Asked by: Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what role they envisage for the voluntary and community sector in the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government values the role of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector in the UK; particularly its invaluable role in tackling some of the most entrenched societal challenges in the country.
The Office for Civil Society, within DCMS, is engaging with colleagues across government, in particular MHCLG and DWP, on the development of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Our ambition is to ensure that the sector does not face unnecessary barriers in accessing future funding.
Officials will continue to engage with the sector as this work progresses and will communicate relevant updates.
Asked by: Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support and assistance they are providing to parish and town councils and parish meetings to help them get ready for, and mitigate the financial impact on taxpayers of, the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018; whether they have undertaken an impact assessment on the application of the Data Protection Bill and GDPR on parish and town councils and parish meetings; if so, whether that assessment has been published; and what discussions they have held with the National Association of Local Councils concerning the impact of the Data Protection Bill and GDPR on parish and town councils.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Government and the Information Commissioner recognise the challenges facing organisations across the UK in their preparations for the Data Protection Bill and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). There are already resources on the Commissioner's website (ico.org.uk) to help organisations employing fewer than 250 people, including parish councils, prepare. The Commissioner has launched a dedicated helpline service for smaller organisations and has updated its 'SME toolkit' to reflect the requirements of the GDPR. The Commissioner will also be simplifying her "12-step" GDPR preparation guidance in response to feedback from small and micro-enterprises and will continue to develop further guidance on both the Bill and GDPR. Parish Councils, like other data controllers, are currently required to adhere to the Data Protection Act 1998. Although the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) does change the requirements on data controllers, the Government's view is that the step up to these new standards will not be a disproportionate burden. Officials have held discussions with the National Association of Local Councils.
Asked by: Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the independent review into full-time social action will accept (1) oral, and (2) written, evidence from the public.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The study will be led by an independent expert advisory panel. It will be for the panel to decide how it will accept evidence.
Asked by: Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the creation of a legal status for full-time volunteers will be considered as part of the independent review into full-time social action.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The review will look at the kinds of full-time volunteering and social action that young people take part in, and ask how we make it easier to take part in these valuable activities. This will include any legal barriers.