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1257613

registered interest
date	02/12/2020
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	Bowling: 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 assessment he has made of the adequacy of safety measures taken by bowling centres during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement on the ability of those centres in Tier 3 to re-open.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	124096
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2020 answer text <p>Since 2 December, as set out in the COVID Winter Plan, we have returned to a tiered approach to COVID-19 restrictions in England. Relevant venues in the entertainment, leisure and tourism sectors - including bowling alleys - will be permitted to reopen in tiers 1 and 2, subject to curfew restrictions and in line with COVID-19 Secure guidance. In tier 3 areas, indoor venues and attractions - including bowling alleys - must close.</p><p>We worked closely with a range of visitor economy stakeholders to develop our guidance for leisure and hospitality venues. We continue to engage with bowling stakeholders, such as the Ten-Pin Bowling Proprietor’s Association, to update and review our guidance. Further specific guidance on bowling alleys has been published within UKHospitality’s ‘COVID-19 Secure Guidelines for Hospitality Businesses.’</p><p>Our decisions have been and will continue to be based on scientific evidence and public health assessments.</p><p>Bowling centre operators can continue to access the Government’s comprehensive support package - including the extended furlough and self-employed support schemes, new grant schemes, as well as various government-backed loans. We have also provided business rates relief and grants for many in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector.</p><p>We are listening to stakeholders’ concerns, and will continue to closely monitor the ongoing impact of Government restrictions on bowling alleys.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston grouped question UIN 124212 124213 question first answered 07/12/2020 16:33:00 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1257615

registered interest
date	02/12/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Aviation: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish any impact assessment on the Government's decision to provide financial support to the aviation industry but not to the international sector.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	124097
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2020 answer text <p>The Government has been engaging closely with transport providers across the UK since the outbreak of Covid-19 earlier this year to understand and monitor the impact and will continue to do so.</p><p> </p><p>Companies across the UK economy, including those in the transport sector, are able to draw on an unprecedented package of support including the Bank of England’s Coronavirus Corporate Financing Facility, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, two business interruption loan schemes and flexibilities with tax bills.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 07/12/2020 17:16:09 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1249464

registered interest
date	09/11/2020
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	Broadband: 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, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policy on the Outside In programme of the findings of the National Audit Office's report of January 2015 on the Superfast (Rural) Broadband Programme: update.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	112973
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2020 answer text <p>In 2013 and 2015 the NAO published reports on the progress of the Superfast (Rural) Broadband Programme. Since we last reported, the Superfast Programme has moved increasingly to gigabit-capable full-fibre solutions in place of copper telephone wires from premises to a local cabinet.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Superfast Programme has delivered over 5.2m premises with superfast broadband, which constitutes 17% of all households in the UK and reached the target of 95% coverage in December 2017. After hitting this target Ministers agreed to continue the programme using a combination of underspend, early clawback, Local Body/Devolved funding and EU funding (ERDF and EAFRD). With coverage now beyond 96%.</p><p>The NAO have recognised what has been achieved through the Superfast Programme in their latest report from 16th October 2020 called ‘Improving Broadband’ and has made several recommendations to the Department to be utilised as part of its development of the UK Gigabit Programme.</p><p>We are developing our approach to delivering the £5 billion UK Gigabit programme as fast as possible and my officials will ensure that all recommendations that have been made by the NAO will be taken into account during this work. This is a very complex programme and we want to make sure our interventions cater for current need, geography and cost-effectiveness and incorporates lessons learned from previous programmes.</p><p>We understand the challenges in achieving nationwide coverage, particularly in hard to reach areas. And have been working closely with industry and local authority partners to develop an approach that will scale with the market’s ambitions.</p><p>In the meantime we are already connecting some of the hardest to reach places in the country, not only through our Superfast Broadband but additionally with Local Full Fibre Networks and Rural Gigabit Connectivity programmes.</p><p>Further details about the £5 billion of public funding committed at the Budget will be announced at the Spending Review on the 25th November.</p><p><strong><p><p></strong></p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 17/11/2020 16:39:34 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1249509

