Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to require set amounts of local news from local commercial radio stations.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Local radio continues to bring communities together by reflecting local experiences and delivering local news and information. However, it does so against a backdrop of changing listener behavior, with only around 20% of commercial radio listening now on AM or FM.
In light of this, the Media Act 2024 removed detailed requirements that only applied to stations holding AM and FM commercial radio licences and set out how their local services should be operated. These were replaced with new obligations that prioritise the broadcast of local news and information regularly, including “locally-gathered” news - a key part of radio’s public value.
Further details on the required frequency of local news broadcasts is set out in the guidance which Ofcom published on 25 February this year, titled “Provision of local news and information on analogue commercial radio”. The precise requirements will continue to vary by individual licence and Ofcom will be engaging directly with Licensees on how any changes impact them.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what data they use to inform drowning prevention.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Storey (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 Ofcom about the compliance of GB News with maintaining balance in news coverage and current affairs.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ofcom on a range of issues. However, Ofcom, by law, carries out its regulation of licensed broadcasters independently of the Government. Ofcom is required by legislation, and accountable to Parliament, to draw up and enforce a Broadcasting Code to ensure that news, in whatever form, is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. Due impartiality must also be preserved on matters of major political or industrial controversy and major matters relating to current public policy.
The Government strongly believes in an independent media and does not intervene in Ofcom's operational decisions.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government which department holds lead responsibility for reducing drowning deaths in England.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether drowning prevention is included in the terms of reference of the Public Health Water Taskforce chaired by the Chief Medical Officer.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Health and safety risks unrelated to water quality, including physical risks such as drowning, are outside of the Public Health Water Taskforce remit. The full terms of reference will be published shortly on the GOV.UK website.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Peak Cluster project which proposes building a pipeline to carry compressed carbon dioxide from cement producers in Staffordshire and Derbyshire to gas storage facilities in Morcombe.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In July 2023, the previous government outlined the next two clusters it felt were best placed to take forward carbon capture after ECC and Hynet. These were Acorn, in the Northeast of Scotland, and Viking in the Humber. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are continuing to engage with potential future projects, including the Peak Cluster, to understand their proposals.
The assessment for commissioning this project is undertaken through the Development Consent Order (DCO) process itself. The planning system is designed to assess whether the anticipated benefits of the project outweigh its potential costs and adverse impacts.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government following the ruling of the High Court on 24 February in relation to Oak National Academy, whether the Minister will meet the unions, publishers and educational suppliers to understand their concerns.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Ministers regularly meet and engage with a range of stakeholders to discuss and seek views on the curriculum and how best to support schools, teachers and pupils.
We will set out Oak National Academy’s remit and funding for the coming year in a published letter to the Chair of the Oak Board in due course. I cannot comment on the Judicial Review of Oak, which is ongoing.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government following the ruling of the High Court on 24 February in relation to Oak National Academy, whether the Government will commit to greater transparency about Oak’s future funding and scope.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Ministers regularly meet and engage with a range of stakeholders to discuss and seek views on the curriculum and how best to support schools, teachers and pupils.
We will set out Oak National Academy’s remit and funding for the coming year in a published letter to the Chair of the Oak Board in due course. I cannot comment on the Judicial Review of Oak, which is ongoing.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the increasing level of franchising of daytime programmes on commercial local radio to London; and what consideration they have given to measures to protect local jobs.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Local radio continues to bring communities together by reflecting local experiences and delivering local news and information. However, it does so against a backdrop of changing listener behavior. According to RAJAR’s Q4 data on radio listening, only 20% of commercial radio listening is now on AM or FM, whilst digital listening accounts for 75% of all UK radio listening.
In light of this, the Media Act 2024 removed detailed requirements that only applied to stations holding AM and FM commercial radio licences and set out how their local services should be operated. These were replaced with new obligations that prioritise securing local news and information - a key part of the public value of radio. Ofcom has recently published new guidance which sets out how stations should meet these obligations.
The government fully supports the growth of independent commercial services on DAB digital radio. Ofcom announced on 11 March that the 100th small-scale DAB digital multiplex was launched in East Devon, under their nationwide rollout of this innovative technology. The rollout of local small-scale DAB has increased the opportunities for local and community radio services to provide local audiences with tailored content of a distinct local character, and thereby support local jobs in the radio sector.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures are in place to ensure that any sale of a public service broadcasting television channel to an overseas company is in the best interests of the UK.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are a range of measures in place to safeguard the operation of UK broadcasters, including our public service broadcasters.
For example, under the Enterprise Act 2002, the Secretary of State has a quasi-judicial role on any merger or sale relating to media enterprises if it meets the necessary thresholds, and can intervene on public interest grounds as set out in the Act. These include ensuring media plurality, protecting the range of high quality broadcasting available in the UK; and securing broadcasting standards.
This is in addition to the role of Competition and Markets Authority which has the authority to intervene if it determines a deal would substantially lessen competition. This action can include remedies, enforcement measures, requiring changes to the agreement, or, in some instances, blocking the deal entirely.
Under the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996, Ofcom has an ongoing duty to be satisfied that any person holding a broadcasting licence is, and remains, fit and proper to hold those licences. In making a fit and proper assessment, Ofcom can consider all relevant circumstances, including the broadcaster’s own conduct, and the behaviour of people who exercise material influence or control over the broadcaster.