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1203306

registered interest
date	12/06/2020
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	Television Licences: Hearing Impairment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reasons a television licence discount is not available for people with hearing impairments.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	59258
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>The government is committed to building a digitally inclusive society, and believes that television should be accessible for all UK audiences. The BBC provides subtitling on 100% of all of its programming (excluding BBC Parliament and BBC Scotland), as well as signing 5% of its content.</p><p><strong><br></strong>Currently, under the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004, TV Licence concessions are available to people who are registered blind or severely sight impaired, and people who live in qualifying residential care and are disabled or over 60 years old. We are not considering making changes to the current concessions regime at this time. The government has committed to review the TV Licence model ahead of the next Charter Review, which is set to be completed by 2027.</p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 17/06/2020 15:14:10 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1203307

registered interest
date	12/06/2020
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	Television: Hearing Impairment
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 he plans to take steps with representatives from the BBC to improve subtitles across all BBC channels and services.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
uin	59259
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>As the independent broadcast regulator, Ofcom is responsible for holding broadcasters to account for their delivery of television access services (subtitles, audio description and signing), not the government.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Ofcom’s Code on Television Access Services sets out 10-year targets in relation to subtitling, which for BBC channels (excluding BBC Parliament and BBC Scotland) is 100% of all programming. Ofcom has found that the BBC has consistently met this target.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Ofcom’s Code provides further guidance that broadcasters should regularly monitor the quality of their access services, and ensure that scheduled access services are being provided correctly. In line with the BBC’s 2016 Royal Charter and Agreement, Ofcom is also currently reviewing how the BBC should make its UK Public Services accessible. Ofcom’s public consultation on BBC Accessibility concluded on 31 January 2020.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 17/06/2020 15:47:05 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1202805

registered interest
date	11/06/2020
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	Media: 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 support package he plans to provide to (a) newspapers and (b) media outlets more widely in response to the covid-19 outbreak, and whether conditions will be attached to that funding.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Liz Saville Roberts
uin	58751
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>Media outlets across the UK are facing existential pressures due to the impacts of Covid-19. The government remains in regular dialogue with stakeholders across the media sectors regarding ways in which this can be mitigated, in addition to the unprecedented package of nationwide support announced by the Chancellor.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In terms of newspapers in particular, the government has provided specific support to publishers during the crisis. The government has clarified that all journalists, including broadcast journalists, and other ancillary staff, are ‘key workers’ for the purposes of access to childcare and educational places. The government also issued guidance to local authorities on the importance of newspaper delivery, which has been critical to the continued dissemination of public interest news.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The government has also sought to maximise newspapers’ advertising opportunities by implementing a public information campaign to ensure the distribution of authoritative, up-to-date information about Covid-19, while also alleviating publishers’ financial pressures. The current partnership brings together over 600 titles across the UK, the vast majority of which are local papers. As with any media planning approach, titles are selected on their ability to engage with audiences at a national, regional and local level and to ensure value for money, reach and targeting efficacy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>For online media outlets, the government has taken steps to ensure the use of ‘keyword blocklisting’ technology is not inadvertently damaging any news publishers’ online advertising revenues for Covid-19 related stories. Additionally, the Chancellor brought forward the commencement of zero-rating of VAT on all e-newspapers in order to bring savings to readers and support digital publishing.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is in regular dialogue with stakeholders about ensuring the support offered is as effective and fair as it can be. Ministers are engaging with broadcasters (both TV and radio) and news publishers on a regular basis to understand the impacts of Covid-19 on their day to day operations, and how the government can support them. The government will continue to consider all possible options in the interests of promoting and sustaining high-quality news journalism.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 16/06/2020 15:46:21 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4521 label Biography information for Liz Saville Roberts

