‘fibre’, as currently used in part-fibre advertising, is likely to mislead and misinform consumers.”</p><p>Both the ASA and Ofcom are independent regulators and such matters relating to industry rules on advertising and broadband speed claims are a matter for their discretion.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman grouped question UIN 42049 42051 question first answered 05/09/2022 10:18:55 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
	tabling member	4415 label Biography information for John Nicolson

1491635

	registered interest
	date	21/07/2022
	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	Broadband: Misrepresentation
	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 representations to Ofcom on the potential impacts of the mis-selling of fibre products on consumers; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Ochil and South Perthshire
	tabling member printed	John Nicolson
	uin	42051
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>In 2017, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK's regulator of advertising, reviewed consumer understanding of the term ‘fibre’ as used in broadband advertising (particularly for part-fibre services such as Fibre to the Cabinet) and any impact the use of this term has on consumers’ transactional decisions. The ASA engaged with stakeholders and received a range of responses from providers of part-fibre and full-fibre broadband services, consumer organisations and other regulators.</p><p>The ASA published their findings in November 2017 and concluded by stating the following:“It is not possible to conclude that the word ‘fibre’, as currently used in part-fibre advertising, is likely to mislead and misinform consumers.”</p><p>Both the ASA and Ofcom are independent regulators and such matters relating to industry rules on advertising and broadband speed claims are a matter for their discretion.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman grouped question UIN 42049 42050 question first answered 05/09/2022 10:18:55 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
	tabling member	4415 label Biography information for John Nicolson

1491071

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2022
	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	Musicians: EU Countries
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on how many occasions (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have met representatives of the music industry to discuss the ability of musicians to tour in Europe following the UK’s departure from the EU since January 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
	tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
	uin	40828
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting the creative sector to adapt to new arrangements with the EU. We have worked with the sector and directly with Member States to clarify arrangements, press for specific changes from Member States, and introduce unilateral measures where possible.</p><p>Ministers and officials from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) regularly engage with the music sector, including on the important issue of touring. This engagement includes the DCMS-led touring group, which last met in June 2022, with attendance from the former DCMS Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure, officials from across government and devolved authorities, and representatives of the creative and cultural sectors. I have met with representatives of the music sector to discuss a variety of issues including touring.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 05/09/2022 10:14:52 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
	tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1491168

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2022
	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, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the cost of TV licenses for elderly people during the cost of living crisis.
	tabling member constituency	Tooting
	tabling member printed	Dr Rosena Allin-Khan
	uin	40890
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2022 answer text <p>The global cost of living is rising and this Government is committed to supporting households as much as possible during these difficult times. When setting the level of the licence fee earlier this year, the Government had to think very carefully about the impact that any increase would have on households.</p><p>Therefore, on 17 January, the Secretary of State announced that the licence fee will be frozen at £159 until April 2024, before rising with inflation until April 2028. This settlement aims to support all households at a time when they need that support the most.</p><p>The Government remains deeply disappointed with the BBC's decision to restrict the over 75 licence fee concession to only those in receipt of Pension Credit. We recognise the value of free TV licences for over-75s and believe they should be funded by the BBC. The BBC must look at how it uses its substantial licence fee income to support older people.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 05/09/2022 08:57:25 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
	tabling member	4573 label Biography information for Dr Rosena Allin-Khan

1490600

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2022
	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	Broadband: Misrepresentation
	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 assessment she has made of potential risks to the consumer of fibre to the cabinet products being sold as fibre products.
	tabling member constituency	Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
	tabling member printed	Drew Hendry
	uin	39900
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2022 answer text <p>The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is the UK’s independent regulator of advertising across all media.</p><p>In 2017, the ASA considered the case of whether fibre to the cabinet products could be marketed as fibre. Their <a href="https://www.asa.org.uk/news/asa-concludes-review-of-fibre-broadband.html" target="_blank">conclusion</a> was that 'the word ‘fibre’ is unlikely to mislead consumers as it is currently used in the advertising of part-fibre broadband services.'</p><p>The Government understands the significant benefits full-fibre broadband brings over fibre to the cabinet technologies, and that is why we are investing £5 billion in Project Gigabit to ensure at least 85% of the UK will have gigabit-capable connectivity by 2025.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 25/07/2022 14:15:42 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
	tabling member	4467 label Biography information for Drew Hendry

1490658

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2022
	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	Mobile Phones: Fraud
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has received representations on unauthorised text messages causing charges for consumers.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	40015
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2022 answer text <p>DCMS regularly engages with industry, regulators and other government departments on the issue of nuisance communications, including unsolicited marketing communications.</p><p>Services which charge consumers for receiving text messages (premium SMS) are regulated by the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA). In 2019, the PSA took enforcement action against companies for misleading and charging consumers for services without their consent, and introduced new rules to require a two-stage approval process before taking out a new subscription service. The PSA also extended these requirements to one-off purchases in their <a href="https://psauthority.org.uk/-/media/Files/PSA/00NEW-website/For-business/Code-guidance-and-compliance/Code-of-Practice/PSA_Code_of_Practice_15th_18-05-2022.ashx" target="_blank">2021 Code of Practice.</a></p><p>Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR), organisations must not send unauthorised marketing text messages to individuals without their prior consent, and consumers must be able to opt-out of future messaging, free of charge except for the cost of the initial transmission of refusal.</p><p>If consumers are concerned about receiving unauthorised marketing texts, they can report these to the <a href="https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/nuisance-calls-and-messages/" target="_blank">Information Commissioner’s Office</a>. In relation to SMS charging, we would encourage people to contact the <a href="https://psauthority.org.uk/For-Consumers/Report-an-Issue" target="_blank">PSA </a>to seek advice.</p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 25/07/2022 14:13:22 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1490678

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2022
	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	BBC News
	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 assessment her Department has made of the impact of the merger of BBC News and BBC World News on the effectiveness of public service news broadcasting (a) in the UK and (b) overseas; and what discussions she has had with representatives of the BBC on funding to maintain those services.
	tabling member constituency	Twickenham
	tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
	uin	40007
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2022 answer text <p>The BBC’s proposal to merge BBC News and BBC World News means that the BBC will continue to provide a 24 hour news channel both domestically and abroad. This forms part of the BBC’s plan announced on 26 May to keep the BBC relevant and offer value to all audiences in an on-demand age, with a particular focus on plans to build a digital-first BBC.</p><p>We believe the recent licence fee settlement is a fair settlement for the BBC, which will see the BBC continue to receive £3.7bn in annual public funding to deliver its Mission and Public Purposes and continue doing what it does best. We recognise the BBC, just like individual households, businesses and other organisations across the UK, is having to make difficult financial decisions. But the BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the government, and decisions over its spending and services are a matter for them.</p><p>The Government strongly values the BBC’s work in promoting UK values globally through its independent and impartial broadcasting. The Foreign, Commonwealth &amp; Development Office will also continue to provide the BBC World Service with £94.4m p/a for the period 2022-2025.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 25/07/2022 14:19:38 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
	tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson