Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label attachment file name title
tabling member	label

Search

1178414

registered interest
date	13/02/2020
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	Internet: Suicide
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 recent steps her Department has taken to (a) remove and (b) limit access by young people to websites which promote suicide.
tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
uin	1970
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2020 answer text <p>The government is committed to making the UK the safest place in the world to go online. We are developing world-leading laws to introduce a new duty of care on online companies towards their users. The duty of care will be overseen by an independent regulator who will set clear standards and have strong enforcement powers to deal with non-compliance.</p><p><strong><br></strong>Government has also formed a partnership of suicide prevention experts funded by social media companies to support people and improve research. This work will create an evidence base around suicide and self-harm content online and produce best practice guidelines and standards for industry on how to respond to harmful content online.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 25/02/2020 17:49:46 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq

1178424

registered interest
date	13/02/2020
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	Digital Technology: Regulation
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 the Government is taking to update the digital regulatory regime.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	1975
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2020 answer text <p>The government is making a range of significant updates to the digital regulatory regime to ensure digital technologies work for everyone. This work is guided by the need to promote fair and efficient markets where the benefits of technology are shared widely across communities; ensure the safety and security of those online; and maintain a thriving democracy and society, where pluralism and freedom of expression are fully protected.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Our recent work includes developing measures to address online harms, improving competition in digital markets, and supporting the sustainability of our media industry in the face of new challenges and opportunities presented by digital technologies.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Across our work we will ensure our overarching regulatory regime is fundamentally pro-innovation and agile, adapting dynamically to emerging new technologies. This will build confidence and clarity for businesses and users, and reinforce the UK’s position as a global leader in proportionate and innovation-friendly regulation.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Over the coming months we will engage experts, regulators, industry, and civil society to ensure we have the right tools and institutions in place to respond strategically to the challenges of the digital age.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 25/02/2020 17:51:29 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1178425

registered interest
date	13/02/2020
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	Ofcom: Finance
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 Ofcom's budget was in each year since its inception; what proportion of that budget was allocated by Her Majesty's Treasury; and whether the Government plans to change Ofcom's funding model when it is responsible for the regulation of online harms.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	1976
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/02/2020 answer text <p>Please see the table below which sets out Ofcom’s budget for each year during the current spending review period, including what proportion of that budget was allocated by HM Treasury. Information in relation to Ofcom’s budget for previous years since its inception can be found in Ofcom's published accounts, copies of which are lodged in the House of Commons Library and published on Ofcom's website.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018/19</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019/20</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Ofcom Budget</strong></p></td><td><p>£114.3m</p></td><td><p>£116.6m</p></td><td><p>£121.7m</p></td><td><p>£124.2m</p></td><td><p>£124.2m</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Grant-in-Aid</strong></p></td><td><p>£60.2m</p></td><td><p>£74.4m</p></td><td><p>£115.5m*</p></td><td><p>£72.5m</p></td><td><p>£85.8m**</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>The above table provides funding for both Ofcom’s core responsibilities (including managing the UK spectrum) and 700 MHz clearance programme.</p><p>*The additional Grant-in-Aid was to cover the costs of managing the UK spectrum, given the significant infrastructure work taking place across the UK in 2017/18.</p><p>** Figure taken from the published <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/865499/Supplementary_Estimates_2019-20_-_Web.pdf" target="_blank">Supply Estimates 2019-20</a>.</p><p> </p><p>In relation to Ofcom’s responsibility for the regulation of online harms, the Government is carrying out extensive analysis on potential funding options taking Ofcom’s existing funding model into consideration. As outlined in the Government’s ‘The Online Harms White Paper - Initial consultation response’, published on 12 February 2020, ‘The White Paper makes clear that in order to recoup both the implementation costs and running costs of the regulator, the government is considering fees, charges or a levy on companies whose services are in scope. This could fund the full range of the regulator’s activity. The government intends the new regulator to become cost neutral to the public sector.’ Full details on the funding mechanism for the Online Harms regulatory regime will be set out in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 24/02/2020 15:31:38 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage attachment 1 file name Supplementary_Estimates_2019-20_-_Web.pdf title Supplementary Estimates 2019-20
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1178428

registered interest
date	13/02/2020
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	Internet: Safety
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 discussions he has had with representatives of (a) social media and (b) other tech platforms on funding for Ofcom, after Ofcom takes on regulatory responsibility for online harms.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	1978
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2020 answer text <p>In response to the Online Harms White Paper, the Government ran a consultation from 8 April 2019 to 1 July 2019 which received over 2,400 responses from a wide range of stakeholders and organisations, including members of the public. The Government has also undertaken extensive engagement over the last 12 months with representatives from industry which, alongside the consultation responses, has been reflected in the Online Harms White Paper initial response published on 12 February 2020. Overall, respondents and stakeholders agreed that, whilst funding should primarily be from industry, the ultimate funding structure for the Online Harms regulator should be proportionate and practical.The Government is currently carrying out extensive analysis on potential funding options. Full details of the funding mechanism for the Online Harms regulatory regime will be set out in due course.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 25/02/2020 17:14:09 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1178432

