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882424

registered interest
date	13/04/2018
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: Fees and Charges
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 he will ensure that the forthcoming Consumer Green Paper sets out provisions to ensure that broadband exit fees are charged at a rate that is fair to consumers.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	135486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2018 answer text <p>The Consumer Green Paper was published on 11 April. It seeks views on how to ensure that modern consumer markets work for all, both now and in the future, including in the telecoms sector. Government will consider the responses to the Consumer Green Paper and, working with independent regulators including Ofcom, will publish a response detailing how they plan to further protect customers.</p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">Currently, the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 protect broadband consumers when they enter into contracts with a provider. Ofcom has the power to investigate communicate providers' compliance.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Currently, contracts entered into on or after 1 October 2015 are covered by the unfair terms in consumer contracts protections in the Consumer Rights Act 2015. There are also protections under Ofcom rules (GC9.3) to ensure that conditions or procedures for contract termination do not act as a disincentive against changing provider. Additionally, Ofcom has the power to investigate communication providers' compliance and have an open enforcement programme on early termination charges: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/bulletins/competition-bulletins/open-cases/cw_01199.</ins></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 18/04/2018 15:27:54 question first ministerially corrected 23/04/2018 15:12:27 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James previous answer version 52496 answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

851515

registered interest
date	28/02/2018
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: Thornbury and Yate
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 the Government has invested in the roll-out of superfast broadband in the Thornbury and Yate constituency.
tabling member constituency	Thornbury and Yate
tabling member printed	Luke Hall
uin	130278
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2018 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">According to Thinkbroadband 93% of premises in the South West have access to superfast broadband speeds. This is up from 42% in 2010 (<a href="http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/south-west" target="_blank">http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/south-west</a>). 17,014 premises have been given superfast coverage so far as a result of this funding. Gainshare funding for the region as a result of take-up which is higher than originally expected is likely to be at least £65 million. This will be available to support further investment.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> The Department does not measure funding at constituency level. A total of £3.37 million has been invested by the Department to support broadband coverage in South Gloucestershire. Currently, 8,325 premises have been given superfast coverage so far as a result of this funding. 92% of premises in the Thornbury and Yate constituency now have access to superfast broadband - up from 61% in 2012.</ins></p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 09/03/2018 14:40:20 question first ministerially corrected 09/03/2018 14:57:27 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James previous answer version 46226 answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	4450 label Biography information for Luke Hall

837370

registered interest
date	05/02/2018
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	Nuisance Calls
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 his Department's policy is on a ban on phone companies charging a fee for services to protect against nuisance calls.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	126489
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2018 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The Government and local bodies together are investing £1.7 billion of public money to support vital improvements in broadband services across the UK. Superfast broadband coverage reached 95% of premises in December 2017 – up from 45% in 2010. Many of the premises reached had exchange only lines.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">For any premises not covered by superfast broadband, as confirmed in our announcement in December 2017, we are pushing ahead with our plans for a Universal Service Obligation (USO) so that by 2020 everyone across the UK will have a clear, enforceable right to request 10 Megabit per second broadband.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">Within London the Government expects superfast broadband coverage to be provided by the private sector and is encouraging providers to tackle remaining issues including exchange only lines.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Consumers can register their landline and mobile telephone numbers with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS), which helps prevent them receiving unsolicited nuisance marketing calls. The TPS is a free service and consumers can register at the following address: http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/number_type.html.</ins><br /></p><p><ins class="ministerial">In addition, phone companies provide consumers with a range of services to protect them against nuisance calls. It is for phone companies to decide whether to offer these services for free or for a charge. The Government welcomes services being provided free, or at low cost, for the benefit of consumers.</ins></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 08/02/2018 17:49:33 question first ministerially corrected 20/03/2018 17:32:14 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James previous answer version 40508 answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

834385

registered interest
date	31/01/2018
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	Performing Arts
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 discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the contribution of creative industry freelancers to the UK economy.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff West
tabling member printed	Kevin Brennan
uin	126004
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2018 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">We are talking to our EU counterparts as part of ongoing EU exit negotiations with a view to achieving the deep and special relationship the UK wishes to have with the EU post-exit. We are confident that this is in the interests of both sides. We will work hard to secure the best deal for the UK on exit and ensure that our new relationship with the EU works for business.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">We are also preparing for a range of possible outcomes for the audio-visual sector from the UK's negotiations with the EU.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Freelancers form a vital part of the UK workforce, particularly for the creative industries. The Secretary of State and his ministers have regular discussions with members of the Cabinet on a wide range of issues that impact on the creative industries and its workforce.</ins></p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 07/02/2018 18:09:16 question first ministerially corrected 08/02/2018 10:28:57 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James previous answer version 40194 answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	1400 label Biography information for Kevin Brennan

833081

registered interest
date	29/01/2018
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: Universal Service Obligation
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 the 10Mbps minimum speed for broadband under the universal service obligation will be the minimum speed consumers receive in their homes at peak times; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	North East Hertfordshire
tabling member printed	Sir Oliver Heald
uin	125397
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2018 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The Department is currently undertaking evaluation of the Superfast Broadband Programme’s role in improving broadband connectivity and reaching areas that would otherwise not have been reached through commercial plans. The evaluation is focusing on the economic and social impacts of the programme, including the impact of the superfast programme on business performance and growth, employment, on quality of life and the reduction in benefits claimants in areas that would have lost out to higher connectivity areas, if it were not for the programme.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The Department released The UK Broadband Impact Study in 2013 which made an assessment of the impacts of faster broadband including the economic impacts. The study can be accessed on the Department's website (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-broadband-impact-study--2). The Department will be producing results from the current evaluation in 2018.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">There is a difference between what we define as the download speed, or sync speed, and the actual speed end users experience. The sync speed is the maximum speed that is achievable on the connection between the network and the premises. In reality, the actual speed that is provided to an end user is typically lower than the sync speed and this will vary depending on the number of other people using the network at that point in time. The specification that we consulted on was for a sync speed of at least 10Mbps. Ofcom says that a 10Mbps sync speed meets the needs of a typical household.</ins></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 01/02/2018 12:36:04 question first ministerially corrected 06/02/2018 11:40:42 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James previous answer version 38707 answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	69 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Heald

810592

registered interest
date	21/12/2017
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 Frequencies
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 fixed links are operating in the spectrum between 1350 MHz and 1400 MHz.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh West
tabling member printed	Christine Jardine
uin	120937
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2018 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">Given current use in the 1350 – 1375 MHz band it is not considered feasible to allow sharing in this band for Programme Making and Special Events. The band 1375 – 1400 MHz is used by the Ministry of Defence.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">Ofcom have reported that within the band 1350 – 1375 MHz there are currently 817 links. The band 1375 – 1400 MHz is used by the Ministry of Defence.</ins></p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 17/01/2018 16:42:50 question first ministerially corrected 18/01/2018 10:12:34 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James previous answer version 34887 answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	4634 label Biography information for Christine Jardine

809689

registered interest
date	19/12/2017
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Written Questions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many and what proportion of his Department's Answers to Written Parliamentary Questions in the 2017-18 Session to date have referred to the information requested not being (a) collected or (b) collated centrally.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	120309
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/12/2017 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has answered 1675 Written Parliamentary Questions so far this session as of 21<sup>st</sup> December. Of these, 3 questions (0.18% of questions asked) have referred to the information not being collated and 4 questions (0.24% of questions asked) have referred to the information not being collected centrally.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has answered 1675 Written Parliamentary Questions so far this session as of 21<sup>st</sup> December. Of these, 4 questions (0.24% of questions asked) have referred to the information not being collected and 3 questions (0.18% of questions asked) have referred to the information not being collated centrally.</ins></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 28/12/2017 13:32:20 question first ministerially corrected 08/01/2018 10:28:41 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James previous answer version 32489 answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

809744

registered interest
date	19/12/2017
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Gratuities
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to publish the response to the consultation on Tips, gratuities, cover and service charges which closed on 27 June 2016.
tabling member constituency	Bolton North East
tabling member printed	Sir David Crausby
uin	120364
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/12/2017 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">Neither my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State, nor I have had discussions with charities about the impact of these rules on their work.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The State aid rules apply to funding given to charities, as they would for any other body, where they are involved in economic activities. The rules are blind as to legal form; rather they are concerned with whether an entity is undertaking economic activities. And equally State aid may be granted legally to charities on the same terms as anyone else if it complies with the rules.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">The Government is considering the responses to this consultation, and will respond in due course.</ins></p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 22/12/2017 14:11:06 question first ministerially corrected 08/01/2018 10:28:54 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James previous answer version 32347 answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	437 label Biography information for Sir David Crausby

754967

registered interest
date	20/07/2017
answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept id	201
answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
hansard heading	Energy: Vale of Clwyd
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent estimate he has made of the number and proportion of constituents in Vale of Clwyd constituency eligible for the safeguard price cap for energy.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	6347
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2017 answer text <p>Ofgem is considering options to protect vulnerable consumers and has yet to announce a formal proposal. <del class="ministerial">Alongside this Ofgem has announced a package of measures to help consumers move away from poor value tariffs.</del></p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 05/09/2017 15:22:46 question first ministerially corrected 06/09/2017 11:10:15 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James previous answer version 8067 answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

521066

registered interest
date	24/05/2016
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	Minimum Wage
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Answer of 10 May 2016 to Question 36447, how much of the £10.3 million of minimum wage arrears recovered in 2015-16 was recovered from the 145 employers who were not issued with a Notice of Underpayment and who did not have to pay a penalty.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	38139
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/06/2016 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">60 employers responded to the National Minimum Wage campaign announced by HM Revenue and Customs on 29 July 2015. Between them, these employers voluntarily disclosed arrears of £786,038 owed to 4869 workers.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">In 2015/16 819 employers were issued with a Notice of Underpayment (NoU), and of this number, 814 were issued with a penalty. The combined penalties issued to these employers totalled £1,780,367.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">5 employers were issued with an NoU but no penalty because they had either gone into liquidation or had otherwise ceased trading, or because an Employment Tribunal had issued a judgment that no financial penalty should be imposed. Collectively these employers owed £57,603 to 30 workers. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">A further 145 employers found to have underpaid their workers were not issued with a NoU or a penalty. Collectively these employers owed £2,065,874 to 14,055 workers.</ins></p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 01/06/2016 10:27:14 question first ministerially corrected 08/09/2016 16:12:22 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James previous answer version 1387 answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles answering member 3995
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas