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1352536

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2021
	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: Standards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Department's news story, It’s time to level up Britain’s screens, published on 23 June 2021, what evidence his Department used to inform the assessment that choice is no longer an issue for UK viewers.
	tabling member constituency	Maidstone and The Weald
	tabling member printed	Mrs Helen Grant
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	41839
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>There is a wealth of evidence set out in our consultation document that supports the case we have made about the evolving media landscape and the challenges this presents for linear TV broadcasters. Linear TV viewing is down almost 60% amongst 16-25 year olds since 2010, whilst 16-34 year olds now spend almost twice as much time on YouTube and subscription VoD services than they do with broadcast content. There are now 315 channels, compared to 5 in 1982 when Channel 4 was established. Linear TV advertising revenues - which constituted <del class="ministerial">over 90</del><ins class="ministerial">74</ins>% of Channel 4’s revenue in 2020 - have declined across the sector at a compound annual rate of 2.5% since 2015.</p><p>Moreover, Ofcom, in their latest recommendations to Government on the future of public service media, outlined what it called the ‘rapid change in the industry – driven by global commercial trends and a transformation in viewing habits - [which] is making it harder for public service broadcasters to compete for audiences and maintain their current offer”.</p><p>It is against this backdrop that the Government is taking action through a strategic review of the UK’s public service broadcasting system, with plans to bring forward a White Paper in the Autumn, to ensure that our traditional public service broadcasters are equipped to retain their place at the centre of the UK’s media ecosystem.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 13/09/2021 16:35:03 question first ministerially corrected 28/09/2021 10:52:04 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez previous answer version 21016 answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale answering member 39
	tabling member	4018 label Biography information for Mrs Helen Grant

1354212

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2021
	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	Channel Four Television: Privatisation
	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 (a) undertake and (b) publish an impact assessment on the implications of the privatisation of Channel 4.
	tabling member constituency	Ashford
	tabling member printed	Damian Green
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	45653
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2021 answer text <p>The government has recently consulted on whether an alternative ownership model for Channel 4 (but one where it retains a public service remit) may be better for the broadcaster, and better for the country.</p><p>We want Channel 4 to continue to be a public service broadcaster, and we want it to and continue to contribute socially, economically and culturally to life across the UK. But there is a wealth of evidence - including Ofcom’s recent report - on the future challenges facing our traditional linear TV broadcasters. Channel 4 is uniquely constrained in its ability to meet these challenges while it remains under public ownership - particularly because its access to capital and ability to pursue strategic partnership opportunities is limited.</p><p>Moving Channel 4 into private ownership could allow it to access new capital, take advantage of international opportunities, and create strategic partnerships only available through the private sector.</p><p>Consulting on the broadcaster’s future has therefore been about ensuring that Channel 4 can continue to contribute to the UK’s success in public service broadcasting for years to come, and how we ensure its ownership model best supports this aim</p><p>The consultation opened on 6 July, running for 10 weeks, before closing on 14 September. We are currently analysing responses to our consultation, and evidence received through it, to inform our policy-making decisions. Once we have answered the questions set out in the consultation, we will know what specific impacts to assess and will therefore be in a position to carry out an impact assessment.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/09/2021 08:47:57 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1354263

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2021
	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: Nottinghamshire
	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 progress his Department has made on the rollout of gigabit broadband in (a) Ashfield constituency and b) Nottinghamshire.
	tabling member constituency	Ashfield
	tabling member printed	Lee Anderson
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	45927
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2021 answer text <p>Gigabit coverage in Ashfield has increased significantly in the past 12 months, with 15.33% of premises able to access a gigabit-capable broadband service, compared with 1.8% in September 2020. Additionally, 99.1% of premises in Ashfield have access to superfast broadband (&gt;30Mbps) in Ashfield, which exceeds the national average of 96.9%</p><p>To date, the Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire (BBfN) scheme has delivered 378 gigabit-capable FTTP connections across the constituency. The Hucknall exchange has also been included with Openreach’s latest commercial announcement, with delivery expected to be completed between now and April 2024.</p><p>We are backing Project Gigabit with £5 billion so hard to reach communities are not left out. Nottinghamshire falls within Phase 2 (Lot 10) of Project Gigabit. Preparations for Phase 2 are already well underway and following the Open Market Review and Public Review, formal procurement should start in November 2022 in Nottinghamshire.</p><p>Concurrently, premises in rural areas may also be in line for funding through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, with up to £210m allocated to the scheme over the next four years to support hard to reach communities. The voucher scheme offers up to £1,500 for homes and £3,500 for businesses to help to cover the costs of installing gigabit broadband to people’s doorsteps when used as part of a group scheme. Home and business owners can check the eligibility of their address and then look up suppliers in their area by going to <a href="https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p>Nottinghamshire has made good use of the scheme so far, seeing 135 voucher connections worth £340,030, with a further 372 vouchers to be connected, totalling £948,290.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/09/2021 08:58:21 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	4743 label Biography information for Lee Anderson