registered interest
date	13/02/2020
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	Internet: Disinformation
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 his Department is taking to stop the spread of misinformation online.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	1979
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government takes misinformation online seriously and is undertaking work to tackle this and the related issue of online disinformation. The Government’s view is that in order to reduce the potential impact of disinformation (and misinformation), we must take account not only of the actors involved, but of the environment that enables them to spread and amplify falsehoods, and the audience that they reach.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>On 12 February the Government published its Initial Consultation Response to the Online Harms White Paper. The response sets out our direction of travel on a number of key areas, and confirmed that a media literacy strategy will be published in Summer 2020. This strategy will aim to support citizens in thinking critically about material they come across online. The Government is also taking action to increase public awareness with the ‘Don’t Feed The Beast’ campaign. This aims to educate and empower those who see, inadvertently share and are affected by false and misleading information.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Initial Consultation Response also announced that we are minded to appoint Ofcom as the regulator for online harms, and provided details on the proposed approach of the regulator. Further detail on proposals on online harms regulation will be released in the spring.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 25/02/2020 17:18:23 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1178433

registered interest
date	13/02/2020
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	Internet: Suicide
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 plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to sanction search engine companies that do not remove websites that promote suicide.
tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
uin	1980
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government published the initial response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation on 12 February 2020. This confirmed that the Government is developing legislation on online harms to establish a new duty of care on companies towards their users, overseen by an independent regulator. Companies in scope will not be required to remove specific items of legal content; however, they will be required to put in place systems and processes to deal with harmful content, and in particular, to minimise the risk of young people and vulnerable users encountering harm online.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The duty of care will apply to companies that provide services which facilitate the sharing of user generated content or user interactions. Requirements will differ according to the service offered and will be proportionate to the size and capabilities of the platform, alongside the risk to users on each platform. Final details regarding companies and services in scope will be published in the full Government response later this year.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>To ensure compliance, the regulator will have the power to issue warnings, notices and fines. We are considering the responses to the consultation on senior management liability and business disruption measures, such as ISP blocking, and will set out our final policy position in the full Government response.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 25/02/2020 17:20:28 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq

1178434

registered interest
date	13/02/2020
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	Disinformation: Coronavirus
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 he is taking to help ensure that misinformation on Corvid-19 on social media channels is removed.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	1981
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government is clear that inaccurate information about public health matters can be harmful. The response to Covid-19 is being led by Cabinet Office, Department for Health and Social Care and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Government is actively working to ensure that the public has access to accurate information. The Government launched a public information campaign setting out how every member of the public, including members of this House, can help by taking simple steps to minimise the risk to themselves and their families, with up-to-date information available online through Gov.UK and trusted NHS channels such as NHS.UK. The Government also welcomes actions taken by social media companies to limit the spread of inaccurate information, including about Covid-19, on their platforms.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 25/02/2020 17:32:16 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1178435

registered interest
date	13/02/2020
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	Internet: Parents
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 recent assessment the Government has made of levels of parental confidence in the online environment.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	1982
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2020 answer text <p>Ofcom’s 2019 report “Children and parents: media use and attitudes” indicates that three-quarters of parents of children who go online feel they know enough to keep their child safe online. However, parents’ confidence in protecting their children online declines with the age of the child – from 81% of parents of children aged 5 to 7, to 74% of parents of children aged 12 to 15.</p><p><br>The Government is committed to supporting parents in preventing and dealing with online harm. The Online Harms White Paper sets out our plans for world-leading legislation to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online. Ahead of legislation, the government will develop an online media literacy strategy. This strategy will ensure a coordinated and strategic approach to online media literacy education and awareness for children and parents.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 25/02/2020 17:28:47 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1178436

registered interest
date	13/02/2020
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	Advertising: Internet
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 his Department is taking to tackle online advertising of unregulated products.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	1983
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2020 answer text <p>Advertising in the UK is overseen by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the industry’s independent regulator, which enforces the Advertising Codes. The Codes apply to all media, including broadcast and online. They incorporate all relevant legislation and set standards for accuracy and honesty to which advertisers must adhere, including specific conditions on misleading advertising, causing offence and social responsibility.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The ASA works with online platforms to have non-compliant advertising taken down, and with other partners to take action against those who are engaged in fraudulent advertising.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The ASA also works with other regulators, as appropriate, to ensure that regulation is joined-up and consistent. These include regulators with responsibility for regulated sectors, such as: the Gambling Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Food Standards Agency, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Phone-paid Services Authority and The Portman Group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Last year the government announced its intention to review how online advertising is regulated in the UK. This programme of work is looking at how well the current regime is equipped to tackle the challenges posed by developments in online advertising in order to ensure that consumers have limited exposure to harmful or misleading advertising. A call for evidence on online advertising was published on 27 January.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 25/02/2020 17:16:06 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1178788

registered interest
date	13/02/2020
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	Digital Technology
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 his Department is taking to minimise (a) the digital divide and (b) digital exclusion particularly among older people.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	15152
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government recognises the vital importance of digital skills at all levels - from the basic digital skills people need to make the most of being online, to the general digital skills increasingly needed in every job, through to the high level digital skills for the growing number of specialist digital roles across the economy. As nearly all future jobs will require digital skills we are taking action across the entire education and training pipeline.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The UK Government recognises that, although we live in an increasingly online world, a significant part of the population remains digitally excluded Government is committed to helping elderly people acquire basic digital skills as part of our broader strategy to reduce digital exclusion as outlined in the Digital Strategy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Government is addressing the digital divide through a number of initiatives.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We are funding the Future Digital Inclusion programme delivered through Online Centres based in libraries and other community spaces. This supports some of the hardest to reach groups in society, including older people. Over the last five years, the programme has supported over 1.3 million adult learners to engage with digital technology and develop their basic digital skills in community settings.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Through its £400,000 Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, the Government is supporting three pilot projects aimed at addressing the digital exclusion of older and disabled people. One pilot, led by Uttlesford Council for Voluntary Service, is developing “smart homes” for elderly people to improve their digital skills, supported by their peers and younger ‘digital buddies’.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 25/02/2020 17:12:06 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day