1202819

registered interest
date	11/06/2020
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	Museums and Galleries: 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 support he is providing to (a) Newcastle’s Discovery Centre and (b) other regional museums to help ensure that they are able to survive the covid-19 lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	58702
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>Museums are supported by over £200 million in emergency packages from DCMS arm’s-length bodies. As part of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums, an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, Newcastle Discovery Centre is eligible to bid for the £90 million emergency fund provided by ACE for the national portfolio. National Portfolio Organisations have also been able to benefit from drawing down quarterly funding in advance.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As well as the culture and heritage-specific support, many regional museums are eligible for the UK’s world-class package of support, including through the Job Retention Scheme and the availability of grants of up to £25,000 to leisure businesses, including museums operating from smaller premises, through the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund. The Government continues to monitor the impact of these and other measures.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>My department is in constant contact with sector bodies and museums directly, including the Director of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums as a representative of the National Museum Directors’ Council and English Civic Museums Network, to assess impacts and understand the need for support for the sector in response to COVID-19.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 16/06/2020 14:15:24 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1202820

registered interest
date	11/06/2020
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 support is offered to gigabit capable broadband operators when a landlord charges excessive wayleave fees to discourage deployment.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	58703
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>The Electronic Communications Code (“the Code”) regulates the legal relationships (including wayleave agreements) between site providers and operators of electronic communications networks (known as Code Operators) to support the rollout and maintenance of communications infrastructure.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Code was substantially revised as part of the Digital Economy Act 2017 to make it cheaper and easier for telecommunications operators to deploy their networks at pace. Rights to install infrastructure on private land are subject to an agreement being made with the landowner. Most agreements are reached on a consensual basis, but where this cannot be achieved, or where disputes arise, the Code allows either party to apply to a court for resolution of the disputed matter, i.e. by the imposition of an agreement.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The revised Code changed the basis on which access to land is valued when an agreement is imposed to a ‘no scheme’ system. Paragraph 24 of the revised Code makes clear that when assessing the consideration payable by an operator, the court must do so on the assumption of no additional value relating to the provision or use of an electronic communications network, when they are imposing an agreement. This is expected to reduce operator costs and encourage investment in infrastructure rollout.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Government expects that operators and landlords will negotiate in good faith and hopes that, in most cases, agreements will be reached on a consensual basis. However, if a landlord is seeking to charge an operator excessive fees, it is open to the operator to apply to the court for an agreement to be imposed in appropriate circumstances. Any order made to this effect will cover the price that must be paid to the landlord, and will be based on the statutory valuation regime, which is specifically designed to prevent “ransom” pricing.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Boston and Skegness answering member printed Matt Warman question first answered 16/06/2020 14:28:24 answering member 4361 label Biography information for Matt Warman
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1202822

registered interest
date	11/06/2020
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	Theatre Royal Newcastle upon Tyne: 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 additional financial support he plans to allocate to Newcastle’s Theatre Royal in the event that the theatre is not able to hold public events for the remainder of 2020.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	58705
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises that this is an incredibly challenging time for those in the cultural sector and that there are many organisations who are currently facing challenging and uncertain circumstances. We are very alert to this issue, and are working to find solutions that support this vital sector.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has provided the cultural sector with an unprecedented financial support package, in particular through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. In addition, Arts Council England has put together a £160 million emergency response package for the cultural sector which is available to publicly-funded organisations as well as those not usually in receipt of public funding .</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Secretary of State, Ministers and officials continue to consult the cultural sector extensively to ensure they fully understand the potential impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak on the sector. DCMS is regularly engaging with HMT to feed in their assessment of the potential impacts and to ensure the needs of the cultural sector are factored into the developing economic response, and that DCMS sectors are supported throughout this time.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 17/06/2020 15:35:10 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1202823

registered interest
date	11/06/2020
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	Local Broadcasting: Radio
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 effect on (a) jobs in the creative industries and (b) representation of northern voices on radio in the North East of Bauer medias takeover of local radio stations.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	58706
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>Whilst no such assessment has been made, we note Bauer Media’s existing presence in the North East, through its ownership of Metro Radio and TFM, which were acquired by Bauer in 2008.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The government places a very high value on local commercial radio stations retaining their local character, and Ofcom retains its regulatory powers to secure that these stations continue to provide an appropriate amount of locally made programmes and programmes including local material. Ofcom's localness guidelines can be found here: <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/information-for-industry/radio-broadcasters/localness" target="_blank">https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/information-for-industry/radio-broadcasters/localness</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 17/06/2020 15:22:10 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1202848

