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1716354

registered interest
date	08/05/2024
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	Film and Television
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the Bectu report entitled UK film and TV industry in crisis, published on 26 February 2024.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	25250
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2024 answer text <p>The UK Government understands the huge value of our world-leading film and TV production sector and the importance of self-employed workers to the sector and wider creative economy.</p><p>The UK Government has a clear plan to grow the creative industries by a further £50 billion and support another 1 million jobs by 2030. This was set out in June 2023 in the Creative Industries Sector Vision, which was accompanied by £77 million of new funding to support the sector’s growth. This is on top of a range of tax reliefs for the creative industries that have been introduced or expanded since 2010.</p><p>The Government is already taking steps to ensure a strong, skilled and resilient workforce for the film and TV sector - as well as the wider creative industries - across the UK. The Creative Industries Sector Vision set out that by 2030 we want to deliver on our creative careers promise, to build a pipeline of talent into the sector and supports a million extra jobs. The Sector Vision includes a long-term strategy to improve the job quality and working practices in the sector, including supporting the high proportion of self-employed workers through the promotion of fair treatment, support networks and resources (for example through Creative UK's Redesigning Freelancing initiative).</p><p>The Government also welcomes the steps that our public service broadcasters have taken to support self-employed workers in response to current pressures. This includes the programme of support Channel 4 and the BBC announced in August, in partnership with the National Film and Television School.</p><p>DCMS and industry have also committed to produce an action plan in response to the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre’s Good Work Review, and actions include the recent launch of the British Film Institute’s £1.5 million Good Work Programme for screen. The government will continue to work with the BFI and the Screen Sector Skills Task Force to support a strong skills pipeline in the sector.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 13/05/2024 13:44:22 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1716356

registered interest
date	08/05/2024
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	Public Libraries
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help encourage visitors to libraries.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	25252
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2024 answer text <p>We will be publishing a refreshed Government strategy for public libraries later this year, informed by the independent review of English public libraries conducted by Baroness Sanderson of Welton which engaged with a wide range of interested parties, including through the series of roundtable meetings she held across the country.</p><p>One of the recommendations of Baroness Sanderson’s review was that Libraries Week be moved from October, which often clashes with the party conference season, to a time in the year when MPs and peers can more easily engage with it and promote the work of libraries in their local area. We are delighted that, from this year, Libraries Week will take place at the end of June (this year, 24–30 June).</p><p>The forthcoming strategy will set out our plans to ensure that people across the country can benefit from excellent library services, and HM Government will explore opportunities to increase library use and engagement especially by children in line with Baroness Sanderson’s independent review recommendations.</p><p>In addition, the £20.5 million, DCMS-funded Libraries Improvement Fund is supporting public library services across England. The fund is supporting 95 projects to enable library services to upgrade their buildings and improve digital infrastructure, increasing their potential to develop more flexible spaces and improving digital access, thereby increasing library access and use.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 14/05/2024 16:20:37 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1716163

registered interest
date	07/05/2024
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	Water Sports
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many water sports (a) training sessions, (b) activities and (c) events have been reported to her Department due to unsafe water quality in each year since 2020.
tabling member constituency	Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
tabling member printed	Jamie Stone
uin	24987
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2024 answer text <p>Event organisers, including National Governing Bodies (NGBs), are responsible for ensuring appropriate measures are in place to protect participants.</p><p>We recognise the need for water sport participants to have access to consistent and up-to-date data about bathing water quality. DCMS is working with relevant water based National Governing Bodies and the Outdoors For All Coalition to understand the barriers to accessing and participating in green and blue spaces.</p><p>Designated bathing waters and water quality monitoring in England is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Environment Agency (EA). DEFRA is a permanent member of the National Physical Activity Taskforce, which ensures that we deliver coordinated policy that will help encourage people to get active.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Pudsey answering member printed Stuart Andrew question first answered 14/05/2024 10:26:44 answering member 4032 label Biography information for Stuart Andrew
tabling member	4612 label Biography information for Jamie Stone

1714644

registered interest
date	29/04/2024
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	Gambling: Video Games
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department (a) has and (b) plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of micro-transactions in video games on levels of spending among children and young people.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	24075
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government monitors the impact of microtransactions in video games on players, including children and young people. In 2020, we launched a call for evidence on loot boxes in video games which found an association between purchasing loot boxes and problem gambling, although no causal link has been found.</p><p>We have since <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/loot-boxes-in-video-games-update-on-improvements-to-industry-led-protections" target="_blank">welcomed </a>new industry-led <a href="https://ukie.org.uk/loot-boxes" target="_blank">guidance</a> to improve protections for players and meet the following Government objectives that:</p><ul><li><p>purchases of loot boxes should be unavailable to all children and young people unless and until they are enabled by a parent or guardian; and</p></li><li><p>all players should have access to and be aware of spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gaming.</p></li></ul><p>We are working with industry and academics to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the new guidance and will provide an update following the 12-month implementation period, and independent academic scrutiny. We continue to keep our position on possible future legislative options under review. We monitor developments in other international jurisdictions, including Belgium, although no recent discussions with Belgian counterparts have taken place.</p><p>Whilst the new guidance relates to paid loot boxes specifically, a number of the measures are relevant to in-game microtransactions more broadly, particularly for children and young people. This includes driving awareness of and uptake of parental controls, and running a three-year £1 million public information campaign to provide information to players and parents about safe and responsible play</p><p>We have also published a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/video-games-research-framework/video-games-research-framework" target="_blank">Video Games Research Framework</a> to improve the evidence base on the impacts of video games, including microtransactions and player spending. The Framework outlines the research topics and priorities which we have identified as core areas in need of further research. This includes better understanding of the impact of different monetisation features on players’ experiences, and the effectiveness of mechanisms to mitigate the risk of problematic spending behaviours.</p><p>While some microtransactions share similarities with traditional gambling products, we view the ability to legitimately cash out rewards as an important distinction. In particular, the prize does not normally have real world monetary value outside of the game, and its primary utility is to enhance the in-game experience. The Gambling Commission has shown that it can and will take robust enforcement action where the trading of items obtained from in-game microtransactions does amount to unlicensed gambling. Microtransactions within video games - including loot boxes - are also subject to consumer protection legislation that protects against misleading or aggressive marketing.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 24076 24077 24078 question first answered 02/05/2024 15:34:21 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1714646

registered interest
date	29/04/2024
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	Gambling: Video Games
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of micro-transactions in video games on gambling behaviours among children and young people.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	24076
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government monitors the impact of microtransactions in video games on players, including children and young people. In 2020, we launched a call for evidence on loot boxes in video games which found an association between purchasing loot boxes and problem gambling, although no causal link has been found.</p><p>We have since <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/loot-boxes-in-video-games-update-on-improvements-to-industry-led-protections" target="_blank">welcomed </a>new industry-led <a href="https://ukie.org.uk/loot-boxes" target="_blank">guidance</a> to improve protections for players and meet the following Government objectives that:</p><ul><li><p>purchases of loot boxes should be unavailable to all children and young people unless and until they are enabled by a parent or guardian; and</p></li><li><p>all players should have access to and be aware of spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gaming.</p></li></ul><p>We are working with industry and academics to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the new guidance and will provide an update following the 12-month implementation period, and independent academic scrutiny. We continue to keep our position on possible future legislative options under review. We monitor developments in other international jurisdictions, including Belgium, although no recent discussions with Belgian counterparts have taken place.</p><p>Whilst the new guidance relates to paid loot boxes specifically, a number of the measures are relevant to in-game microtransactions more broadly, particularly for children and young people. This includes driving awareness of and uptake of parental controls, and running a three-year £1 million public information campaign to provide information to players and parents about safe and responsible play</p><p>We have also published a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/video-games-research-framework/video-games-research-framework" target="_blank">Video Games Research Framework</a> to improve the evidence base on the impacts of video games, including microtransactions and player spending. The Framework outlines the research topics and priorities which we have identified as core areas in need of further research. This includes better understanding of the impact of different monetisation features on players’ experiences, and the effectiveness of mechanisms to mitigate the risk of problematic spending behaviours.</p><p>While some microtransactions share similarities with traditional gambling products, we view the ability to legitimately cash out rewards as an important distinction. In particular, the prize does not normally have real world monetary value outside of the game, and its primary utility is to enhance the in-game experience. The Gambling Commission has shown that it can and will take robust enforcement action where the trading of items obtained from in-game microtransactions does amount to unlicensed gambling. Microtransactions within video games - including loot boxes - are also subject to consumer protection legislation that protects against misleading or aggressive marketing.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 24075 24077 24078 question first answered 02/05/2024 15:34:21 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1714649

registered interest
date	29/04/2024
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	Gambling: Video Games
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 her Belgian counterpart on regulating micro-transactions in video games as gambling.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	24077
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government monitors the impact of microtransactions in video games on players, including children and young people. In 2020, we launched a call for evidence on loot boxes in video games which found an association between purchasing loot boxes and problem gambling, although no causal link has been found.</p><p>We have since <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/loot-boxes-in-video-games-update-on-improvements-to-industry-led-protections" target="_blank">welcomed </a>new industry-led <a href="https://ukie.org.uk/loot-boxes" target="_blank">guidance</a> to improve protections for players and meet the following Government objectives that:</p><ul><li><p>purchases of loot boxes should be unavailable to all children and young people unless and until they are enabled by a parent or guardian; and</p></li><li><p>all players should have access to and be aware of spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gaming.</p></li></ul><p>We are working with industry and academics to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the new guidance and will provide an update following the 12-month implementation period, and independent academic scrutiny. We continue to keep our position on possible future legislative options under review. We monitor developments in other international jurisdictions, including Belgium, although no recent discussions with Belgian counterparts have taken place.</p><p>Whilst the new guidance relates to paid loot boxes specifically, a number of the measures are relevant to in-game microtransactions more broadly, particularly for children and young people. This includes driving awareness of and uptake of parental controls, and running a three-year £1 million public information campaign to provide information to players and parents about safe and responsible play</p><p>We have also published a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/video-games-research-framework/video-games-research-framework" target="_blank">Video Games Research Framework</a> to improve the evidence base on the impacts of video games, including microtransactions and player spending. The Framework outlines the research topics and priorities which we have identified as core areas in need of further research. This includes better understanding of the impact of different monetisation features on players’ experiences, and the effectiveness of mechanisms to mitigate the risk of problematic spending behaviours.</p><p>While some microtransactions share similarities with traditional gambling products, we view the ability to legitimately cash out rewards as an important distinction. In particular, the prize does not normally have real world monetary value outside of the game, and its primary utility is to enhance the in-game experience. The Gambling Commission has shown that it can and will take robust enforcement action where the trading of items obtained from in-game microtransactions does amount to unlicensed gambling. Microtransactions within video games - including loot boxes - are also subject to consumer protection legislation that protects against misleading or aggressive marketing.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 24075 24076 24078 question first answered 02/05/2024 15:34:21 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1714650

