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.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what data they collect about educational attainment outcomes of children with dyslexia and other literacy challenges in key stage 1 phonics screening.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The information requested is not held centrally. The department holds information on pupils’ special educational needs and their attainment by 14 types of primary need. Dyslexia is usually included in the wider category of primary need ‘specific learning difficulty’. In 2025, 33% of pupils with ‘specific learning difficulty’ recorded as their primary need met the expected standard in the phonics screening check in year 1. The English Hubs programme is dedicated to improving the teaching of reading, with a focus on supporting children making the slowest progress. Reading Ambition for All is a continuous professional development programme to support schools help struggling readers, delivered by our 34 English Hubs, reaching more than 600 schools this academic year.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government how man (1) companies have been prosecuted, and (2) fines have been issued, under the provisions of the Online Safety Act 2023.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Technology Secretary has repeatedly been clear that Government fully supports Ofcom using the full force of the powers that it has been given by Parliament.
Ofcom, the independent regulator for online safety, publishes details of its enforcement action on its website. In total, it has opened investigation into 94 sites since compliance became enforceable, including issuing 8 fines to 5 providers (totalling £2m) one of which has been paid, one is being appealed and the remainder remain within the deadline for payment.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many schools have mental health support teams.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
9,986 out of 24,149 (41%) schools in England were supported by an NHS-funded Mental Health Support Team (MHST) in March 2025. This data on the coverage of MHSTs in England in 2024/25 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-provision. This has been available since 16 May 2025 at national, regional and local authority level and since 10 July 2025 at constituency level. Around six in ten pupils nationally are expected to have access to an MHST by March 2026, and we will accelerate the roll out to reach full national coverage by 2029.
Data on MHST coverage is collected annually, as part of the government's commitment to expand MHSTs to every school, so every child and young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Young Futures Hubs have been set up.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The first eight Early Adopter Young Futures Hubs are due to be operational before 31st March 2026. The host local authorities for the Early Adopters can be found on gov.uk
The timeline for rollout of the remaining 42 Young Futures Hubs will be determined in due course.
The Government has developed Young Futures Hubs as part of the recently published National Youth Strategy - Youth Matters. The National Youth Strategy sets out a new long-term vision for young people and an action plan for delivering this across the country.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the decision to restrict Level 7 apprenticeship funding for apprentices aged over 21 does not financially disadvantage learners who have completed a Level 6 architectural assistant apprenticeship and wish to progress to a full professional qualification at Level 7.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity. Since January 2026, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. This will enable apprenticeships opportunities to be rebalanced towards young people and create more opportunities for those entering the labour market, who need skills and training to get on in their careers.
The government is encouraging more employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged over 22 to level 7 where it delivers a benefit to the business and the individual. It will be for employers to determine the most appropriate training. The department has published guidance on privately funded apprenticeships, which will enable employers to privately fund level 7 apprenticeships for staff aged over 22: Privately funded apprenticeships: rules and guidance - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the major sporting events listed in Ofcom's listed events regime.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The current listed events regime is designed to ensure that certain sporting events of national significance are available to as wide an audience as possible, by prohibiting exclusive broadcasting of the event without prior consent from Ofcom.
The Government believes the current list of events strikes an appropriate balance between ensuring viewers access to significant sporting events and allowing sports to maximise broadcasting revenue to invest in the growth and development of those sports.
The Government has no plans to review the list at this time.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Timpson on 10 December (HL12375), what assessment they have made of the planned level of tuition for young offenders by the Shaw Trust compared to the number of hours delivered.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Shaw Trust is programming the required learning hours; delivery is affected by restrictions on mixing between certain children, which limit the number of learners who can be accommodated in a classroom at any one time. These restrictions arise from conflicts that have transferred into custody from the community. The establishment is actively addressing this by working to resolve these conflicts, enabling greater classroom integration and maximising access to education.
The action plan prepared in response to the joint Ofsted/HMIP thematic report The Quality of Education in Young Offender Institutions was published on 15 November 2024.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Timpson on 10 December (HL12375), what action they are taking at Feltham Prison and Young Offenders Institution to increase the number of hours of tuition delivered by the Shaw Trust.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Shaw Trust is programming the required learning hours; delivery is affected by restrictions on mixing between certain children, which limit the number of learners who can be accommodated in a classroom at any one time. These restrictions arise from conflicts that have transferred into custody from the community. The establishment is actively addressing this by working to resolve these conflicts, enabling greater classroom integration and maximising access to education.
The action plan prepared in response to the joint Ofsted/HMIP thematic report The Quality of Education in Young Offender Institutions was published on 15 November 2024.