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1583652

registered interest
date	03/02/2023
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, how many over 75's have been subject to court action for the non-payment of TV Licence in each of the last three years for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	139222
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2023 answer text <p>Collecting and enforcing the Licence Fee is the responsibility of the BBC. The BBC has recently confirmed that no enforcement action has been taken against over-75s for TV licence evasion at this stage.</p><p>The Government has been clear that the BBC must ensure that it supports those affected by its decision on the over-75s concession, and we expect them to do so with the utmost sensitivity.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 09/02/2023 13:35:53 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1582977

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
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: Recruitment
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 his Department spent on recruitment consultants in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh West
tabling member printed	Christine Jardine
uin	137942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/02/2023 answer text <p>The Department publishes details of consultancy and professional services spending on an annual basis, in the Annual Report and Accounts. Due to the categorisation of spend within Department systems, it is not possible to extrapolate consultancy spend specifically in relation to recruitment activity. However, a total of £233,056.01 (excluding VAT) has been identified as spend on external recruitment consultants within the last three years, broken down as follows:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Spend (Ex VAT)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020/2021</p></td><td><p>£116,358.67</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021/2022</p></td><td><p>£61,824.44</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022/2023 (to 31 January 2023)</p></td><td><p>£54,872.90</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>£233,056.01</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This spending relates to external consultancy support, engaged by the Department, for the recruitment of substantive Civil Servants at delegated grades, Senior Civil Servants and Board Members, and excludes the recruitment and delivery of Apprenticeship schemes, and contingent labour workers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 16/02/2023 11:28:09 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4634 label Biography information for Christine Jardine

1582919

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
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	Public Sector: Publicity
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 take steps to make it easier for public notices to be published in non print publications; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Lichfield
tabling member printed	Michael Fabricant
uin	137732
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2023 answer text <p>Policy responsibility for each specific type of public notice lies with a range of different government departments. The Government is mindful of the potential effect that any changes to the existing publicity requirements for public notices might have on transparency and local democracy, as well as the potential effect on the sustainability of the local news sector as a whole. We recognise the continued importance of print local newspapers to the communities they serve and that there will continue to be a need to reach out to people who cannot digitally access information.</p><p>At the same time, to help address the desire for more digitalisation and greater audience reach in the publication of public notices, the local newspaper sector has been working with Google to develop an online Public Notice Portal. The Portal is intended to take advantage of print publishers’ growing digital audiences, providing a centralised resource for all types of public notice. The Government is monitoring the Portal’s development, and the effect that it has on the transparency of public notices.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 09/02/2023 13:36:41 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	280 label Biography information for Michael Fabricant

1582765

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
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: Gender
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 ensure that data collected by her (a) Department and (b) Department’s associated arms-length bodies records biological sex as opposed to gender identity.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	137710
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2023 answer text <p>In respect of employee data, DCMS collects both biological sex and gender identity data on our HR System. Our processing and handling of this data is set out in our HR privacy notice published on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-privacy-notice-for-employees-workers-and-contractors-uk/dcms-privacy-notice-for-employees-workers-and-contractors-uk" target="_blank">gov.uk</a>. The Department does not have oversight of staff data collected by its ALBs.</p><p>The Department also follows the Government Social Research and Government Statistical Service guidance and best practice on biological sex and gender identity as published on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to-inclusive-social-research-practices/a-guide-to-inclusive-social-research-practices" target="_blank">gov.uk</a>.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 13/02/2023 15:38:54 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

1582443

registered interest
date	31/01/2023
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	Vacancies
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 an estimate of the (a) number of vacancies and (b) level of skill shortages in (i) broadcast and print media, (ii) theatres, (iii) graphic design, (iv) tourism and (v) sport and leisure.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Mr Toby Perkins
uin	136592
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>While DCMS does not have any estimates on the number of vacancies, the Department has published Experimental Official Statistics for skills shortages (%) in DCMS sectors and sub-sectors. These are for the year 2019, using data from the Employer Skills Survey, carried out by the Department for Education that covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The ESS is a biennial survey, which was delayed by a further year during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with 2022-23 data expected to be published later this year (also currently scheduled to include Scotland).</p><p>Skills shortage vacancies are defined as vacancies unfilled because applicants did not have the necessary skills. Two measures for skills shortages are published:</p><ul><li><p>Percentage of vacancies that are unfilled due to skills shortages</p></li><li><p>Percentage of businesses with at least one skills shortage vacancy</p></li></ul><p>The “Percentage of businesses with at least one skills shortage vacancy” estimates are impacted by the fact that some businesses will not have had a vacancy. Therefore the “% of businesses with at least one vacancy” figure was also published to help provide context.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Sector/subsector</p></td><td><p>% of vacancies unfilled due to skills shortages</p></td><td><p>% of businesses with at least one skills shortage vacancy</p></td><td><p>% of businesses with at least one vacancy</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Audio Visual (i - Broadcast Media)</p></td><td><p>19.2</p></td><td><p>2.1</p></td><td><p>12.0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Publishing (excluding translation &amp; interpretation activities) (i - Print Media)</p></td><td><p>10.9</p></td><td><p>3.2</p></td><td><p>11.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Arts (ii)</p></td><td><p>10.1</p></td><td><p>2.3</p></td><td><p>12.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Design and designer fashion (iii)</p></td><td><p>36.8</p></td><td><p>2.9</p></td><td><p>11.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tourism Industries (iv)</p></td><td><p>21.2</p></td><td><p>6.0</p></td><td><p>21.9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sport (v)</p></td><td><p>30.1</p></td><td><p>4.4</p></td><td><p>17.2</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Table 1 - Skills shortages in selected sectors. Estimates are not available directly measuring the areas requested. The sectors presented here have been provided as the closest to the requested sectors, for which DCMS have skills shortages data.</p><p>Source: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dcms-sectors-skills-shortages-and-skills-gaps-2019" target="_blank">DCMS Sectors Skills Shortages and Skills Gaps: 2019</a></p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 07/02/2023 11:19:26 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

