Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the gross value added to the (a) UK and (b) East Midlands economy of (i) international and (ii) county-level cricket in the most recent year for which data is available.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Sport makes a significant economic contribution to the UK. According to my department’s Sport Satellite Account, in 2016 the value of the sports economy was just over £37 billion (gross value added). I look forward to the upcoming 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in England and Wales, with games taking place in Nottingham.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what new models of financing the repair and maintenance of church buildings are being considered by the Government as part of the pilot scheme under the Taylor Review on the sustainability of English churches and cathedrals.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Taylor Review: Sustainability of English Churches and Cathedrals, was an independent review that considered how these iconic buildings can become more sustainable and ensure that repair works are undertaken in a timely way. The subsequent pilots are testing, over the next two years, the new model of support proposed by the review.
This involves:
how effective the roles of a Fabric Support Officer and a Community Support Officer can be in both ensuring regular repairs are undertaken and in opening up wider links between listed places of worship and the wider community;
the level of need for a 'minor repairs' and a 'major repairs' fund;
how best practice can be better shared between owners of listed places of worship in ensuring these buildings are properly maintained;
how the Taylor Review model can be applied across all faiths and denominations
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
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 replicate the system of Historic Environment Records used in Wales in England.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
In England local planning authorities are required to have regard to the terms of the National Planning Policy Framework, which indicates that they should either maintain or have access to an Historical Environment Records (HER).
The Heritage Information Access Strategy (HIAS) programme intends to secure an improved and more cost effective approach to handling digital historic environment data, especially that held by local authority Historic Environment Records. It is intended to improve the accessibility of that information and work with HERs to become more user focused. As part of HIAS Historic England will continue to champion the development, maintenance and implementation of standards for the creation, management and storage of digital historic environment data.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if the Government will set out for broadcasters the level of progress it expects to see on the provision of subtitles and audio-descriptions for on-demand content before it reviews the legislation in that area.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Authority for TV On Demand (ATVOD) are currently preparing the report "Provision of Video on Demand Access Services 2015". This report, combined with meetings with broadcasters, content providers and platform operators, will inform Government's next steps.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2015 to Question 4254, when the introduction of full superfast broadband coverage in (a) Seagrave and (b) Thrussington is planned to be completed.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The village of Thrussington is connected to cabinet 1 of the Rearsby exchange. This cabinet is planned to be upgraded as part of Phase 1 of the Superfast Leicestershire project and expected to go live by the end of March 2016. The cabinet which serves the village’s homes and businesses is located in Thrussington village itself so many premises will be able to achieve superfast speeds of 24Mbps.
The village of Seagrave is served by cabinet 5 of the Sileby exchange. The village is planned to be covered as part of Phase 2 of the Superfast Leicestershire programme. Deployment is expected between late 2016 and autumn 2018. The local project team are working closely with BT and BDUK to accelerate the delivery.
Details of the current coverage plans and timetable for homes and businesses in Leicestershire are available from the Superfast Leicestershire project team, although the details will be subject to change during the planning and survey stages. These can be found at: www.superfastleicestershire.org.uk which includes a 'When and Where' page linked to an interactive map.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to remove criminal sanctions for non-payment of the television licence fee.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
An independent review of the sanctions regime for non-payment of the television licence has been led by David Perry QC on behalf of the Government. The Review has now concluded and the Report will be published in due course. In accordance with section 77(3) of the Deregulation Act 2015, I will lay a report setting out my response to the Review within 3 months of its completion.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
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 to ensure roll-out of superfast broadband to (a) Seagrave and (b) Thrussington in Charnwood.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Government has allocated £7.46 million to the Leicestershire broadband project. 31,388 homes and businesses had been given access superfast broadband by 31 March 2015 as a result of the project.
Superfast broadband will become available to parts of the Seagrave area from late 2016 onwards. The Thrussington area is at planning and survey stage. Superfast broadband is expected in parts of the area by the end of December 2015. More details can be found on the Superfast Leicestershire website: http://www.superfastleicestershire.org.uk/when-and-where/