Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of local newspapers' (1) importance to local communities and towns, and (2) economic health and future viability; and what plans they have to provide support to local newspapers.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government is committed to supporting local and regional newspapers as vital pillars of communities and local democracy. They play an essential role in holding power to account, keeping the public informed of local issues and providing reliable, high-quality information. They also play a key role in democratic engagement - last year, government-commissioned research into the importance of newspapers to local communities found that changes in news provision and consumption over time had significant effects on participation in local elections in England, underlining the vital importance of a sustainable local news industry to a properly functioning democracy.
However, as the independent Cairncross Review into the future of journalism identified, society is increasingly moving online and local news publishers are facing significant challenges in transitioning to sustainable digital business models. The government agreed with the majority of the Review’s recommendations for supporting the sector, and has already taken steps to implement many of them. Most recently, the government response to the CMA market study into online platforms and digital advertising accepted the case for a new pro-competition regime for digital markets. At the heart of this will be a mandatory code of conduct to govern the relationships between dominant firms and those that rely on their services, including news publishers. The code will be a significant intervention in the government’s effort to support the sustainability of the news publishing industry, helping to rebalance the relationship between publishers and the online platforms on which they increasingly rely.
In addition, local newspapers have benefited from a number of other recent interventions, including the extension of business rates relief for local newspapers in England for an additional five years; the investment of £2 million in the Future News Fund; and the zero-rating of VAT on e-newspapers. During the pandemic, many newspapers have also benefited from a unique and unprecedented government advertising partnership, designed to deliver important messages to UK citizens. Newspapers received up to £35 million additional government advertising revenue as part of the first phase of our coronavirus communications campaign. The campaign has subsequently been extended with at least 60% funding going to smaller regional and local titles.
We will continue to consider all possible options in the interests of promoting and sustaining high-quality news journalism at a local level.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the importance of public swimming pools for the promotion of recreation, health and public safety, (2) the extent of the threat to many of them due to COVID-19 and funding shortfalls, and (3) the need for Government intervention to prevent their closure.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The consideration of different venues and the activities involved are underpinned by understanding the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 associated with particular activities.
We recognise the importance of re-opening our indoor and outdoor pools and we agree that swimming is a great way for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy. There are concerns about transmission around points of contact within such facilities, like changing rooms due to the high volume of contacts. As such, we need to provide reassurance that these facilities will be safe, and are working hard to achieve this as soon as we can.
The Government is actively working towards a safe way to re-open these facilities, with supporting guidance. The income scheme announced on Thursday 2 July by the Secretary of State for Local Government, aims to support local authorities who have incurred irrecoverable loss of income from sales, fees and charge which they had reasonably budgeted for. Further guidance will follow on the principle of the scheme.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by ukactive and Community Leisure UK that nearly half of all public leisure centres could close permanently between now and the end of the year due to an estimated shortfall of over £800 million; and what steps they will take to prevent this from happening.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active. The Government has made it clear that it will adopt a phased approach based on scientific and medical advice, and that the primary goal is to protect public health.
The Government is in discussions with representatives from the sport and physical activity sector about the steps required to restart grassroots sport and will update the public when it is deemed safe to reopen sports venues. Grassroots sports facilities like leisure centres are also important parts of their communities and deliver vital health and wellbeing benefits.
The income scheme announced on Thursday 2 July by the Secretary of State for Local Government, aims to support local authorities who have incurred irrecoverable loss of income from sales, fees and charge which they had reasonably budgeted for. Further guidance will follow on the principle of the scheme.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of regional broadcasting in the process of levelling up the regions of England; and what discussions they (1) have had, or (2) intend to have, with the BBC about proposed cuts to English regional television.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Broadcasting plays an important role in reflecting and representing people and communities from all over the UK. The BBC has a particular role to play here. The BBC’s Royal Charter requires the BBC to represent, reflect and serve audiences, taking into account the needs of diverse communities of all the UK nations and regions.
The BBC’s proposed cuts to English regional television were debated in the chamber on 22 June 2020 with unanimous support for regional broadcasting. However, the BBC is editorially and operationally independent of government, and regional programming is a matter for the BBC.
Under the new regulatory system introduced by the government in 2017, the BBC Board must ensure the BBC complies with its Charter duties, and the government established Ofcom as the BBC regulator to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the role of professional and semi-professional football and other sporting clubs in the community life and economy of small and medium-sized towns, and (2) the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial position and future of such clubs; and whether they have plans to provide support to such clubs.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Football clubs form an integral part of this country, with many holding great social and economic value to their local communities. The generosity and care shown by football clubs of all sizes never ceases to amaze with many volunteering both time and money during these difficult times.
Their presence will continue to be vital as we emerge from the pandemic and it is therefore important they are given as much support as possible.
In light of this, the Government announced a comprehensive and sizable package of direct fiscal support for business through tax reliefs, cash grants and employee wage support.
It is also crucial that the football community comes together at this time, and I have underlined our expectation that the resumption of the Premier League and the Championship will benefit the entire football pyramid.
The Government will continue to liaise closely with all the football authorities to further understand the difficulties clubs are experiencing.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Barran on 11 February (HL Deb, col 2148), which funding streams in their control are available towards the renovation, refurbishment and re-use of empty Victorian mills and similar structures in the Pennine area of the North of England.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Government encourages proposals for mill refurbishments to be brought forward under the £3.6billion Towns Fund, following the successful conversion of Sunny Bank Mill in Leeds referenced in its prospectus. Funding for mill conversions into housing can be sought through the £4.5billion Home Building Fund, which has already provided £20million of development capital for five mill conversions across Bradford, Harrogate and Leeds, delivering 348 new homes. Government’s heritage bodies can also help to unlock the potential of historic mills. The National Lottery Heritage Fund gives grants of up to £5million through its Heritage Enterprise programme, to schemes seeking to achieve economic growth by investing in heritage and returning an historic asset to a viable productive use.
New proposals to unleash the potential of the North and all regions across England will be brought forward in a devolution white paper in the coming months, devolving power and funding to people and places so that every part of the country can shape its own destiny.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the requirements for (1) elected councillors, (2) police and crime commissioners, and (3) elected mayors to register under the General Data Protection Regulations.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Under the Data Protection Act 2018, those defined as data controllers, which may include elected councillors, police and crime commissioners and elected mayors, are no longer required to notify and register with Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Data controllers are however required to pay an annual charge to the ICO and provide the information necessary to determine that charge unless a relevant exemption applies. The Data Protection (Charges and Information) Regulations 2018, which came into force on the 25th May 2018, introduced a new data protection charge, replacing the previous notification fee, which was associated with the previous legal requirement on data controllers to register with the ICO.
Currently, data controllers do not have to pay the annual data protection charge if they process personal data without an automated system, such as a computer, or if they only process personal data for one (or more) of the following purposes: staff administration; advertising, marketing and public relations; accounts and records; not-for-profit purposes; personal, family or household affairs; maintaining a public register; and judicial functions. Charities and small occupational pension schemes are also automatically subject to the lowest tier of charge.
On 17th December 2018 an amendment to the Regulations was laid in Parliament to introduce a new exemption for the payment of the annual data protection charge for (i) members of the House of Lords; and (ii) elected representatives, as defined in paragraph 23(3) of Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 2018 (“the DPA 2018”) in connection with the discharge of their respective functions; and (iii) relevant processing undertaken by candidates (prospective and validly nominated) seeking to become elected representatives. This new exemption would apply specifically to elected councillors, police and crime commissioners and elected mayors.
Subject to Parliamentary processes (and a vote in each House), the exemption will come into force from 1 April 2019.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential effects of involving social media providers in educating children on the use of social media.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
We believe that protecting children online is everyone's responsibility and that social media providers can positively contribute to our aim of making Britain the safest place in the world to be online.
By incorporating online safety messages and highlighting safety tools within their platforms, social media providers can remind children about how to stay safe and help parents understand the best ways of protecting their children.
As part of the work on the Digital Charter announced in the Queen's Speech, the Government is considering a range of options to counter internet harms.
This includes an Internet Safety Strategy which will look at how we can support users so that everyone can access the benefits of the Internet safely. The Strategy, which was published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on 11 October, considers the responsibilities of companies to their users, the use of technical solutions to prevent online harms and government's role in supporting users. The Strategy also considers the role that technology companies can play in awareness and education for users, including children.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the practice of certain online gambling providers contacting infrequent users via email in order to advise them to return to the service or risk having their accounts frozen and winnings removed; and what assessment they have made of the likely effect of that practice on gambling addiction.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
All licensed gambling operators providing gambling facilities to customers in Great Britain are required to ensure that the terms on which gambling is offered are fair and open.
As part of a joint programme of work to tackle unfair terms and practices in the gambling industry, the Gambling Commission and the Competition and Markets Authority are investigating the obstacles people face when trying to withdraw their money after gaming or betting online, including ‘dormancy’ charges on players’ accounts after a period of inactivity, or terms which remove all funds from inactive accounts.
It is a further licensing requirement that marketing should be socially responsible, and should not be sent to those who have self-excluded. A new online self-exclusion scheme called ‘Gamstop’ is due to be launched by spring of next year. The scheme will allow customers to self-exclude from all British licensed operators in a single step and will significantly strengthen the self-exclusion arrangements available for online gamblers.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
Her Majesty's Government whether the Community Organisers programme is still in place; if so, (1) to which Government department or agency it is accountable, and (2) in which places it is in operation; if not, when it was brought to a close and on what authority; and for each year in which it has operated, what was the cost.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Community Organisers programme contract ran from 2010 - 2015. A new Community Organisers Expansion Programme was launched in March 2017 and will run until 2020.
1) The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) contracted the delivery of the Community Organisers Expansion Programme.
2) 20 Social Action Hubs will be appointed across England to train Community Organisers as part of the Expansion Programme. The first 10 hubs have been publicly announced (http://www.corganisers.org.uk/news/launch-2nd-round-funding) and the second 10 will be announced later in 2017.
3) The Community Organisers programme costs for 2010 - 2015 are published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts which can be found at the link below. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-annual-reports-and-accounts. The Community Organisers Expansion programme costs for the financial year 2016/17 will be published by DCMS in mid July 2017 on the Gov.uk website.