Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on (a) domestic 5G diversification and (b) the role and regulation of UK networks in that matter.
Answered by Matt Warman
The Government is working closely with Ofcom as it delivers the 5G Diversification Strategy.
The Government was delighted to see the “Smart Radio Access Network Open Network Interoperability Centre” – SONIC Labs – open its doors on 24th June. SONIC Labs is a joint programme between the Digital Catapult and Ofcom, and will be used for testing interoperability and integration of open networking solutions, starting with Open Radio Access Network. It will be vital for achieving our diversification ambitions whilst preserving and promoting security outcomes. It will be a secure research facility, allowing teams from academia, small and medium sized enterprise, critical industries and government to research, test and learn about security on the UK's telecoms networks.
Ofcom also provided expert advice to the Diversification Taskforce, chaired by Lord Livingston of Parkhead, which set out its recommendations in the spring.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of UK mobile network operators on sharing and pooling 2G and 3G capabilities for use by the emergency services and other 2G and 3G dependent services and technologies.
Answered by Matt Warman
The Government has regular discussions with mobile operators, suppliers, and users on 2G and 3G networks. The Government has committed to set out a clear roadmap for the sunsetting or streamlining of 2G and 3G technologies, following the recommendations of the Diversification Taskforce, published on 20 April on GOV.UK *https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/telecoms-diversification-taskforce-findings-and-report/telecoms-diversification-taskforce-findings-and-report) and will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to achieve 5G diversification and encourage competition whilst guarding against threats to national security from malign overseas vendors.
Answered by Matt Warman
The Government’s 5G Diversification Strategy sets out plans to deliver a more healthy, diverse and competitive supply base for UK telecoms networks, in order to increase quality and innovation, and to address the potentially significant risks to the security and resilience of our critical national infrastructure.
As a first step towards delivering this long-term vision, the Government has committed an initial investment of £250 million. The Government’s priorities have been informed by the expert advice of the Telecoms Diversification Taskforce, which was chaired by Lord Livingston of Parkhead, and which published its advice in the spring.
On 2 July 2021, the Government published its response, welcoming the recommendations and setting out the steps it is taking to implement them. These include the Future RAN Competition (FRANC) - an open competition, run by DCMS, that will allocate up to £30 million of R&D funding to projects that support the goals of the government's 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy. The competition is aimed at helping to incentivise industry to create new products and services to unlock the full potential of Open RAN.
DCMS has also partnered with Ofcom and Digital Catapult to fund the SmartRAN Open Network Innovation Centre (SONIC Labs) to fund an industry-facing testing facility to foster Open RAN in the UK helping to develop a supply chain with multiple suppliers at every stage. SONIC Labs went live on the 24th of June 2021.
Alongside efforts to diversify the telecoms supply chain, the Government is committed to ensuring the security of the UK’s telecoms networks. That is why we have introduced the Telecommunications (Security) Bill. This Bill will create one of the toughest telecoms security regimes in the world. It will protect our networks even as they grow and evolve, shielding our critical infrastructure both now and in the future. The Bill introduces a stronger telecoms security framework which places new security duties on public telecoms providers, and new national security powers to address the risks posed by high risk vendors.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to implement the transition from 2G and 3G networks to 4G and 5G networks.
Answered by Matt Warman
We are committed to extending good quality mobile coverage across the UK. In March 2020, the Government announced a deal with the mobile network operators to increase 4G coverage to 95% of the UK landmass. The Government’s ambition is for the majority of the population to have access to a 5G signal by 2027 and we are working to ensure that we can realise the full benefits of 5G as soon as possible by reducing barriers to deployment.
The Government is also working with mobile operators, suppliers, and users to set a clear roadmap for the sunsetting or streamlining of 2G and 3G technologies, following the recommendations of the Diversification Taskforce, published on 20 April on GOV.UK.
We will set out next steps in due course.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to ascertain where ride-hailing service DiDi stores data from UK riders and drivers.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as the regulator for the UK’s data protection legislation has informed my department that there are no investigations or enquiries regarding the ride-hailing company DiDi and they have not received any complaints about the company. Any concerns raised about the company will be assessed in line with the ICO’s usual procedures.
Organisations processing personal information must comply with the data protection principles. In practice, this includes making sure they have legitimate grounds for collecting and using personal data; not using the data in ways that have unjustified adverse effects on the individuals concerned; being transparent about how they intend to use the data, and keeping the data safe and secure.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Information Commissioner’s Office has taken to verify where ride-hailing service Didi stores data from UK riders and drivers.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as the regulator for the UK’s data protection legislation has informed my department that there are no investigations or enquiries regarding the ride-hailing company DiDi and they have not received any complaints about the company. Any concerns raised about the company will be assessed in line with the ICO’s usual procedures.
Organisations processing personal information must comply with the data protection principles. In practice, this includes making sure they have legitimate grounds for collecting and using personal data; not using the data in ways that have unjustified adverse effects on the individuals concerned; being transparent about how they intend to use the data, and keeping the data safe and secure.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of funds generated by Camelot UK Lotteries Limited (a) draw-based and (b) scratchcard sales is allocated to good causes.
Answered by John Whittingdale
In 2019/20, the most recent period for which figures are fully audited, an average of 31% of the income from draw-based games sales were allocated to good causes. This figure includes both retail sales and online sales. The latter give a higher proportion of their proceeds to good causes (an average of 35%) as retailer commission is not paid.
In the same period, 9% of the income from scratchcards games sales were allocated to good causes. Scratchcards and draw-based games are different products, and complement each other. Part of the appeal of scratchcards and online instant win games for players is the increased likelihood of winning a prize. Although scratchcards return less of a proportion of revenue to good causes than draw-based games, the volume of sales means that a significant amount of money is raised for good causes through scratchcards.
For the same period, 48% of draw-based games sales were paid out to players in prizes, while 68% of scratchcards sales were paid out to players in prizes.
12% Lottery Duty is paid on all National Lottery games.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much Camelot UK Lotteries Ltd undertook to generate for good causes when it was awarded its third licence in 2007; and how much was generated for good causes up until the expiry of the original term of the third license on 1 February 2019.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Government does not hold figures relating to bids for the third licence to operate the National Lottery.
The National Lottery Commission awarded the third licence to the operator which was assessed as being the most likely to maximise returns to good causes, and able to run the National Lottery with due propriety and to protect the interests of participants.
Further information on how awarding of the third licence was conducted can be found in the National Lottery Commission’s report on the third licence competition published in 2008. The report can be accessed here.
My answer to your question on 14 May 2021 (PQ1419), gives a breakdown of good cause income for each year of the National Lottery’s operation.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how his Department measured the return on investment of the £12.1m National Lottery Distribution Fund investment awarded to Camelot UK Lotteries Limited in August 2019.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The National Lottery is regulated by the Gambling Commission. The operator is permitted to seek joint investments in line with Condition 23 of Section 5 of the Third National Lottery Licence.
Details of requests for joint investments, the Commission’s decisions in response and the rationale supporting those decisions can be found on the Commission’s website.
In addition the Gambling Commission has provided the following information. In March 2021 the Commission approved a proposal from the operator for joint investment in National Lottery marketing of £69.4 million (£65.3 million of this was investment from the National Lottery Distribution Fund), with this being allocated as follows:
£25.7 million to support an investment in marketing of the National Lottery brand. This will be invested to support the long-term health of the National Lottery by driving positivity, loyalty and an emotional connection to the brand.
£37.3 million to support an investment in marketing of Lotto and EuroMillions.
£6.4 million to support an investment in marketing of Set for Life.
This approval was granted having considered the Commission’s statutory duties in relation to the National Lottery. Specifically, the Commission identified no material risks to its two primary duties regarding propriety and players Interests and has a high level of assurance that the proposal will be beneficial in relation to maximising returns to good causes, particularly over the long-term.
The two investments referenced (in WPQ 14100 and 14101) focus on additional marketing to support the National Lottery brand. Specifically, the investments were targeted to support the long-term health of the National Lottery by driving positivity, loyalty and an emotional connection to the brand.
For each investment of this nature, the Commission undertakes a robust analytical assessment, as well as negotiation with the operator to ensure the best possible deal for good causes. The performance of such investments is then monitored by the Commission regularly after implementation. For brand investments, this is achieved through:
Assessing extensive econometric analysis developed by the operator, which is subsequently assured externally and provides evidence of the positive impact of the investment on returns to good causes in the short term.
Monitoring a wider range of key performance indicators, which provides evidence of the positive impact of the investment on the National Lottery brand over the longer term.
This evidence suggests that the return on investment has been positive in the short term, and that benefits have also been driven over the longer term.
Asked by: Alexander Stafford (Conservative - Rother Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how his Department has measured the return on investment of the £25m National Lottery Distribution Fund investment awarded to Camelot UK Lotteries Limited in July 2020.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The National Lottery is regulated by the Gambling Commission. The operator is permitted to seek joint investments in line with Condition 23 of Section 5 of the Third National Lottery Licence.
Details of requests for joint investments, the Commission’s decisions in response and the rationale supporting those decisions can be found on the Commission’s website.
In addition the Gambling Commission has provided the following information. In March 2021 the Commission approved a proposal from the operator for joint investment in National Lottery marketing of £69.4 million (£65.3 million of this was investment from the National Lottery Distribution Fund), with this being allocated as follows:
£25.7 million to support an investment in marketing of the National Lottery brand. This will be invested to support the long-term health of the National Lottery by driving positivity, loyalty and an emotional connection to the brand.
£37.3 million to support an investment in marketing of Lotto and EuroMillions.
£6.4 million to support an investment in marketing of Set for Life.
This approval was granted having considered the Commission’s statutory duties in relation to the National Lottery. Specifically, the Commission identified no material risks to its two primary duties regarding propriety and players Interests and has a high level of assurance that the proposal will be beneficial in relation to maximising returns to good causes, particularly over the long-term.
The two investments referenced (in WPQ 14100 and 14101) focus on additional marketing to support the National Lottery brand. Specifically, the investments were targeted to support the long-term health of the National Lottery by driving positivity, loyalty and an emotional connection to the brand.
For each investment of this nature, the Commission undertakes a robust analytical assessment, as well as negotiation with the operator to ensure the best possible deal for good causes. The performance of such investments is then monitored by the Commission regularly after implementation. For brand investments, this is achieved through:
Assessing extensive econometric analysis developed by the operator, which is subsequently assured externally and provides evidence of the positive impact of the investment on returns to good causes in the short term.
Monitoring a wider range of key performance indicators, which provides evidence of the positive impact of the investment on the National Lottery brand over the longer term.
This evidence suggests that the return on investment has been positive in the short term, and that benefits have also been driven over the longer term.