1354274

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2021
	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: Disadvantaged
	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 potential effect of the absence of pricing standards and regulation for fixed wireless operators on digital exclusion.
	tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	tabling member printed	Justin Madders
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	45852
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2021 answer text <p>Pricing regulation in the telecoms sector is a matter for Ofcom, the independent regulator. However, most providers of fixed wireless access price their services in line with comparable fixed line services and on a national basis.</p><p>In 2019 the Government issued Ofcom with a Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications to which it must have regard when exercising its regulatory functions. This includes tackling harmful industry practices and improving the support available to vulnerable consumers.</p><p>In order to tackle digital exclusion we have introduced the Broadband Universal Service Obligation to provide a digital safety net, ensuring a minimum level of service to participate in society and the economy, based on information provided by Ofcom. The USO came into effect on 20 March 2020, providing consumers with a legal right to request a decent broadband service, providing download speeds of at least 10 Mbps and upload speeds of 1Mbps. Whilst there is still more to do, the evidence suggests this approach is working as Ofcom’s Online Nations 2021 report showed that people are using online services more than ever with the number of UK homes with internet access increasing to about 94%.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/09/2021 15:52:59 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1354296

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2021
	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	Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation
	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 effectiveness of the governance of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	45918
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2021 answer text <p>The CDEI is an expert government body within the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport. The CDEI is a team of civil servants supported by an expert advisory board which includes globally recognised practitioners from industry, civil society and academia.</p><p>The CDEI’s current remit, as announced publicly and in Parliament on 10 September 2021, focuses on enabling trustworthy innovation in data and AI in the real-world by developing, testing and refining approaches to data and AI governance. Given this role, and after conducting a consultation on the CDEI’s future functions and statutory status as part of the National Data Strategy, the CDEI’s current governance framework as a team of civil servants supported by an expert advisory board is effective.</p><p>The CDEI is already working on some of the most pressing issues in the field, from helping the Ministry of Defence to develop ethical principles for the use of AI, to partnering with the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles to embed ethical due diligence in the future regulatory framework for self-driving vehicles.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/09/2021 15:40:38 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1354298

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2021
	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	Business: Artificial Intelligence
	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 recent discussions he has had with the Information Commissioner's Office on the provision of clear statutory guidance for businesses on algorithmic systems operating in the workplace.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	45920
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2021 answer text <p>The Secretary of State and the Information Commissioner have regular discussions to help ensure the data protection legal framework is functioning effectively and identify areas of concern.</p><p>The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) publishes a range of information to help organisations comply with their data protection obligations, including guidance for employers at: <a href="https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/documents/1064/the_employment_practices_code.pdf" target="_blank">https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisations/documents/1064/the_employment_practices_code.pdf</a>.</p><p>The ICO has also published guidance for organisations on on data protection and artificial intelligence (including algorithms), at: <a href="https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/key-data-protection-themes/guidance-on-artificial-intelligence-and-data-protection/" target="_blank">https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/key-data-protection-themes/guidance-on-artificial-intelligence-and-data-protection/</a>.</p><p>Employees who have concerns about the way employers are using their data can contact the ICO’s helpline on 0303 123 1113 or their livechat at <a href="https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/live-chat/" target="_blank">https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/live-chat/</a> for further advice, from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/09/2021 15:42:10 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1354346

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2021
	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 Economy Act 2017
	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 it remains Government policy to undertake a formal review of the impact of the changes made to the Electronic Communications Code in the Digital Economy Act 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Harrow East
	tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	45838
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2021 answer text <p>Since the introduction of the reforms in 2017 we have continually listened to feedback from stakeholders on the impact those changes have had on the expansion and improvement of digital networks across the UK. The culmination of this process was a consultation on potential further reform to the Code, published in January 2021. The consultation closed in March 2021 and responses are being considered. The government’s response will be published shortly.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/09/2021 15:44:22 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman

1354356

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2021
	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	Channel Four Television: Privatisation
	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 the Government will take to safeguard Channel 4's remit in the event of its privatisation.
	tabling member constituency	Ashford
	tabling member printed	Damian Green
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	45789
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2021 answer text <p>The Government has recently consulted on whether an alternative ownership model for Channel 4 (but one where it retains a public service remit) may be better for the broadcaster, and better for the country.</p><p>We want Channel 4 to continue to be a public service broadcaster, and we want it to and continue to contribute socially, economically and culturally to life across the UK. The reason the Government is looking into the future ownership model of Channel 4 is to ensure its sustainability and ability to deliver a PSB remit for decades to come.</p><p>Our consultation has examined Channel 4’s remit and obligations within this framework. We are currently analysing responses to our consultation, and evidence received through it, to inform our policy-making decisions.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/09/2021 08:52:11 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1354358

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2021
	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	Channel Four Television: Privatisation
	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 and publish an assessment of the impact of privatising Channel 4 on businesses and jobs in the UK TV production sector.
	tabling member constituency	Ashford
	tabling member printed	Damian Green
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	45790
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2021 answer text <p>The government recognises that Channel 4 has consistently delivered on its remit in the decades since being established, including supporting the UK’s independent production sector.</p><p>Forty years on, this sector is now flourishing. Independent production is increasingly less reliant on income from UK public service broadcasters, and will continue to be in demand for the high-quality, differentiated, distinctively British content it produces. In the 10 years between 2008 and 2018, the contribution of PSB commissions to sector revenue fell from 64% to 42%, due in large part to the growth of international revenue.</p><p>The consultation opened on 6 July, running for 10 weeks, before closing on 14 September. We are currently analysing responses to our consultation. Once we have answered the questions set out in the consultation, we will know what specific impacts to assess and will therefore be in a position to carry out an impact assessment</p><p>Whatever decision we make, it will not compromise this government’s commitment to the independent production sector and wider creative economy. Our support for the UK film and TV industry has helped it bounce back from the impact of the pandemic when it had to shut-down in March 2020. For Q4 2020 the UK film and TV industry had the second highest production spend for any quarter on record - at £1.19 billion.</p><p>Last year, the government invested over £1 billion through the creative sector tax reliefs which support the UK screen sectors. In High-End TV, the UK has seen a production boom worth over £4 billion since a dedicated tax relief was introduced in 2013.</p><p>More than 600 productions have been supported by the government’s UK Film and TV Production Restart Scheme, protecting over 55,000 jobs and securing £1.9 billion of production spend.</p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 24/09/2021 08:56:16 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1354862

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2021
	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	Channel Four Television: Privatisation
	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 an impact assessment ahead of the consultation on the privatisation of Channel 4; and what the evidential basis is that the privatisation will lead to more content investment and more jobs.
	tabling member constituency	Brent Central
	tabling member printed	Dawn Butler
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	48162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2021 answer text <p>The government has recently consulted on whether an alternative ownership model for Channel 4 (but one where it retains a public service remit) may be better for the broadcaster, and better for the country.</p><p>We want Channel 4 to continue to be a public service broadcaster, and we want it to continue to contribute socially, economically and culturally to life across the UK. But there is a wealth of evidence - including Ofcom’s recent report - on the future challenges facing our traditional linear TV broadcasters. Linear TV viewing is down almost 60% amongst 16-25 year olds since 2010, whilst 16-34 year olds now spend almost twice as much time on YouTube and subscription VoD services than they do with broadcast content. There are now 315 channels, compared to 5 in 1982 when Channel 4 was established. Linear TV advertising revenues - which constituted <del class="ministerial">over 90</del><ins class="ministerial">74</ins>% of Channel 4’s revenue in 2020 - have declined across the sector at a compound annual rate of 2.5% since 2015.</p><p>Channel 4 is uniquely constrained in its ability to meet these challenges while it remains under public ownership - particularly because its access to capital and ability to pursue strategic partnership opportunities is limited.</p><p>Moving Channel 4 into private ownership could allow it to access new capital, take advantage of international opportunities, and create strategic partnerships only available through the private sector. A thriving, sustainable Channel 4 could offer the best prospects for long-term job creation and support to the wider creative economy.</p><p>Consulting on the broadcaster’s future is therefore about ensuring that Channel 4 can continue to contribute to the UK’s success in public service broadcasting for years to come, and how we ensure its ownership model best supports this aim.</p><p>The consultation opened on 6 July, running for 10 weeks, before closing on 14 September. We are currently analysing responses to our consultation, and evidence received through it, to inform our policy-making decisions. Once we have answered the questions set out in the consultation, we will know what specific impacts to assess and will therefore be in a position to carry out an impact assessment.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez question first answered 21/09/2021 15:55:41 question first ministerially corrected 28/09/2021 10:52:34 answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez previous answer version 22726 answering member constituency Hornchurch and Upminster answering member printed Julia Lopez answering member 4647 label Biography information for Julia Lopez
	tabling member	1489 label Biography information for Dawn Butler