To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Television Licences: Older People
Friday 11th September 2020

Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)

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

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they attached any conditions to the agreement for the BBC to fund TV licences for those aged over 75; what plans they have to reduce any grants to the BBC in line with the decision to discontinue free TV licences for those aged over 75; and what plans they have, if any, to meet the costs of providing such TV licences.

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

In the 2015 Licence Fee funding settlement, the Government agreed with the BBC that the BBC would take responsibility for the over 75s concession from June 2020. In return, the Government closed the iPlayer loophole, agreed to increase the licence fee in line with inflation for the duration of the settlement period, and reduced other BBC spending commitments. In advance of the BBC taking on full responsibility for the concession, the Government also provided phased transitional funding to the BBC to gradually introduce the cost to the BBC.

The BBC is responsible for the over 75 licence fee concession, not the Government. Following a public consultation, the BBC Board decided that from June 2020, any household with someone aged over 75 who receives Pension Credit will be entitled to a free TV licence paid for by the BBC. The Government is deeply disappointed that the BBC has chosen not to extend the over 75 licence fee concession in full. We recognise the value of free TV licences for over-75s and believe they should be funded by the BBC.



Written Question
Huawei: 5G
Tuesday 9th June 2020

Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)

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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to review the involvement of Huawei in developing the UK's 5G infrastructure.

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

The final conclusions of the Government’s Telecoms Supply Chain Review in relation to high risk vendors were announced on 28 January. The Government has been clear, however, that as risks, threats and technology changes we need to keep the position under review. On the 15th May the US Department of Commerce announced that they were taking further action against Huawei. The National Cyber Security Centre is considering what the impact of the US sanctions might be.


Written Question
Huawei: Telecommunications
Tuesday 12th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)

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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reconsider the role of Huawei in the development of telecommunications infrastructure in the UK.

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

The final conclusions of the Government’s Telecoms Supply Chain Review in relation to high risk vendors were announced on 28 January. High risk vendors should be excluded from those parts of the 5G and full fibre networks that are critical to security (“the core”), and their presence in the rest of the UK’s networks should be limited to 35 per cent, with further restrictions in sensitive geographic locations.

The UK Government does not plan to reconsider this decision. We will be introducing the Telecoms Security Bill to implement the new security framework for our telecoms networks, including the restrictions to be applied to the presence of high risk vendors, at the earliest possible opportunity.


Written Question
Chess: Iran
Tuesday 25th October 2016

Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)

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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the World Chess Federation's decision to enforce a requirement on all competitors in the Women's World Chess Championship 2017 in Iran to wear the hijab, and what discussions they have had with, and what advice they have given to, UK Chess Associations about the safety of UK citizens competing in the event.

Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde

We have had no discussions with the World Chess Federation on this matter. Visitors to any country should refer to FCO advice when travelling abroad, including abiding by local laws and customs.


Written Question
Sports Competitors: Gender Recognition
Friday 22nd July 2016

Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)

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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to allow transgender athletes to compete at the Olympic Games; what consultation they have had with the British Olympic Association about that issue; what rules apply in the UK regarding transgender athletes competing in sport; and whether they consider the IOC's ruling to be a disadvantage to non-transgender female athletes.

Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde

We have had no such discussions with the British Olympic Association. Sports competition regulations are a matter for the governing body.

Home Nation Sports Councils published the attached guidance in 2013 for national governing bodies of sport entitled "Transsexual people and competitive sport”.


Written Question
Olympic Games: Brazil
Thursday 11th February 2016

Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)

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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have had, or intend to have, talks with the British Athletic Association about the case for Team GB considering withdrawing from the 2016 Olympic Games due to the risk posed by the Zika virus to pregnant mothers and unborn children.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

My Department is in regular contact with the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association on a range of issues. The risk to those travelling to the regions affected by the Zika virus will continue to be monitored.


Written Question
Marks and Spencer
Monday 23rd March 2015

Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)

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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Garden of Frognal on 10 March (HL5444), whether the Equality and Human Rights Commission has intervened and reported back to them on the Marks and Spencer discrimination matter.

Answered by Baroness Garden of Frognal

The Equality and Human Rights commission is an independent body and is under no obligation to report back to government on specific cases. Any discussions between the EHRC and Marks and Spencer would be a matter to be dealt with between the parties.


Written Question
Christianity: Equality
Monday 23rd March 2015

Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)

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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Garden of Frognal on 10 March (HL5444), whether the guidance found within the document she has cited, and which runs to more than 60,000 words, includes, or is intended to include, any effective measures relevant to protecting the rights and sensitivities of Christians: and if so, where in that document it might be found.

Answered by Baroness Garden of Frognal

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is very aware of concerns about freedom to hold and express religious beliefs and the guidance it produces does specifically cover these issues: for example in guidance about employment which can be found at http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/private-and-public-sector-guidance/employing-people/religion-or-belief-guidance-employers . The EHRC recently completed a public consultation on this subject, which was its largest ever, and following that will be issuing further guidance and a report on the adequacy of the laws protecting religion or belief, to be issued later this year.


Written Question
Religion: Equality
Tuesday 10th March 2015

Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)

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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of public sensitivity caused by Marks and Spencer's refusal to acknowledge and use the words "Jesus Christ" in a greeting attached to a gift purchased within its premises, they have issued guidance on the application of equality legislation to policies to be adopted by companies in respect of words and phrases they are prepared to reproduce when offering such a service; and if so, in what terms.

Answered by Baroness Garden of Frognal

Statutory guidance about compliance with equality legislation is issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and is intended to give businesses and service providers the information they need to understand the Act and meet their responsibilities.

A copy of the guidance can be found at:

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/publication/services-public-functions-and-associations-statutory-code-practice

The Government has no current plans to supplement this guidance.