registered interest
date	29/04/2024
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	Gambling: Video Games
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 plans to increase regulation of micro-transactions in video games.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	24078
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government monitors the impact of microtransactions in video games on players, including children and young people. In 2020, we launched a call for evidence on loot boxes in video games which found an association between purchasing loot boxes and problem gambling, although no causal link has been found.</p><p>We have since <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/loot-boxes-in-video-games-update-on-improvements-to-industry-led-protections" target="_blank">welcomed </a>new industry-led <a href="https://ukie.org.uk/loot-boxes" target="_blank">guidance</a> to improve protections for players and meet the following Government objectives that:</p><ul><li><p>purchases of loot boxes should be unavailable to all children and young people unless and until they are enabled by a parent or guardian; and</p></li><li><p>all players should have access to and be aware of spending controls and transparent information to support safe and responsible gaming.</p></li></ul><p>We are working with industry and academics to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the new guidance and will provide an update following the 12-month implementation period, and independent academic scrutiny. We continue to keep our position on possible future legislative options under review. We monitor developments in other international jurisdictions, including Belgium, although no recent discussions with Belgian counterparts have taken place.</p><p>Whilst the new guidance relates to paid loot boxes specifically, a number of the measures are relevant to in-game microtransactions more broadly, particularly for children and young people. This includes driving awareness of and uptake of parental controls, and running a three-year £1 million public information campaign to provide information to players and parents about safe and responsible play</p><p>We have also published a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/video-games-research-framework/video-games-research-framework" target="_blank">Video Games Research Framework</a> to improve the evidence base on the impacts of video games, including microtransactions and player spending. The Framework outlines the research topics and priorities which we have identified as core areas in need of further research. This includes better understanding of the impact of different monetisation features on players’ experiences, and the effectiveness of mechanisms to mitigate the risk of problematic spending behaviours.</p><p>While some microtransactions share similarities with traditional gambling products, we view the ability to legitimately cash out rewards as an important distinction. In particular, the prize does not normally have real world monetary value outside of the game, and its primary utility is to enhance the in-game experience. The Gambling Commission has shown that it can and will take robust enforcement action where the trading of items obtained from in-game microtransactions does amount to unlicensed gambling. Microtransactions within video games - including loot boxes - are also subject to consumer protection legislation that protects against misleading or aggressive marketing.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 24075 24076 24077 question first answered 02/05/2024 15:34:21 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1714072

registered interest
date	26/04/2024
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	GB News: Political Impartiality
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 recent discussions with Ofcom on (a) the impartiality of and (b) sanctions on GB News.
tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
tabling member printed	Patricia Gibson
uin	23882
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ofcom on a range of issues. Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code sets out rules to ensure that broadcast news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. The Government is committed to a free and independent media and does not interfere with Ofcom's regulatory or operational decisions, including how broadcast content is regulated.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 23883 question first answered 01/05/2024 14:12:35 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4435 label Biography information for Patricia Gibson

1714073

registered interest
date	26/04/2024
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	Broadcasting: Political Impartiality
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 Ofcom on impartiality rules in broadcasting.
tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
tabling member printed	Patricia Gibson
uin	23883
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ofcom on a range of issues. Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code sets out rules to ensure that broadcast news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. The Government is committed to a free and independent media and does not interfere with Ofcom's regulatory or operational decisions, including how broadcast content is regulated.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez grouped question UIN 23882 question first answered 01/05/2024 14:12:35 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4435 label Biography information for Patricia Gibson

1713028

registered interest
date	23/04/2024
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	Video Games
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of prohibiting the practice of intentionally rendering commercial videogames inoperable when support ends.
tabling member constituency	St Ives
tabling member printed	Derek Thomas
uin	23259
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises recent concerns raised by video games users regarding the long-term operability of purchased products. Video games publishers must comply with existing consumer law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs).</p><p>The CPRs protect consumers from being given false or misleading information by businesses. If consumers purchased a game on the understanding that it would continue to be playable, even when support ends, then the CPRs may provide recourse.</p><p>Under the CRA, consumers have clear rights when buying digital content, such as video games, supplied in digital form. Any digital content the consumer has paid for must be as described and of a satisfactory quality. If digital content does not meet these requirements, the consumer is entitled to a repair or replacement, or a price reduction or refund if the fault cannot be fixed. The CRA has a time limit of up to six years after a breach of contract during which a consumer can take legal action.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 26/04/2024 08:58:31 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
tabling member	4532 label Biography information for Derek Thomas