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Written Question
Telegraph Media Group: RedBird IMI
Monday 29th January 2024

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the proposed acquisition of Telegraph Media Group (TMG) by RedBird IMI, what steps they will take to ensure the editorial independence of TMG, given recent reports in the Times about editorial interventions in CNN Business Arabic by International Media Investments, the primary investor in RedBird IMI, following its guarantees of editorial freedom.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

On 26 January the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport issued a new Public Interest Intervention Notice in respect of the anticipated acquisition of Telegraph Media Group by RB Investco Ltd.

This follows Redbird IMI making changes to the corporate structure of the potential acquiring entities of the Telegraph Media Group. This created a new limited partnership which would hold all shares in RB Investco – the proposed purchaser of Telegraph Media Group. The Secretary of State has come to the conclusion that this corporate restructure creates a new relevant merger situation.

The Notice triggers a requirement for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to report to the Secretary of State on jurisdictional and competition matters, and for Ofcom to report on the specified media public interest considerations. Ofcom and the CMA have now both launched invitations for public comment, and will report to the Secretary of State on the issues specified in the Notice by 9.00 a.m. on 11 March 2024.

The Public Interest Intervention Notice issued on 30 November 2023 in regard to the acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Limited by RedBird IMI Media Joint Venture LLC remains in force. The deadline by when the Secretary of State expects to receive Ofcom and the CMA’s reports in relation to this Notice has also been extended to 9.00 a.m. on 11 March 2024 so as to align with the deadline for the reports she has requested in relation to the new Notice.

The Pre-emptive Action Order made on 1 December 2023 remains in force.

It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time given this is an ongoing regulatory intervention.


Written Question
Telegraph Media Group: RedBird IMI
Monday 29th January 2024

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, following the letter from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to RedBird IMI, dated 22 November 2023, to reconsider the decision not to issue a Public Interest Intervention Notice in respect of Transaction 1 identified in that letter, given subsequent media reports that RedBird IMI will have control over any potential onward sale of Telegraph Media Group.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

On 26 January the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport issued a new Public Interest Intervention Notice in respect of the anticipated acquisition of Telegraph Media Group by RB Investco Ltd.

This follows Redbird IMI making changes to the corporate structure of the potential acquiring entities of the Telegraph Media Group. This created a new limited partnership which would hold all shares in RB Investco – the proposed purchaser of Telegraph Media Group. The Secretary of State has come to the conclusion that this corporate restructure creates a new relevant merger situation.

The Notice triggers a requirement for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to report to the Secretary of State on jurisdictional and competition matters, and for Ofcom to report on the specified media public interest considerations. Ofcom and the CMA have now both launched invitations for public comment, and will report to the Secretary of State on the issues specified in the Notice by 9.00 a.m. on 11 March 2024.

The Public Interest Intervention Notice issued on 30 November 2023 in regard to the acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Limited by RedBird IMI Media Joint Venture LLC remains in force. The deadline by when the Secretary of State expects to receive Ofcom and the CMA’s reports in relation to this Notice has also been extended to 9.00 a.m. on 11 March 2024 so as to align with the deadline for the reports she has requested in relation to the new Notice.

The Pre-emptive Action Order made on 1 December 2023 remains in force.

It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time given this is an ongoing regulatory intervention.


Written Question
Telegraph Media Group: RedBird IMI
Monday 29th January 2024

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - 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 effectiveness of behavioural remedies, such as the independent editorial trust board for proposed by RedBird IMI in the event of its acquisition of the Telegraph Media Group, and the ongoing ability of regulators and the government to oversee and ensure the effectiveness of those remedies.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

On 26 January the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport issued a new Public Interest Intervention Notice in respect of the anticipated acquisition of Telegraph Media Group by RB Investco Ltd.

This follows Redbird IMI making changes to the corporate structure of the potential acquiring entities of the Telegraph Media Group. This created a new limited partnership which would hold all shares in RB Investco – the proposed purchaser of Telegraph Media Group. The Secretary of State has come to the conclusion that this corporate restructure creates a new relevant merger situation.