registered interest
date	09/11/2020
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	Housing: Broadband
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 has taken to ensure a reasonable cost of wayleaves for installing full fibre in new and existing housing developments.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	112972
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2020 answer text <p>My department has introduced a suite of measures to deploy nationwide gigabit broadband as cheaply and as quickly as possible.</p><p>The Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill once enacted will make it easier for network operators to install gigabit broadband in multi-dwelling buildings such as blocks of flats). Third Reading in the House of Lords is expected to take place shortly.</p><p>The Bill creates a faster, cheaper application process in the First-tier Tribunal that operators may use in situations where (i) a leaseholder has requested a connection to be installed, (ii) repeated requests for access have failed to illicit a response from the landowner and (iii) the operator requires access to common parts of the building (such as hallways, basements and stairwells) in order to connect the consumer.</p><p>It is expected that the Bill will bring costs of applying to the courts for access for the operator down to below £500 and shorten the process to around 6 weeks.</p><p>The Electronic Communication Code is the legal framework underpinning rights to install and maintain digital communications infrastructure on public and private land by operators.</p><p>Government has always been clear that good working relationships between Code operators and site providers are a key factor in the Electronic Communications Code operating effectively. The Code is premised on the concept that reasonable attempts will be made to negotiate mutually acceptable agreements in the first instance, and that cases will only be referred to the courts where this proves impossible.</p><p>We are also bringing forward legislation to deliver gigabit broadband to the majority of new homes at minimal costs to developers.</p><p>Government is seeking to amend Building Regulations to require housing developers to provide gigabit broadband unless the costs to the developer exceeds £2000.</p><p>To support developers and to ensure as many new homes as possible receive gigabit broadband the Secretary of State has received commitments from the CEOs of Openreach, Virgin and Gigaclear to contribute to the costs of connecting new homes.</p><p>These commitments ensure that, taken with the amended Building Regulations, gigabit broadband will be deployed to 99% of new build premises.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 16/11/2020 15:24:55 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1249665

registered interest
date	09/11/2020
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	Broadband
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 reform the Electronic Communications Code to support the rapid rollout of full fibre digital infrastructure to (a) private new build developments, (b) publicly owned social housing and (c) unadopted roads.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	112970
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2020 answer text <p>We intend to consult on whether further reforms to Electronic Communications Code (the Code) are necessary to support investment in networks. My Department is working closely with stakeholders within the private and public sector to understand whether the current legislative framework supports the delivery of the gigabit-capable infrastructure.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In developing the consultation, officials will take into account changes needed to ensure the Code is fit for purpose. This will include considering publicly owned social housing and unadopted roads. The Government has recently published guidance to local authorities with regard to public assets, such as social housing. This is available on the Government’s <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/digital-connectivity-portal" target="_blank">Digital Connectivity Portal</a> here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/digital-connectivity-portal" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/digital-connectivity-portal</a></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We will also bring forward legislation to deliver gigabit broadband to the majority of new homes at minimal costs to developers. As part of this, the Government is seeking to amend the Building Regulations 2010 to require housing developers to provide gigabit broadband unless the costs to the developer exceeds £2,000.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 17/11/2020 19:36:28 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1249666

registered interest
date	09/11/2020
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	Telecommunications: Council Housing
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 guidance is available for local authorities to help them negotiate wayleaves for their housing stock with telecoms infrastructure providers.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	112971
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2020 answer text <p>On 27th August, I wrote, together with the Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government, to all tier-1 local authorities in the country on the subject of telecoms infrastructure deployment. This letter highlighted newly published Government guidance on how local authorities can 1) enable access to public assets, such as housing stock, and 2) ensure appropriate valuation of assets for access agreements.</p><p>My Department’s Barrier Busting Task Force has offered to meet each authority individually to discuss this guidance and issues particular to each area. Kent County Council took up this offer on the 13th October. Many authorities are taking a proactive approach across the UK, including Croydon, for example, which has signed master wayleaves to connect their social housing stock to gigabit broadband.</p><p>Further guidance on these matters can be found on the Government’s <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/digital-connectivity-portal" target="_blank">Digital Connectivity Portal</a>.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 16/11/2020 15:29:34 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1241253

registered interest
date	07/10/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Namibia: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to introduce an air bridge to Namibia; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	100271
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/10/2020 answer text <p>Namibia is not currently on the list of countries exempt from self-isolation requirements. The Government takes a range of factors into account when deciding which countries to add or remove from the Travel Corridor list. These include an estimate of the proportion of the population that is currently infectious in each country, virus incidence rates, trends and rates of change, transmission status and international epidemic intelligence, information on a country’s testing capacity, testing regime and test positivity rate, an assessment of the quality of the data available, the effectiveness of measures being deployed by a country and the volume of travel between the UK and that country. ​The Government keeps the list of travel corridors under constant review. We will make further exemptions when we are sure that we can do so safely and responsibly.</p> answering member constituency Witney answering member printed Robert Courts question first answered 12/10/2020 13:58:56 answering member 4589 label Biography information for Robert Courts
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1241258

registered interest
date	07/10/2020
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Hospitals: Parking
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what enforcement powers he has to require hospital trusts to make disabled parking bays free.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	100272
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2020 answer text <p>These new requirements are being mandated through the NHS Standard Contract, to make car parking more consistent across England. The 2020/21 contract asked the National Health Service in England to do all it can to implement them from April 2020, and requires it to do so from January 2021.</p> answering member constituency Charnwood answering member printed Edward Argar question first answered 16/10/2020 08:38:06 answering member 4362 label Biography information for Edward Argar
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1240398

registered interest
date	05/10/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Children: Computers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to extend the duration of the scheme for providing computers at home for disadvantaged children; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	98859
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2020 answer text <p>The Department has delivered over 220,000 laptops and tablets, and over 50,000 4G wireless routers, to children who would not have otherwise had online access, as part of over £100 million invested to support remote education and access to online social care.</p><p>The laptops and tablets were an injection of support to help local authorities and academy trusts to provide access to education and social care during the COVID-19 restriction period. Laptops and tablets are owned by the local authority, academy trust or school, who can choose to lend unused laptops and tablets to children and young people who need them most, and who may face disruption to face-to-face education in the event of future local COVID-19 restrictions.</p><p>The Department is now supplementing this support by making available 250,000 additional laptops and tablets in the event that face-to-face schooling is disrupted as a result of local COVID-19 restrictions and children become reliant on remote education. This scheme is intended to enable schools to support disadvantaged children in years 3 to 11 who cannot afford their own laptops and tablets. Schools will also be able to order laptops and tablets for disadvantaged children across all year groups who are shielding as a result of official or medical advice, all year groups who attend hospital schools, and those completing their Key Stage 4 at a further education college.</p><p>In the event that face-to-face education is disrupted, we know that it is critical to get schools the support that they need in the shortest timeframe. The majority of laptops and tablets ordered through this scheme will be delivered within two working days, subject to availability.</p> answering member constituency Bognor Regis and Littlehampton answering member printed Nick Gibb question first answered 08/10/2020 16:13:08 answering member 111 label Biography information for Nick Gibb
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1240412

registered interest
date	05/10/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Thameslink Line: Maidstone
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his timescale is for the introduction of improvements to the Thameslink service to Maidstone East.
tabling member constituency	Ashford
tabling member printed	Damian Green
uin	98860
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2020 answer text <p>Officials continue to work with the industry to resolve the issues which have so far prevented a regular service from being introduced and to provide passengers in Maidstone with a regular all-day service to the City at the earliest opportunity.</p> answering member constituency Daventry answering member printed Chris Heaton-Harris question first answered 08/10/2020 15:39:28 answering member 3977 label Biography information for Chris Heaton-Harris
tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green