1582567

registered interest
date	31/01/2023
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	Broadcasting: Disability Aids
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, (a) whether she is taking steps to make (i) scheduled and (ii) on-demand broadcast content more accessible via high quality and reliable subtitling; (b) if she will take steps to increase the number of broadcast services which are required to provide subtitling; (c) what progress she has made in working to encourage broadcasters voluntarily to improve subtitling; and (d) what plans she has to bring forward relevant regulations under the Digital Economy Act 2017 following Ofsted's Further Statement: Making on-demand services accessible published in July 2021.
tabling member constituency	Norwich North
tabling member printed	Chloe Smith
uin	136542
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of subtitling and supports television being accessible to all. Under the Communications Act 2003 and Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996, broadcasters are already required to meet targets for access services - including subtitling. Statutory targets are set by Ofcom which include five and ten year targets for licensed television services. Ofcom’s<a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-codes/tv-access-services" target="_blank"> Code on Television Access Services</a> sets out these obligations and provides guidance and best practice on subtitling for broadcasters.</p><p>The regulator Ofcom assesses which broadcasters - including new channels - have a requirement to provide access services and publishes a list on their website annually, according to principles set out in their Code. Some broadcasters already provide television access services such as subtitling on a voluntary basis, and we would encourage broadcasters to continue to do so where possible.</p><p>The Government is committed to legislate to bring in minimum levels of subtitling, audio description, and signing on video-on-demand services and is currently working with Ofcom to develop a legislative framework for these requirements that is clear and fit for purpose. We intend to legislate when time allows and will set out a timetable for this in due course.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 07/02/2023 11:17:37 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith

1582275

registered interest
date	31/01/2023
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: Conditions of Employment
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 they will take steps to (a) publish an equality impact assessment and (b) consult with trade unions when proposing new HR policies for their Department; and if they will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	136651
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>Whilst there is no legal requirement to publish equality impact assessments, DCMS fulfils its duty as an employer to consider how our policies or decisions affect people who are protected under the Equality Act. The Department conducts equality impact assessments when introducing new HR policy or making significant changes to existing policy. As part of our policy development process, DCMS engages with its Trade Unions and other stakeholders (such as employee networks) when developing new HR policies or making significant changes to existing policies.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 07/02/2023 11:16:35 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1579628

registered interest
date	23/01/2023
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: Minimum Wage
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 and what proportion of employees in their Department are paid at the rate of the National Minimum Wage.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	129890
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2023 answer text <p>The total number of civil servants in DCMS, our executive agency BDUK and arms length bodies who employ civil servants (National Archive and Charity Commission) who are paid at the National Minimum Wage rate per hour is 0.</p><p>Within DCMS, the lowest full time equivalent salary in DCMS is £23,066, which equates to £11.94 per hour, and which is above the current National Living Wage rate of £9.50 per hour and the new rate of £10.42 from April 23.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 31/01/2023 15:35:26 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1580105

registered interest
date	24/01/2023
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 assessment she has made of the potential merits of the Local BBC Radio sharing proposal changes.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	131253
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2023 answer text <p>The Government recognises the strength of feeling about the importance of BBC Local Radio. These services help bring communities together, and play a vital role in delivering news, sports coverage and other content that is locally relevant.</p><p>While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, the Government is clear that 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 Government remains disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local radio output, and Ministers expressed their concerns to the Chair of the BBC Board and the Director General when they met towards the end of last year.</p><p>The Government understands that the BBC have made a recent announcement adjusting their previous proposal, and we will seek to understand what this means in practice for its audiences.</p><p>The Government expects Ofcom to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties.</p><p>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, and deliver its public service duties.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 131254 131255 131256 question first answered 31/01/2023 09:16:11 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1581511

registered interest
date	27/01/2023
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: Prices
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 received representations from (a) industry representatives and (b) consumers on BT Openreach’s proposed increase in the price of wholesale broadband; and what steps Ofcom can take under the Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review to alter the level of the increase.
tabling member constituency	Harrow East
tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
uin	133972
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2023 answer text <p>Price regulation in the telecoms market is a matter for Ofcom as an independent regulator. Openreach’s prices are fixed by Ofcom as part of their five-year Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (WFTMR) process and have been allowed to increase by CPI in order to reflect the significant additional costs faced when deploying new physical infrastructure. There are no plans to change the WFTMR until 2026. This is in line with industry requests for long-term stable regulation that incentivises competition and investment in the fixed telecoms market in order to increase the coverage of gigabit-capable networks as quickly as possible. This approach has been successful, with over 80 companies investing approximately £35 billion to connect premises across the UK.</p><p>The Government’s Statement of Strategic Priorities for Ofcom, published in 2019, states that we want to see regulation that incentivises network investment and ensures fair and effective competition between new and existing network operators. The Department regularly meets with Ofcom at all levels to discuss progress against its strategic priorities. My officials also regularly engage with representatives across the telecoms sector. On wholesale price increases specifically, the Department has received representations from both industry members and consumer groups.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 06/02/2023 17:02:00 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman