Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what new initiatives her Department plans to make to improve the promotion of tourism in English seaside towns.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The UK Government wants to see a growing, dynamic, and sustainable tourism sector reach its full potential and drive growth in every nation and region of the UK, including our seaside towns. Coastal tourism is an important part of the British tourism sector. 10% of all visits to the UK include going to the coast or beaches.
VisitBritain has led a number of multi-million pound marketing campaigns that promote the British coastline and seaside towns, and the Government is taking forward recommendations from the Nick de Bois Review of Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) with the aim of supporting regional areas, including seaside towns, to better attract and manage tourists. This includes accrediting the highest-performing DMOs throughout 2023 as Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs), and the multi-year government funded tourism pilot in the North East of England.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to promote British holiday destinations to tourists from the EU.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The government promotes Britain as a holiday destination to tourists from the EU through VisitBritain, the national tourist board. VisitBritain is active in a number of EU countries with in-market teams based in offices in Berlin, Amsterdam, Madrid, Milan, Paris, and Stockholm.
In February, VisitBritain is launching GREAT’s ‘See Things Differently’ tourism campaign in France, Germany, and Spain with the aim of demonstrating a welcoming, dynamic and diverse story of Britain.
Later this month, VisitBritain is hosting educational trips for international trade buyers across Britain. The delegations include trade buyers from France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, and Spain.
VisitBritian also leads ongoing engagement with the travel trade in Europe, including tour operators and agents, to increase bookable Britain products and promote their sales. This is done via destination training activities such as webinars, and the organisation of sales events in European markets to connect UK tourism businesses with European buyers.
VisitBritain also undertakes year-round engagement with targeted media outlets in EU markets to pitch stories, as well as a year-round programme of blogger/influencers trips to all parts of Britain, aligned to priority messages and themes.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to further support remote rural businesses by increasing the roll-out speed of broadband in rural areas; and what discussions she has had with mobile phone networks on improving their coverage in rural areas.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is investing £5 billion through Project Gigabit to deliver lightning-fast, reliable broadband in areas across the UK. We have already launched procurements with a value of over £700 million to bring gigabit connections to rural and hard-to-reach homes and businesses, and we recently signed our first contracts in North Dorset, Teesdale and North Northumberland.
As part of Project Gigabit the government is investing up to £210 million in the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme to support rural businesses and homes with the cost of installing new gigabit-capable connections. To date, we have issued over 106,000 vouchers to homes and businesses through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and previous iterations. Further information is available on the gigabit voucher website including eligibility criteria and how to apply for the scheme.
We also understand the impact of poor mobile coverage on rural areas which is why we agreed a £1 billion deal with the mobile operators to deliver the Shared Rural Network. The programme will deliver 4G coverage to 95% of the UK, enabling rural businesses and communities to thrive.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what initiatives her Department is planning to promote and encourage domestic tourism in 2022.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Our Tourism Recovery Plan (TRP) sets out an ambition to recover domestic tourism to pre pandemic levels of 99 million overnight trips and spend of £19 billion by the end of 2022. We have been committed to supporting the sector to remain resilient and have already provided £37 billion to the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors in the form of grants, loans and tax breaks.
The TRP also announced plans for a new rail pass which, which we hope to launch this year, to help make it easier and more sustainable for domestic tourists to get around Scotland, England, and Wales.
The Government has delivered a £10 million ‘Days Out’ campaign, in partnership with the British Tourist Authority and National Lottery, which has stimulated demand for more off-season day trips to tourist sites across the UK. The next phase of the campaign (launching 31 January) offers the opportunity to redeem £25 vouchers against February half term visits in the UK, supporting hundreds of attractions across all four nations.
VisitEngland is launching the next phase of its domestic marketing campaign, Escape the Everyday, in February. The campaign will focus on cities as they are impacted by lower numbers of international visitors and it will target a ‘pre-nester’ audience (18-34 year olds), encouraging them to book a short city-break.
2022 also promises a host of unmissable events, including Her Majesty’s Jubilee, with a programme of events over the extended Jubilee Bank holiday; Unboxed, which aims to engage millions of people through in person and digital events; as well as the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will drive visitors to the region.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she plans to take to promote and encourage domestic tourism in 2022.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Our Tourism Recovery Plan (TRP) sets out an ambition to recover domestic tourism to pre pandemic levels of 99 million overnight trips and spend of £19 billion by the end of 2022. We have been committed to supporting the sector to remain resilient and have already provided £37 billion to the tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors in the form of grants, loans and tax breaks.
