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1612477

registered interest
date	19/04/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	BBC: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the BBC Board on the potential merits of reviewing the BBC's policy on online harassment of employees within the corporation in the last six months.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	181767
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2023 answer text <p>The BBC is operationally independent from Government, and issues relating to its employees are a matter for the Corporation. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Ministers have not discussed the issues set out in the questions with the BBC.</p><p>In regards to online abuse, the Online Safety Bill, currently in Committee Stage in the House of Lords, will ensure that all adults have a triple shield of protection when online. All companies in scope will need to take robust action against illegal content, including public order offences.</p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that journalists within the UK are able to operate free from violence, abuse and harassment. For this reason, we established a National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, whose membership includes the BBC, in 2020, and published a National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 181771 181772 181773 question first answered 27/04/2023 09:32:59 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1612481

registered interest
date	19/04/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	BBC: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the BBC Board on amending its policy on dealing with online harassment of BBC employees in the last six months.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	181771
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2023 answer text <p>The BBC is operationally independent from Government, and issues relating to its employees are a matter for the Corporation. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Ministers have not discussed the issues set out in the questions with the BBC.</p><p>In regards to online abuse, the Online Safety Bill, currently in Committee Stage in the House of Lords, will ensure that all adults have a triple shield of protection when online. All companies in scope will need to take robust action against illegal content, including public order offences.</p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that journalists within the UK are able to operate free from violence, abuse and harassment. For this reason, we established a National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, whose membership includes the BBC, in 2020, and published a National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 181767 181772 181773 question first answered 27/04/2023 09:32:59 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1612482

registered interest
date	19/04/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	BBC: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent meetings she has had with the BBC on provision of support to victims of online harassment within the Corporation within the last six months.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	181772
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2023 answer text <p>The BBC is operationally independent from Government, and issues relating to its employees are a matter for the Corporation. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Ministers have not discussed the issues set out in the questions with the BBC.</p><p>In regards to online abuse, the Online Safety Bill, currently in Committee Stage in the House of Lords, will ensure that all adults have a triple shield of protection when online. All companies in scope will need to take robust action against illegal content, including public order offences.</p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that journalists within the UK are able to operate free from violence, abuse and harassment. For this reason, we established a National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, whose membership includes the BBC, in 2020, and published a National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 181767 181771 181773 question first answered 27/04/2023 09:32:59 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1612483

registered interest
date	19/04/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	BBC: Harassment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the BBC on policy support for victims of online harassment within that organisation within the last eight months.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	181773
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2023 answer text <p>The BBC is operationally independent from Government, and issues relating to its employees are a matter for the Corporation. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Ministers have not discussed the issues set out in the questions with the BBC.</p><p>In regards to online abuse, the Online Safety Bill, currently in Committee Stage in the House of Lords, will ensure that all adults have a triple shield of protection when online. All companies in scope will need to take robust action against illegal content, including public order offences.</p><p>The Government is committed to ensuring that journalists within the UK are able to operate free from violence, abuse and harassment. For this reason, we established a National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, whose membership includes the BBC, in 2020, and published a National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists in 2021.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 181767 181771 181772 question first answered 27/04/2023 09:32:59 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1602653

registered interest
date	09/03/2023
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	217
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	BBC: Pay
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the BBC Board on the adequacy of pay transparency at the BBC.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	903951
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2023 answer text <p>Licence fee payers deserve to know how their money is being spent, which is why the Government introduced requirements for the BBC to disclose staff salaries in the current Charter.</p><p>We expect the BBC to be held to the highest standards on transparency.</p><p>The Government has regular meetings with BBC leadership on a range of issues. Ultimately the amount the BBC pays its staff is a matter for the BBC.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 09/03/2023 16:25:10 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1541548

registered interest
date	11/11/2022
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 Radio: Local Broadcasting
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 she has made of the benefits that local BBC Radio stations provide to communities; and what assessment she has made of the effect the proposed cuts to BBC Local Radio will have on respective communities.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	84805
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2022 answer text <p>The Government recognises the important role that BBC Local Radio plays in bringing communities together, reflecting local experiences and delivering local news. I am therefore disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local radio output.</p><p>While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, I have met with BBC leadership and shared concerns expressed in recent parliamentary proceedings about reductions to BBC Local Radio. The Government has been clear that, as our national broadcaster, the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.</p><p>The BBC has outlined that, under current proposals, overall investment in local services is being maintained, which includes £19m from broadcast services being moved to online and multimedia production to adapt to audience changes. The BBC has confirmed that it is protecting local news bulletins throughout the day, and local live sport, and community programming across all 39 stations, and that there will be fully local programming between 6am and 2pm, with neighbouring or regional sharing in most of the remaining listening hours.</p><p>Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the BBC, is responsible for ensuring that the BBC continues to meet the public service obligations set out in the BBC Charter, Agreement, and Operating Licence. The Government understands that Ofcom is continuing to discuss these proposals with the BBC.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 84806 84807 question first answered 21/11/2022 11:40:53 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1541549

