Asked by: Lord Storey (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 Social Impact Bonds; and whether they intend to continue the scheme.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Government has launched several Social Impact Bond programmes since 2010, including the Peterborough Prison Offender Rehabilitation service, the Social Outcomes Fund, two Rough Sleeping Programmes and the Fair Chance Fund. Evaluation and assessment findings have shown that Social Impact Bonds can successfully address complex social problems, with evidence of both improved outcomes and reductions in costs.
The Centre for Social Impact Bonds will continue to build the evidence base for Social Impact Bonds by supporting the monitoring and evaluation of current programmes, and building on our partnership with the Government Outcomes Lab at Oxford University, a centre of expertise for Social Impact Bonds and innovative Government commissioning.
In line with our commitments outlined in the Civil Society Strategy, the Centre for Social Impact Bonds will continue to provide support to government departments to deliver Social Impact Bonds at scale. Government is also supporting the use of Social Impact Bonds in the commissioning of local public services through the Life Chances Fund, an £80m fund to help people in society who face the most significant barriers to lead happy and productive lives.
Asked by: Lord Storey (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 impact on local communities of the decision by Ofcom to remove the requirement on local radio stations to produce their own breakfast show.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
We have made no such assessment. These are matters for Ofcom, the independent regulator.
Asked by: Lord Storey (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 regulations issued by Ofcom in 2018 that allowed radio station owners to reduce the minimum amount of local programming on local radio stations during daytime hours from seven to three hours per day.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
We have made no such assessment. These are matters for Ofcom, the independent regulator.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last reviewed the protected Sports Rights List; whether they have any plans to add other national sports, in particular women’s sports, to that list; if so, which sports they intend to add; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The list of protected sporting events was last reviewed between 2008 and 2009, by an independent advisory panel. Government does not currently have any plans to revise the list which we believe works well to deliver the best outcome. Our listed events regime strikes a balance between retaining free-to-air sports events for the public while allowing rights holders to negotiate agreements in the best interests of their sport.
Coverage of women’s professional sport on free to air television has improved significantly in the last ten years, with the women’s Football World Cup and Euro Championships, Women’s Rugby World Cup, cycling and tennis being regular fixtures on the BBC and ITV . However, the list is kept under continued review by my Department to ensure that the nation’s most loved sporting events remain available on free to air television.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an international media company which has bought a local commercial radio station, which has subsequently closed its local headquarters, is in breach of the commercial radio licence that was awarded to that local station by Ofcom.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The local programming and content requirements for holders of local analogue commercial radio licenses (whether the holder is ultimately owned by an international media organisation or not) are set by Ofcom under the legislative framework – primarily the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the Communications Act 2003. Changes to legislation introduced by the previous Government in March 2010 gave local commercial stations the ability to network local programming within defined editorial areas for the first time.
Under section 314 of the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom is required to produce and keep up to date localness guidance for local analogue radio license holders to follow in complying with their local programming and content requirements. In 2018, Ofcom consulted on changes to the localness guidance following research on listener attitudes. Ofcom’s impact assessment covered the potential impacts on radio listeners and the industry.
Compliance with licence requirements is a matter Ofcom, the independent regulator.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure that local commercial radio stations remain local in (1) presence, and (2) content.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The local programming and content requirements for holders of local analogue commercial radio licenses (whether the holder is ultimately owned by an international media organisation or not) are set by Ofcom under the legislative framework – primarily the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the Communications Act 2003. Changes to legislation introduced by the previous Government in March 2010 gave local commercial stations the ability to network local programming within defined editorial areas for the first time.
Under section 314 of the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom is required to produce and keep up to date localness guidance for local analogue radio license holders to follow in complying with their local programming and content requirements. In 2018, Ofcom consulted on changes to the localness guidance following research on listener attitudes. Ofcom’s impact assessment covered the potential impacts on radio listeners and the industry.
Compliance with licence requirements is a matter Ofcom, the independent regulator.
Asked by: Lord Storey (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 impact on local communities of local commercial radio stations being bought by international media companies; and the move away from local programming to centralised content produced in London which is also aired by other stations.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The local programming and content requirements for holders of local analogue commercial radio licenses (whether the holder is ultimately owned by an international media organisation or not) are set by Ofcom under the legislative framework – primarily the Broadcasting Act 1990 and the Communications Act 2003. Changes to legislation introduced by the previous Government in March 2010 gave local commercial stations the ability to network local programming within defined editorial areas for the first time.
Under section 314 of the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom is required to produce and keep up to date localness guidance for local analogue radio license holders to follow in complying with their local programming and content requirements. In 2018, Ofcom consulted on changes to the localness guidance following research on listener attitudes. Ofcom’s impact assessment covered the potential impacts on radio listeners and the industry.
Compliance with licence requirements is a matter Ofcom, the independent regulator.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to take any action against social media companies which allow advertisements from essay mill services and contract cheating companies; and if so, what action.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The public must have confidence in the exam system and cheating of any kind is unacceptable.
Online advertising is not specifically in scope of the forthcoming Online Harms White Paper and will be looked at in detail as part of the online advertising review announced by the Secretary of State in February. To the extent that there is overlap between the White Paper and online advertising self-regulation, we will work with stakeholders on any duplication that may arise as a result of the proposals.