Asked by: Chris Green (Conservative - Bolton West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Data Protection Act 2018.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The UK now controls its own data protection laws and regulations, in line with our interests, after the end of the transition period. We will continue to operate a high-quality data regime that promotes growth and innovation, and underpins the trustworthy use of data.
We want our data protection law to remain fit for purpose, and to support the future objectives of the UK. We will shortly publish the Government Response to the National Data Strategy Consultation, which will provide further details on the action the Government is taking to unlock the power of data.
Asked by: Chris Green (Conservative - Bolton West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the planned hosting of (a) the semi-final and final of the UEFA Euro 2020 football tournament and (b) other major football tournaments, whether (i) Wembley stadium and (ii) other football stadiums will be designated as vital national infrastructure under covid-19 legislation.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Public safety is our main priority and decisions will be guided by a Science Board of relevant experts including senior PHE representation, who will take into account the latest public health data. Matters concerning the national infrastructure are for the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Chris Green (Conservative - Bolton West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will bring forward proposals to classify sporting and cultural venues as vital national infrastructure under schedule 22 of the Coronavirus Act 2020.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has no current plans to revise the list of sectors designated as critical national infrastructure.
Schedule 22 of the Coronavirus Act 2020 confers powers to the Secretary of State to prohibit or restrict events or gatherings in England. This includes imposing restrictions on the persons entering or remaining on the premises.These regulations are not applicable to any changes in the list of sectors designated as critical national infrastructure.
The government has worked to protect cultural and sporting venues during the lockdown to save sports facilities, theatres, concert halls and live music performance venues for future generations. In July 2020, MHCLG announced changes to the planning system to protect buildings that are an intrinsic part of our cultural heritage. This move was announced alongside the £1.57 billion investment to protect Britain’s cultural, arts and heritage sector and provide extra security to businesses as they plan to reopen their premises when it is safe to do so.
The government has also provided £1.8 billion of public support to the sport sector in response to the pandemic to ensure facilities are able to reopen when it is safe for them to do so.
Asked by: Chris Green (Conservative - Bolton West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the rate of covid-19 transmission within bowling centres.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Since 2 December, as set out in the COVID Winter Plan, we have returned to a tiered approach to COVID-19 restrictions in England. Relevant venues in the entertainment, leisure and tourism sectors - including bowling alleys - will be permitted to reopen in tiers 1 and 2, subject to curfew restrictions and in line with COVID-19 Secure guidance. In tier 3 areas, indoor venues and attractions - including bowling alleys - must close.
We worked closely with a range of visitor economy stakeholders to develop our guidance for leisure and hospitality venues. We continue to engage with bowling stakeholders, such as the Ten-Pin Bowling Proprietor’s Association, to update and review our guidance. Further specific guidance on bowling alleys has been published within UKHospitality’s ‘COVID-19 Secure Guidelines for Hospitality Businesses.’
Our decisions have been and will continue to be based on scientific evidence and public health assessments.
Bowling centre operators can continue to access the Government’s comprehensive support package - including the extended furlough and self-employed support schemes, new grant schemes, as well as various government-backed loans. We have also provided business rates relief and grants for many in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector.
We are listening to stakeholders’ concerns, and will continue to closely monitor the ongoing impact of Government restrictions on bowling alleys.
Asked by: Chris Green (Conservative - Bolton West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to support operators of bowling centres during their extended period of closure during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Since 2 December, as set out in the COVID Winter Plan, we have returned to a tiered approach to COVID-19 restrictions in England. Relevant venues in the entertainment, leisure and tourism sectors - including bowling alleys - will be permitted to reopen in tiers 1 and 2, subject to curfew restrictions and in line with COVID-19 Secure guidance. In tier 3 areas, indoor venues and attractions - including bowling alleys - must close.
We worked closely with a range of visitor economy stakeholders to develop our guidance for leisure and hospitality venues. We continue to engage with bowling stakeholders, such as the Ten-Pin Bowling Proprietor’s Association, to update and review our guidance. Further specific guidance on bowling alleys has been published within UKHospitality’s ‘COVID-19 Secure Guidelines for Hospitality Businesses.’
Our decisions have been and will continue to be based on scientific evidence and public health assessments.
Bowling centre operators can continue to access the Government’s comprehensive support package - including the extended furlough and self-employed support schemes, new grant schemes, as well as various government-backed loans. We have also provided business rates relief and grants for many in the retail, leisure and hospitality sector.
We are listening to stakeholders’ concerns, and will continue to closely monitor the ongoing impact of Government restrictions on bowling alleys.
Asked by: Chris Green (Conservative - Bolton West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to allocate funding to churches for the maintenance of church buildings as a result of their contribution to the provision of public services.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Many places of worship do accommodate additional uses, including those for community purposes, alongside worship. These buildings provide economic and social positive externalities to the country as a whole, and at a local level, they provide a thriving community asset. Places of worship forge social capital by strengthening community cohesion and belonging alongside providing significant social benefits in times of need. Social action at places of worship is equally prevalent and valuable, such as food banks, blood donation centres and night shelters.
The Government has set out its vision and strategy to protect the historic environment, including England’s places of worship, in the 2017 Heritage Statement. The DCMS-funded Taylor Review Pilot and its subsequent evaluation, published in October 2020, underlines the importance of a strategic approach, based on understanding the gaps in local community provision, when considering additional uses of places of worship.
The Government has supported the maintenance of historic churches throughout the UK since 2001 through the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. The Scheme, which is currently funded until the end of March 2021, provides grants towards VAT paid on repairs and maintenance. It presently handles around 7000 claims per annum, is open to all faiths and denominations and is delivered UK wide.
In addition, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has announced significant cross-sector support. This includes a £1.57 billion Cultural Recovery Fund announced earlier this summer, aimed at helping key cultural organisations, including places of worship, through the pandemic. The fund represents the biggest ever one-off investment in UK culture, complementing the Covid-19 support schemes launched earlier in the year by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Any extension to the existing funding is subject to the Spending Review, which is due to conclude later this month.
Asked by: Chris Green (Conservative - Bolton West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) economic and (b) social effect of using church buildings for cultural and entertainment purposes.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Many places of worship do accommodate additional uses, including those for social support, cultural and entertainment purposes, alongside worship. These buildings provide economic and social positive externalities to the country as a whole, and at a local level, they provide a thriving community asset. Places of worship forge social capital by strengthening community cohesion and belonging alongside providing significant social benefits in times of need. Social action at places of worship is equally prevalent and valuable, such as food banks, blood donation centres and night shelters.
The Government has set out its vision and strategy to protect the historic environment, including England’s places of worship, in the 2017 Heritage Statement. The DCMS-funded Taylor Review Pilot and its subsequent evaluation underlines the importance of a strategic approach, based on understanding the gaps in local community provision, when considering additional uses of places of worship.
Asked by: Chris Green (Conservative - Bolton West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the economic benefit of the contribution made by church buildings used for community purposes.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Many places of worship do accommodate additional uses, including those for community purposes, alongside worship. These buildings provide economic and social positive externalities to the country as a whole, and at a local level, they provide a thriving community asset. Places of worship forge social capital by strengthening community cohesion and belonging, alongside providing significant social benefits in times of need. Social action at places of worship is equally prevalent and valuable, such as food banks, blood donation centres and night shelters.
The Government has set out its vision and strategy to protect the historic environment, including England’s places of worship, in the 2017 Heritage Statement. The DCMS-funded Taylor Review Pilot, and its subsequent evaluation, published in October 2020, underlines the importance of a strategic approach, based on understanding the gaps in local community provision, when considering additional uses of places of worship.
Asked by: Chris Green (Conservative - Bolton West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans the Government has to support the Northern Powerhouse through funding for the arts.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
This Government will continue to invest in the great towns and cities of the North to support growth and increase engagement in the arts through our capital funding and investment by the Arts Council. We will support innovative exciting arts and culture projects such as the Factory in Manchester and the Great Exhibition which will celebrate the fantastic culture of the North.