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1580958

registered interest
date	25/01/2023
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 and Mobile Phones: Rural Areas
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) broadband, and (2) mobile phone, connectivity in rural areas.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL5089
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>Over 73% of premises in the UK can now access gigabit-capable broadband, which is a huge leap forward from January 2019, when coverage was just 6%. The competitive and pro-growth regulatory environment we have created is enabling suppliers to expand their networks to reach more homes and businesses, and we are making excellent progress with Project Gigabit, delivering fast, reliable broadband to rural and hard-to-reach parts of the UK.</p><p>We are awarding a series of contracts to suppliers to deliver gigabit-capable connectivity in areas to which the market will not go without subsidy. We have already awarded six contracts and, in total, have made almost £1 billion of funding available through our live contracts and procurements, covering up to 681,500 premises. We have also recently increased the maximum value of vouchers through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme to support suppliers to connect premises in particularly hard-to-reach areas.</p><p>Mobile phone connectivity continues to improve in rural areas via the Government's £1 billion deal with mobile network operators to deliver the Shared Rural Network. The programme will see operators collectively increase the UK’s 4G geographic mobile network coverage to 95%; this will reduce rural ‘not spots’, levelling up coverage between rural and urban areas.</p><p>The operators have already deployed more than 150 new sites and have upgraded over 1,300 sites across the UK since the programme began in 2020. 4G coverage across the UK has increased to 92.2%, as the early impact from the Shared Rural Network took effect.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 08/02/2023 17:59:01 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1580993

registered interest
date	25/01/2023
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	5G
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of (1) rural, and (2) non-rural, areas have 5G network coverage.
tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
uin	HL5090
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>Ofcom is responsible for reporting on 5G coverage in Connected Nations. Ofcom first reported on 5G coverage in 2021 and is refining its measuring and reporting of this. Ofcom does not currently report on 5G availability in rural compared to non-rural areas.</p><p>According to Ofcom, (basic) ‘non-standalone’ 5G is available with a high degree of confidence from at least one mobile network operator outside 77% of UK premises.</p><p>Our forthcoming Wireless Infrastructure Strategy will articulate a clear vision for how advanced wireless infrastructure can become an integral part of the fabric of the UK's economy and society by 2030. We aim to publish the strategy in early 2023.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 08/02/2023 17:58:16 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1579912

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	National Heritage Memorial Fund: Stonehenge
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 2 November 2022 (HL2728), what was the basis of the advice to the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) that “61 archaeological sites, including a substantial part of the Stonehenge Avenue, [were] all under extreme risk of loss due to ploughing”, and that "if the purchase did not go ahead Scheduled Monuments on the site would be lost completely within 10 years”.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
uin	HL4975
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>As part of the application process for grant funding to the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the National Trust provided a condition survey which highlighted, among the 61 at-risk archaeological sites, that 15 scheduled monuments and 34 unscheduled monuments across both parcels of land were at imminent risk of loss. These included the Stonehenge Avenue, Conebury Henge, the Conebury Anomaly, Neolithic burials and occupation sites, and numerous Bronze Age round barrows. The report concluded that, unless arable cultivation ceased, it was likely that much, if not all, of what remained of these monuments could have been lost to the plough within a decade.</p><p>In assessing the application, the National Heritage Memorial Fund sought expert advice, which concluded that, if these important sites remained under arable cultivation, they would continue to be at risk and subject to denudation and ultimately loss, as there was no alternative strategy that could be readily agreed to secure the survival of these sites and features.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 08/02/2023 16:37:53 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

1579914

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	National Heritage Memorial Fund: Stonehenge
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 20 December (HL4099 and HL4100), whether the grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund was for both (1) the buy out of the leasehold interest of the 151 acres of land already owned by the Trust in area, and (2) the purchase of the 21.6 acres of land known as Bow Tie Field; and if so, why the grant for purchase of Bow Tie Field was considered necessary to deliver the positive impact of the grant.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
uin	HL4977
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>The National Trust negotiated to acquire the leasehold interest of an Agricultural Holdings Act tenancy of 151 hectares over land that the National Trust already owned, and a further 21 hectares of outright acquisition of freehold land known as Bow Tie Field. The National Heritage Memorial Fund grant was awarded to the National Trust to secure both areas of land.</p><p>The National Heritage Memorial Fund recognised the positive impact of supporting the acquisition of this significant area of land containing internationally and nationally important ancient monuments which were at risk. The benefits of the National Trust taking ownership and management of this land, safeguarding nationally important monuments, was considered to justify the grant award.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 08/02/2023 16:21:25 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

1579915

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	Stonehenge: A303
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 20 December (HL4099 and HL4100), what assessment they have made of the proposed A303 road widening scheme on the archaeological sites in the area, particularly the remains of an early Neolithic settlement within the land known as Bow Tie Field; and whether the proposed road tunnels as part of that scheme would have an adverse impact on the integrity of The Avenue.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
uin	HL4978
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>National Highways conducted a comprehensive Heritage Impact Assessment in line with relevant guidance at the time that the Development Consent Order application was made, and this was considered to represent a thorough process by the delegates of the most recent UNESCO Advisory Mission. The Heritage Impact Assessment made an assessment of the proposed A303 scheme on all the known archaeological sites in Bow Tie field, whether they were designated (i.e. scheduled monuments including Stonehenge, the Avenue, and three barrows adjacent to the Avenue forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Countess Farm: NHLE <a href="https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1010140" target="_blank">1010140</a>) or non-designated, and assessed the effect of the proposals on the Outstanding Universal Value of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site. The answer to the parliamentary question submitted on <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-12-07/HL4100" target="_blank">20 December 2022</a> contains further information, including about archaeological evaluation carried out to date.</p><p>The Avenue is protected as part of a Scheduled Monument. The A303 scheme has been designed not to have a direct impact on any Scheduled Monuments and to minimise adverse impacts on their setting. National Highways will work with the National Trust to minimise the impact to heritage (such as the archaeology and grassland) at Bow Tie Field which may be affected by future compulsory acquisition as part of implementation of the proposed A303 scheme. The scheme is currently with the Secretary of State for Transport for re-determination. Since this is a live planning application, the Department cannot comment further.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 08/02/2023 16:39:08 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

1568867

registered interest
date	19/01/2023
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	Holiday Accommodation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the resources available to local authorities to process short-term lets licensing and applications.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4924
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>On 7 December 2022, His Majesty’s Government amended the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to create a power to establish a registration scheme for short-term lets. Further details on how the scheme will operate, including how it will be administered, will be explored through a public consultation which will be published at the earliest opportunity this year.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 03/02/2023 14:27:56 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1568868

registered interest
date	19/01/2023
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	Digital Technology: Disadvantaged
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of digital poverty on young people and their households.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4925
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>HM Government recognises that digital skills and digital access are increasingly required to participate in many aspects of society.</p><p>The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport works with third-sector organisations across the UK to understand the challenges facing people in digital poverty. The Digital Poverty Alliance, one of our partners, has recently published an evidence review which made an assessment of the impact of digital poverty on young people and their households. This has found that 30 per cent of young people aged 8–25 (2.1 million people) are at risk of becoming ‘digital castaways’ and that 42 per cent of young people (6 million people) do not have either home broadband or a laptop/desktop computer. Young people who are digitally excluded are less likely to be in well-paying jobs, have worse health outcomes, and have an overall lower quality of life.</p><p>We also work across Government and with the private sector to ensure that the needs of digitally excluded people are considered. For example, DCMS has negotiated a range of high-quality, low-cost social tariffs for households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits, including Pension Credit. These are available across 99 per cent of the UK.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 03/02/2023 14:24:35 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1568402

registered interest
date	18/01/2023
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	Leisure Centres and Swimming Pools: Rural Areas
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the provision of (1) swimming pools, and (2) leisure centres, in rural areas.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL4881
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2023 answer text <p>HM Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to swimming pools across the country, including in rural areas. Swimming is a great way for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy. The responsibility for providing this access lies with local authorities, and the Government continues to encourage them to support swimming facilities.</p><p>We appreciate the impact that rising energy prices are having on organisations of all sizes, including on operators of swimming pools. That is why we announced the £18 billion Energy Bill Relief Scheme in September last year. The scheme was always time-limited, and has now been succeeded by the Energy Bills Discount Scheme. Under the new scheme, swimming pools will continue to receive discounts on their gas and electricity bills during the 12-month period from April 2023 to March 2024.</p><p>Officials in my Department are in regular contact with representatives from the sector to assess the impact of rising energy costs, including monitoring how operators and local authorities are responding to them.</p><p>Sport England has invested £12,775,274 of public money in swimming and diving projects since April 2019, which includes £9,360,002 to Swim England. This is in addition to the Government’s £100 million National Leisure Recovery Fund, which supported the reopening of local authority swimming pools throughout the country after the pandemic.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 31/01/2023 12:58:00 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1567840

registered interest
date	17/01/2023
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	Music
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will list the specific benefits that have accrued to (1) the UK music industry, and (2) musicians, as a result of the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
tabling member printed	Lord Black of Brentwood
uin	HL4817
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2023 answer text <p>HM Government is working with every sector to seize the economic and political opportunities arising from our departure from the European Union – ensuring that our laws, regulations, and policies are helping to boost growth, drive innovation, and increase the competitiveness of the United Kingdom. We are developing trade deals with priority markets – something we could not do while a member of the European Union – focusing on alleviating trade barriers to enhance the movement of goods, global sales of services, and a forward-thinking intellectual property framework.</p><p>We are already delivering on some of the key opportunities for the UK music industry and musicians. Recent analysis shows that the fastest-growing recorded music markets are outside the EU, in Latin America and Asia – driven by the rapid growth of streaming. The Department for International Trade delivers an export programme for music, focusing on these priority markets, with upcoming trade missions to the USA, Australia, India, China and Japan, and the British Music Embassy at ‘South by Southwest’ in Austin, Texas.</p><p>The Government recognises that the way musicians work in and with the European Union has changed that now we are no longer a member of it. The Government is committed to supporting the sector to adapt to these new arrangements, and has worked with sector representatives and directly with Member States to clarify what this entails.</p><p>In addition, the Government continues to provide export support for the UK’s creative industries through a range of export support programmes, including the successful Music Export Growth Scheme and the International Showcase Fund, designed to introduce successful UK music projects across the globe, in Europe and beyond.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 24/01/2023 12:42:46 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
tabling member	4171 label Biography information for Lord Black of Brentwood

1567858

registered interest
date	17/01/2023
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	Cinemas: Edinburgh
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are having discussions with the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, and other partners regarding (1) cultural cinema programme activity in Edinburgh, and (2) the 2023 Edinburgh International Film Festival, following the closure of the Edinburgh Film House.
tabling member printed	Lord Stevenson of Balmacara
uin	HL4835
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>Cultural cinema programme activity in Edinburgh is a matter for the Scottish Government, since this is a devolved policy area. Following the Centre for the Moving Image (CMI) going into administration in October 2022, Screen Scotland purchased the intellectual property for the Edinburgh International Film Festival.</p><p>DCMS officials have spoken to the British Film Institute (BFI) about this issue. The BFI operates UK-wide and has a close working relationship with Creative Scotland and its dedicated screen agency, Screen Scotland. Throughout the period covered by the British Film Institute’s previous corporate strategy, British Film Institute 2022, Screen Scotland has been its delivery partner for the National Lottery-backed British Film Institute NETWORK programme, Short Circuit. The British Film Institute’s new strategy, Screen Culture 2033, is UK-wide and Scotland-based applicants are able to apply for applicable National Lottery funds.</p> answering member printed Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay question first answered 03/02/2023 14:26:07 answering member 4728 label Biography information for Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
tabling member	4175 label Biography information for Lord Stevenson of Balmacara