registered interest
date	11/06/2020
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	Hotels: 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, if he will publish guidance on when (a) hotel and (b) resort spas will be permitted to re-open during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	New Forest West
tabling member printed	Sir Desmond Swayne
uin	58597
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>My Department has been working closely with the sector, including UKHospitality, through the Visitor Economy Working Group to produce guidance on the reopening of the tourism sector. This will include guidance on hotels and other forms of accommodation. This guidance will be published shortly.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We will look at opening forms of holiday accommodation in Step 3 of the Government’s recovery strategy, currently planned for 4 July at the earliest. This will be subject to the further scientific advice and the latest risk assessment at the time.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We remain in regular contact with hotel stakeholders through the Visitor Economy Working Group and the Tourism Industry Emergency Response Group.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is committed to reopening sports and physical activity facilities as soon as it is safe to do so. We are holding regular discussions with representatives from the leisure sector and national sports organisations to develop guidance that will support them to open their facilities in a timely and safe manner once lockdown measures are eased.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 16/06/2020 14:29:51 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	55 label Biography information for Sir Desmond Swayne

1202277

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
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	Dance and Theatre: 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, whether he has received representations from representatives of (a) dancing schools, (b) the Royal Shakespeare Company and (c) other stage-based entertainment bodies on how those bodies can reopen and operate in conformity with social distancing rules; whether he has made an assessment of the practicability of those proposals; and what support his Department provides to those bodies to ensure that they will not cease to exist before their reopening is permitted by the Government.
tabling member constituency	New Forest East
tabling member printed	Dr Julian Lewis
uin	57878
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>In order to ensure appropriate support and guidance is given to the cultural sector, DCMS has established the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and the Entertainment and Events working group which include extensive membership from across the artistic and creative industries sectors. The focus of these groups’ work is on ensuring that COVID-19 secure guidelines are developed in line with the phasing ambitions and public health directions, building on the existing guidance and providing intelligence and sector-specific expert input. These groups specifically include representatives for dance and stage based entertainment, all of whom are being consulted extensively on how the sector can reopen and operate under social distancing. Full details of the Taskforce can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/culture-secretary-announces-cultural-renewal-taskforce" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/culture-secretary-announces-cultural-renewal-taskforce</a> and the Entertainment and Events Working Group can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/cultural-renewal-taskforce-and-supporting-working-groups#entertainment-and-events-members" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/cultural-renewal-taskforce-and-supporting-working-groups#entertainment-and-events-members</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State, my fellow Ministers and DCMS officials continue to consult the creative and cultural sectors extensively to ensure they understand fully the potential impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak on the sector. DCMS officials and ministers have also held regular calls with representatives from across the arts and cultural sector and these have included representatives from the Royal Shakespeare Company and a number of dance schools and representatives including Sadler’s Wells and Northern Ballet.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Secretary of State and DCMS are committed to supporting the cultural sector through this pandemic and getting the curtain up at venues across the country as soon as it is safe to do so. In addition to the unprecedented financial measures the Government has announced DCMS has also worked closely with its arm’s-length bodies to deliver tailored support packages at speed, including the £160m Emergency Funding Package announced by Arts Council England, made possible by Government funding.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 15/06/2020 16:01:25 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	54 label Biography information for Sir Julian Lewis

1202447

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
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	Charities: 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, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ringfencing funding from the Government's charity support package for charities and organisations working with communities that are disproportionately affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham North
tabling member printed	Alex Norris
uin	58061
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>The government has pledged £750 million to meet the needs of vulnerable groups disproportionately affected by Covid-19 through targeted support for voluntary and community sector organisations.</p><p> </p><p>A diverse advisory panel has been set up to assist in the distribution process for the fund. DCMS and the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF - our distribution partners for the Coronavirus Community Support Fund) are working with a number of organisations to improve the reach of the Coronavirus Community Support Fund for organisations disproportionately affected.</p><p> </p><p>The government has unlocked a further £150 million from dormant bank and building society accounts, which will be distributed to organisations to support urgent work for groups in need to tackle youth unemployment, expand access to emergency loans for civil society organisations and help improve the availability of fair, affordable credit to people in vulnerable circumstances.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 15/06/2020 11:42:17 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4641 label Biography information for Alex Norris