registered interest
date	11/11/2022
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 Radio: Local Broadcasting
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 her Department will take steps to help ensure that the BBC continues to provide quality local and live radio output.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	84806
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2022 answer text <p>The Government recognises the important role that BBC Local Radio plays in bringing communities together, reflecting local experiences and delivering local news. I am therefore disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local radio output.</p><p>While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, I have met with BBC leadership and shared concerns expressed in recent parliamentary proceedings about reductions to BBC Local Radio. The Government has been clear that, as our national broadcaster, the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.</p><p>The BBC has outlined that, under current proposals, overall investment in local services is being maintained, which includes £19m from broadcast services being moved to online and multimedia production to adapt to audience changes. The BBC has confirmed that it is protecting local news bulletins throughout the day, and local live sport, and community programming across all 39 stations, and that there will be fully local programming between 6am and 2pm, with neighbouring or regional sharing in most of the remaining listening hours.</p><p>Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the BBC, is responsible for ensuring that the BBC continues to meet the public service obligations set out in the BBC Charter, Agreement, and Operating Licence. The Government understands that Ofcom is continuing to discuss these proposals with the BBC.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 84805 84807 question first answered 21/11/2022 11:40:53 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1541550

registered interest
date	11/11/2022
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 Radio: Local Broadcasting
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 she has had with BBC leadership on proposed cuts to BBC Local Radio.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	84807
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2022 answer text <p>The Government recognises the important role that BBC Local Radio plays in bringing communities together, reflecting local experiences and delivering local news. I am therefore disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local radio output.</p><p>While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, I have met with BBC leadership and shared concerns expressed in recent parliamentary proceedings about reductions to BBC Local Radio. The Government has been clear that, as our national broadcaster, the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.</p><p>The BBC has outlined that, under current proposals, overall investment in local services is being maintained, which includes £19m from broadcast services being moved to online and multimedia production to adapt to audience changes. The BBC has confirmed that it is protecting local news bulletins throughout the day, and local live sport, and community programming across all 39 stations, and that there will be fully local programming between 6am and 2pm, with neighbouring or regional sharing in most of the remaining listening hours.</p><p>Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the BBC, is responsible for ensuring that the BBC continues to meet the public service obligations set out in the BBC Charter, Agreement, and Operating Licence. The Government understands that Ofcom is continuing to discuss these proposals with the BBC.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 84805 84806 question first answered 21/11/2022 11:40:53 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1541551

registered interest
date	11/11/2022
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	Radio: Local Broadcasting
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 protect and support local radio broadcasting.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	84808
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2022 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting the provision of local radio services by commercial and community radio stations across the UK.</p><p>Radio continues to demonstrate its huge public value, including recently in response to the coronavirus pandemic, when it expanded its provision of trusted news and information while continuing to provide much-needed entertainment and companionship to its millions of listeners throughout the country. The Government negotiated significant packages of support from Arqiva for commercial stations, as well as providing additional direct funding to ensure that no station was left behind in terms of support with their transmission costs.</p><p>In 2019, we introduced legislation allowing Ofcom to license small-scale DAB multiplexes, to provide more community and small commercial stations with the opportunity to broadcast to their local communities. In 2020, we passed more legislation to enable national and local commercial stations to renew their analogue licences for a further period. Following the publication of the Digital Radio and Audio Review in October 2021, we are currently exploring legislative options for securing radio’s position on smart speakers.</p><p>We have also committed, following a consultation on future commercial radio regulation in 2017, to strengthen local news and information requirements - the key public service aspects of local commercial radio - and to extend this to digital stations as part of a package of changes to update the rules on commercial radio licensing. We intend to bring forward legislation in this area when Parliamentary time allows.</p><p>The Government has continued to make funding available to support the growth of the community radio sector, by way of the Community Radio Fund (CRF). The Fund distributes £400,000 on an annual basis to help fund the core costs of community radio stations (of which there are approximately 300 across the UK) and enable the sector to move towards self-sustainability. In both of the last two financial years, we have supported the CRF to go beyond this core funding, with significant uplifts targeted on tackling loneliness and to reflect the sector’s important contribution to the government’s ambitions on levelling up.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 21/11/2022 10:14:18 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1523393

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
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: Non-payment
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 people were convicted for not paying their TV license under the provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 since 1992.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	65608
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>The requirement to hold, and pay for, a TV Licence is set out in the Communications Act 2003 and the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004.</p><p>Parliament approved the BBC assuming the role of the TV Licensing Authority in 1991, and under the Communications Act 2003, the BBC is authorised to collect and enforce the Licence Fee by law on the government's behalf.</p><p>The TV licence fee was administered under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 until the passage of the 2003 Act.</p><p>The Ministry of Justice currently publishes the number of prosecutions, convictions and sentencing outcomes for the non-payment of TV licence fees annually as part of their criminal justice statistics quarterly publications, which can be viewed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/criminal-justice-statistics-quarterly</a></p><p>Figures for each year since 2005 up to 2021 are available in the Outcomes by Offence data tool, and can be found in the following tables:</p><p>2017-2021: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1076459/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2021-v2.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1076459/outcomes-by-offence-tool-2021-v2.xlsx<br /></a>2016: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1063880/outcomes-by-offence-2020-revised.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1063880/outcomes-by-offence-2020-revised.xlsx<br /></a>2005-2015: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/524326/cjs-outcomes-by-offence.xlsx" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/524326/cjs-outcomes-by-offence.xlsx</a></p><p>To view the relevant figures in these tables, select ‘191A Television licence evasion’ in the Offence filter.</p><p>The number of people convicted for TV licence evasion in the years between 1992 and 2004 can be found in the attached tables. Table 1 sets out the number of convictions for television licence evasion in this period under the Communications Act 2003. Table 2 sets out convictions for offences against the Wireless Telegraphy Acts, 1949 to 1967 in the same period. While television licence evasion was an offence under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, the figures in Table 2 may include other offences under the specified Acts.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/10/2022 16:37:09 question first ministerially corrected 25/10/2022 16:09:44 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez attachment 1 file name PQ 65608 table final.pdf title Table outlining information sources previous answer version 26685 answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman