Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the long-term financial viability of print journalism and the newspaper industry.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The government is aware of the current challenges facing print journalism and the newspaper industry as the market adapts to the changing media landscape. We engage closely with the industry on this issue.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 22 February 2016, Official Report, column 35, on the European Council, whether his Department is undertaking planning in the eventuality of a majority leave vote in the EU referendum.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government's position, as set out by the Prime Minister to the House on 22 February, is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of small and medium-sized enterprises in Essex that will have access to superfast broadband by completion of phase two of the superfast broadband programme.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
By the end of phase two of the Superfast Broadband Programme approximately 93% of homes and businesses in Essex will have access to superfast broadband.Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding the BBC has received from the EU in the last five years; and what conditions were attached to the use of such funding.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Department does not hold this information. Under government accounting guidelines organisations are required to publish all income received, however they are not required to publish individual grants unless they are significant for their own accounts. Under the terms of the Royal Charter and Agreement, the BBC is able to seek alternative sources of funding, within a strict framework which is set and administered by the BBC Trust.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to ensure that bookmakers operate B2 and B3 gaming machines on an equal basis with amusement arcades.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
I have no plans to allow B2 gaming machines in amusement arcades. In April 2014 the previous Government announced action which included £50 staking measures on B2 gaming machines in bookmakers which came into force in April 2015. I think we need to give time for these regulations to bed in before we consider further legislative options. I will also want to consult with a wide range of stakeholders on this issue before thinking about next steps.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to increase the maximum payout for complex category D gaming machines.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Category D gaming machines are the only gambling product that children are permitted to play. Public tolerance for children and gambling is, quite rightly, very low. Therefore the case for increasing the stake and prizes would need to be extremely compelling to make me reconsider the current levels.
Asked by: Douglas Carswell (Independent - Clacton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has made of the next BBC licence fee settlement.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Government has no plans currently. The Government has said that the right time to consider these questions is as part of the Charter Review; this will not be starting in advance of the Election in 2015.