Asked by: Lord Knight of Weymouth (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the child protection benefits of streaming services partnering with the British Board of Film Classification to ensure that content is appropriately age-rated.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has not made an assessment of the child protection benefits of streaming services partnering with the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Ofcom, as the independent regulator, now has a new duty introduced through the Media Act 2024 to assess audience protection measures used by video-on-demand (VoD) services, such as age ratings, to ensure they are adequate to protect audiences from harm. The Government will in due course be designating mainstream VoD services, bringing them under enhanced regulation by Ofcom. Ofcom will then consult on a new standards code for these services, similar to the Broadcasting Code. This could include the use of age ratings, if Ofcom considers it appropriate.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the financial impact on vulnerable groups of the costs of moving from terrestrial television broadcasts to internet protocol television.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has an ongoing project on the future of TV distribution that is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. This will include assessing the advantages of hybrid television distribution models, as well as other options such as IPTV transition.
As part of this project, the Government published independent research led by Exeter University last year that included data on the use of different distribution methods by a range of different demographic groups, which included rural communities. A wide range of views are being sought from across the TV sector, audience groups and infrastructure through the Stakeholder Forum.
This includes a number of groups representing rural and UK-wide audiences, such as the Rural Services Network.
With regards to vulnerable groups, the Government has now published qualitative research that was commissioned to understand in more detail the specific preferences, motivations and barriers regarding TV viewing among groups who are currently unconnected. This research included groups who could be vulnerable. Affordability is a factor that is in scope of the Stakeholder Forum, which includes members with specific expertise on this issue; such as the Digital Poverty Alliance.
The future of DTT is secured in legislation until at least 2034. Before any decision is made in relation to the availability of services beyond this point, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television. The government stakeholder forum will conclude later this year and then the government will make a decision.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to make a decision about the long-term future of digital terrestrial television beyond 2034.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has an ongoing project on the future of TV distribution that is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. This will include assessing the advantages of hybrid television distribution models, as well as other options such as IPTV transition.
As part of this project, the Government published independent research led by Exeter University last year that included data on the use of different distribution methods by a range of different demographic groups, which included rural communities. A wide range of views are being sought from across the TV sector, audience groups and infrastructure through the Stakeholder Forum.
This includes a number of groups representing rural and UK-wide audiences, such as the Rural Services Network.
With regards to vulnerable groups, the Government has now published qualitative research that was commissioned to understand in more detail the specific preferences, motivations and barriers regarding TV viewing among groups who are currently unconnected. This research included groups who could be vulnerable. Affordability is a factor that is in scope of the Stakeholder Forum, which includes members with specific expertise on this issue; such as the Digital Poverty Alliance.
The future of DTT is secured in legislation until at least 2034. Before any decision is made in relation to the availability of services beyond this point, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television. The government stakeholder forum will conclude later this year and then the government will make a decision.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term future of digital terrestrial television, in particular the national resilience value of a commercially viable broadcast network.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government understands how important it is that everyone can access information in times of national emergency. Television and radio both play an important role in providing such access in a range of different emergency scenarios, including scenarios where other communications may be disrupted.
The BBC has specific requirements under its Framework Agreement in relation to broadcast security and resilience, and works closely with DCMS in ensuring its networks are able to support emergency communications.
The Government’s project looking into the future of TV distribution is considering a range of relevant factors, including the future resilience requirements for broadcast networks.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of digital terrestrial television to critical national infrastructure.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government understands how important it is that everyone can access information in times of national emergency. Television and radio both play an important role in providing such access in a range of different emergency scenarios, including scenarios where other communications may be disrupted.
The BBC has specific requirements under its Framework Agreement in relation to broadcast security and resilience, and works closely with DCMS in ensuring its networks are able to support emergency communications.
The Government’s project looking into the future of TV distribution is considering a range of relevant factors, including the future resilience requirements for broadcast networks.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value of digital terrestrial television to rural connectivity.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has an ongoing project on the future of TV distribution that is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. This will include assessing the advantages of hybrid television distribution models, as well as other options such as IPTV transition.
As part of this project, the Government published independent research led by Exeter University last year that included data on the use of different distribution methods by a range of different demographic groups, which included rural communities. A wide range of views are being sought from across the TV sector, audience groups and infrastructure through the Stakeholder Forum.
This includes a number of groups representing rural and UK-wide audiences, such as the Rural Services Network.
With regards to vulnerable groups, the Government has now published qualitative research that was commissioned to understand in more detail the specific preferences, motivations and barriers regarding TV viewing among groups who are currently unconnected. This research included groups who could be vulnerable. Affordability is a factor that is in scope of the Stakeholder Forum, which includes members with specific expertise on this issue; such as the Digital Poverty Alliance.
The future of DTT is secured in legislation until at least 2034. Before any decision is made in relation to the availability of services beyond this point, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television. The government stakeholder forum will conclude later this year and then the government will make a decision.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the needs of viewers in Northern Ireland are taken into account in the Future of TV Distribution Stakeholder Forum.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government’s project on the future of TV distribution is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. As part of this process, a wide range of views are being sought. The Stakeholder Forum benefits from the perspectives of a number of groups representing the interests of Northern Irish and UK-wide audiences, such as Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Digital Poverty Alliance and Silver Voices as well as the BBC. The Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the devolved governments alongside industry representatives from Northern Ireland to understand the unique characteristics of broadcasting in each nation well in advance of any decision being taken.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the distribution of financial awards by the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As an MP representing a mining community and previous member of the Coalfields Communities APPG, I understand the concerns raised about the performance of the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO). As a constituency MP I have spoken to both ex-miners and stakeholders about the practices of CISWO. I would strongly encourage CISWO to strengthen its engagement with the coalfield communities that it was established to support.
As the Minister for Civil Society, I have met with the Charity Commission to discuss CISWO’s support for coal mining communities, and I know that the Charity Commission is in contact with CISWO directly. CISWO is an independent charity that does not receive direct government funding. It is for the charity trustees to make decisions about how it should deliver its charitable purpose. If the trustees are acting within the law, fulfilling their duties and furthering their charitable purpose, the Charity Commission cannot become involved in the internal decision making of a charity.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with ex-miners and stakeholders on the financial practices of CISWO.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As an MP representing a mining community and previous member of the Coalfields Communities APPG, I understand the concerns raised about the performance of the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO). As a constituency MP I have spoken to both ex-miners and stakeholders about the practices of CISWO. I would strongly encourage CISWO to strengthen its engagement with the coalfield communities that it was established to support.
As the Minister for Civil Society, I have met with the Charity Commission to discuss CISWO’s support for coal mining communities, and I know that the Charity Commission is in contact with CISWO directly. CISWO is an independent charity that does not receive direct government funding. It is for the charity trustees to make decisions about how it should deliver its charitable purpose. If the trustees are acting within the law, fulfilling their duties and furthering their charitable purpose, the Charity Commission cannot become involved in the internal decision making of a charity.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support the (a) preservation and (b) public accessibility of the legacy photographic archives documenting the (i) industrial and (ii) cultural heritage of Tiverton and Minehead constituency; and if she will allocate funding to ensure their (A) full restoration and (B) public release.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Since 2013, The National Archives has served as the archive sector leader in England, and is responsible for providing guidance and support to archives.
The National Archives is a non-ministerial government department which is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Archival institutions which require information and support on how best to protect their collections, and ensure such collections are accessible to the public, are encouraged to contact officials in The National Archives.