Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with UK media outlets about the importance of verifying reports before broadcast, particularly in a volatile war environment.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Broadcasters have a duty to ensure that the news they provide are accurate and impartial. That is particularly important when it comes to coverage of highly sensitive events.
As the Prime Minister said at Prime Minister’s Questions on 18 October 2023, “it is incumbent on all of those in positions of responsibility in this House and outside in the media to recognise that the words we say will have an impact, and we should be careful with them”.
Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code ensures that all broadcast news are reported with due accuracy and impartiality. As the UK’s independent broadcasting regulator, it is for Ofcom to determine whether there has been a breach of the Broadcasting Code, and whether to take action.
Asked by: Lord Oates (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Football Association about the number of stewards employed to provide security at the Wembley Euro 2020 final who were self-isolating on the day, due to (1) a positive COVID-19 test, or (2) having been instructed to do so by the NHS Covid App; and what proportion of total stewards that represents.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The UK Government has worked closely with the Football Association (FA) over the course of the Euro 2020 competition. The FA, as owner of Wembley Stadium, is responsible for safety and stewarding within the stadium footprint. Stewards scheduled to work at the Wembley Euro 2020 final who tested positive for COVID-19 or who were instructed to isolatedo so by the NHS COVID app were instructed to follow isolation procedures and not attend work.
At the EURO 2020 final at Wembley, the FA had 1,977 stewards rostered to work, with 1,937 stewards reporting for work at the start of their shift. This meant that there was a drop out of 40 stewards (this number being within the allocated contingency). The FA do not hold the data for how many of these missed work because they were self-isolating due to a positive COVID-19 test, or having been instructed to do so by the NHS COVID app.