The Notice triggers a requirement for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to report to the Secretary of State on jurisdictional and competition matters, and for Ofcom to report on the specified media public interest considerations. Ofcom and the CMA have now both launched invitations for public comment, and will report to the Secretary of State on the issues specified in the Notice by 9.00 a.m. on 11 March 2024.

The Public Interest Intervention Notice issued on 30 November 2023 in regard to the acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Limited by RedBird IMI Media Joint Venture LLC remains in force. The deadline by when the Secretary of State expects to receive Ofcom and the CMA’s reports in relation to this Notice has also been extended to 9.00 a.m. on 11 March 2024 so as to align with the deadline for the reports she has requested in relation to the new Notice.

The Pre-emptive Action Order made on 1 December 2023 remains in force.

It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time given this is an ongoing regulatory intervention.


Written Question
Telegraph Media Group: RedBird IMI
Monday 29th January 2024

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had, or plan to have, consultations with individuals or organisations other than Ofcom and the Competition and Markets Authority in relation to the proposed acquisition of the Telegraph Media Group by RedBird IMI; and, if so, with which individuals or organisations.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

On 26 January the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport issued a new Public Interest Intervention Notice in respect of the anticipated acquisition of Telegraph Media Group by RB Investco Ltd.

This follows Redbird IMI making changes to the corporate structure of the potential acquiring entities of the Telegraph Media Group. This created a new limited partnership which would hold all shares in RB Investco – the proposed purchaser of Telegraph Media Group. The Secretary of State has come to the conclusion that this corporate restructure creates a new relevant merger situation.

The Notice triggers a requirement for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to report to the Secretary of State on jurisdictional and competition matters, and for Ofcom to report on the specified media public interest considerations. Ofcom and the CMA have now both launched invitations for public comment, and will report to the Secretary of State on the issues specified in the Notice by 9.00 a.m. on 11 March 2024.

The Public Interest Intervention Notice issued on 30 November 2023 in regard to the acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Limited by RedBird IMI Media Joint Venture LLC remains in force. The deadline by when the Secretary of State expects to receive Ofcom and the CMA’s reports in relation to this Notice has also been extended to 9.00 a.m. on 11 March 2024 so as to align with the deadline for the reports she has requested in relation to the new Notice.

The Pre-emptive Action Order made on 1 December 2023 remains in force.

It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time given this is an ongoing regulatory intervention.


Written Question
Hikvision: CCTV
Friday 26th May 2023

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any (1) security, and (2) ethical, risks posed by the installation of 38 new CCTV cameras made by Chinese state-owned firm Hikvision as part of security arrangements for His Majesty the King's Coronation.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla was an historic and hugely important occasion, which brought hundreds of thousands of people out to the streets of London – and around the whole kingdom – to celebrate. To ensure that the event was safe and well-ordered, a number of services were sub-contracted, including the provision of additional CCTV where necessary. This was done to help manage crowds, ensuring the safety of the public along the Procession.

As is standard in commercial arrangements like this, HM Government was not asked to approve the use of specific cameras. These cameras were temporarily installed at street level along the route of the procession, and were removed immediately after the weekend of the Coronation. The cameras were not part of the security arrangements for the Coronation. The cameras were standalone CCTV cameras which were connected to a secure UK private event network which cannot be accessed or shared outside the country.


Written Question
Hikvision: CCTV
Friday 26th May 2023

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they gave to the Written Statement by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 24 November 2022 (HLWS376) during the procurement of 38 new Hikvision CCTV cameras as part of security arrangements for His Majesty the King's Coronation.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla was an historic and hugely important occasion, which brought hundreds of thousands of people out to the streets of London – and around the whole kingdom – to celebrate. To ensure that the event was safe and well-ordered, a number of services were sub-contracted, including the provision of additional CCTV where necessary. This was done to help manage crowds, ensuring the safety of the public along the Procession.

As is standard in commercial arrangements like this, HM Government was not asked to approve the use of specific cameras. These cameras were temporarily installed at street level along the route of the procession, and were removed immediately after the weekend of the Coronation. The cameras were not part of the security arrangements for the Coronation. The cameras were standalone CCTV cameras which were connected to a secure UK private event network which cannot be accessed or shared outside the country.


Written Question
Newport Wafer Fab: Takeovers
Thursday 19th May 2022

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what impact the proposed takeover of Newport Wafer Fab will have on the UK's ambition in the Global Britain in a Competitive Age integrated review, published March 2021, for the UK to be a "digital and data hub" and transition to a "zero-carbon economy"; whether this will require the UK's semi-conductor supply chain to be secured; and what is the basis for their belief that the government of China has stated its aim to buy the UK's (1) semi-conductor capabilities, and (2) the associated intellectual property.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Her Majesty’s Government recognises the importance of semiconductor technology to key UK industries, our ambitions in the Integrated Review, and the wider digital ecosystem. The Government is reviewing its approach to the UK’s global semiconductor sector, working with industry experts, international partners, and representative bodies.

Her Majesty’s Government will not accept investments which compromise our national security, and all investment must meet stringent legal and regulatory requirements to protect the UK’s national interest. As an open economy, however, we welcome foreign trade and investment where it supports UK growth and jobs.


Written Question
Artificial Intelligence: China
Monday 20th December 2021

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the China State Council's A Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, published on 20 July 2017, in permitting the export of Artificial Intelligence driven devices to the UK.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

HM Government has a comprehensive set of artificial intelligence policies, including our recent National AI Strategy. This strategy will ensure that the UK’s AI ecosystem continues to flourish, so that the UK has the continued domestic capability to be a world leader in AI across all sectors.

In the development of our own approach to sectors and technologies, we keep abreast of other international plans and strategies for artificial intelligence, and their implications for the UK. We are committed to getting the national and international governance of AI technologies right in order to encourage innovation and investment, and to protect the public and our fundamental values. Given the UK’s strength in AI research, innovation, and governance, we are in a position to make a unique and important contribution to the development of global standards for AI, and to lead thinking in this arena.

We are familiar with China’s Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, issued in 2017, but recognise that it does not in isolation represent the entirety of China’s AI strategy. We note that China last year imposed its own export restrictions on its domestically generated AI technology. On 8 December 2021 the Secretary of State for International Trade informed Parliament in a written statement about a package of measures to update the export control regime. The recent review concluded that there were anomalies and inconsistencies within the UK's export control regime, and, as a result, China has been added to the list of those destinations subject to military end-use controls. The updated licensing criteria for strategic export controls apply to all goods, software, and technology which are subject to control for strategic reasons.


Written Question
Artificial Intelligence: Toys and Games
Monday 20th December 2021

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk of authoritarian regimes using Artificial Intelligence driven smart toys to collect children's data.

Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government monitors the scale and nature of data security risks, and will continue to do so. The Government takes its responsibility seriously to ensure that data and their supporting infrastructure are secure and resilient in the face of established, new, and emerging risks, including where artificial intelligence plays a role in data collection.

The Government has supported the building of strong safeguards and enforcement regimes to ensure that personal data are collected and handled responsibly and securely.

Organisations which process the personal data of individuals in the UK must comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. Organisations which fail to comply may be investigated by the Information Commissioner’s Office and, where appropriate, subject to enforcement action including fines.


Written Question
Technology: China
Wednesday 21st July 2021

Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to diversify the UK’s technology supply chains away from China.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

China is a leading member of the international community and we have a strong and constructive relationship with China in many areas. It has to be part of the solution to any major global problem we face; whether ensuring we do not face another devastating global health crisis, supporting vulnerable countries or addressing climate change. Our approach to China remains clear-eyed and rooted in our values and our interests.

The security and resilience of the UK’s telecoms networks is of paramount importance. That is why the Government undertook the Telecoms Supply Chain Review, a comprehensive review of the supply arrangements for telecoms infrastructure in the UK.

One example of where the government is seeking to diversify its supply chain is in 5G technology. On 2 July the Government published its response to the Diversification Taskforce’s recommendations on solutions and opportunities to diversify the supply market for 5G.

We will progress action across all four areas that the Taskforce focused on. As a part of our ambitious diversification strategy, we will be looking to identify opportunities to diversify component supply chains, both geographically and in terms of the range of suppliers, in order to establish greater resilience against shocks or market disruption.