The TRP also announced plans for a new rail pass, which we hope to launch this year, to help make it easier and more sustainable for domestic tourists to get around Scotland, England, and Wales.
The Government has delivered a £10 million ‘Days Out’ campaign, in partnership with the British Tourist Authority and National Lottery, which has stimulated demand for more off-season day trips to tourist sites across the UK. The next phase of the campaign (launching 31 January) offers the opportunity to redeem £25 vouchers against February half term visits in the UK, supporting hundreds of attractions across all four nations.
VisitEngland is launching the next phase of its domestic marketing campaign, Escape the Everyday, in February. The campaign will focus on cities as they are impacted by lower numbers of international visitors and it will target a ‘pre-nester’ audience (18-34 year olds), encouraging them to book a short city-break.
2022 also promises a host of unmissable events, including Her Majesty’s Jubilee, with a programme of events over the extended Jubilee Bank holiday; Unboxed, which aims to engage millions of people through in person and digital events; as well as the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will drive visitors to the region.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which locations in the East Riding of Yorkshire will receive improved mobile coverage under the Shared Rural Network.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We are unable to give specific details of where the Shared Rural Network (SRN) will deliver mobile coverage uplifts at this stage. However, we can confirm that, by the end of the programme, Yorkshire and The Humber will see 4G connectivity from all four mobile network operators increase to 90% from 81%, and from at least one mobile network operator expand from 95% to 99%.
The SRN is not the only focus for infrastructure investment for mobile connectivity. Mobile network operators independently invest around £2 billion annually in enhancing and improving their networks.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
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 help ensure that broadband internet access is affordable for people in receipt of low incomes and benefits; what steps he is taking to encourage the roll out of an affordable social tariff, including allowing consumers to switch providers more easily; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Matt Warman
In recent months, we have been working closely with industry to increase the level of affordable provision in the market for low income households. As a result of our engagement with industry, a range of broadband social tariff packages are now available to support those on low incomes or who receive certain income-based benefits. Earlier this month, BT launched a Home Essentials package which will provide fibre and voice services to those on Universal Credit starting at £15 per month. Virgin, Hyperoptic and other providers offer similar packages to assist households on low incomes. Between them, these products are available to 99% of households across the country.
The Government continues to encourage more fixed-line providers to introduce a social tariff and we will continue to monitor the provision in the market. We will keep the House informed of developments in this area.
In December 2020, the Government strengthened Ofcom's consumer protection rules, to ensure that consumers can access the right information to make informed decisions about new services, have stronger contract rights, and switch providers more easily. Ofcom also published its Vulnerability Guide in July 2020, setting out how the sector should support vulnerable households struggling to pay their bills.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
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 ensure that the rules, restrictions and bans on advertising products or services in on-line adverts are as similar as possible to rules governing mainstream media advertising; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Advertising standards in the UK are set out in the CAP (The UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing) and BCAP (The UK Code of Broadcast Advertising) codes. The BCAP code for broadcasting is enforced by a co-regulatory relationship between the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and Ofcom, where Ofcom acts as the ASA’s legal backstop for broadcast advertising. This means failure of an advertiser to stick to an ASA ruling could result in them being referred to Ofcom, who have the power to take legal action. More information about this agreement can be found here: https://www.asa.org.uk/uploads/assets/23cc61df-e57c-4957-81ac15378b7730b7/mou-asa-ofcom.pdf
For the CAP code for non-broadcast advertising, the ASA acts as the industry’s self-regulator. My department is looking at the wider regulatory framework for advertising online through the Online Advertising Programme. In 2019 Government launched a call for evidence on this issue and we will be consulting on this later this year.
Government’s aim is to foster fair, accountable and ethical online advertising that works for citizens, businesses and society as a whole. In particular, we want to ensure standards about the placement and content of advertising can be effectively applied and enforced online so that consumers have limited exposure to harmful or misleading advertising. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/online-advertising-call-for-evidence/online-advertising-call-for-evidence#introduction
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
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 whether there has been an increase in loneliness and isolation due to the covid-19 outbreak and the onset of winter, particularly in respect of people living in rural areas; what support and funding is available to tackle loneliness and isolation; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Emerging evidence from sources including the Office for National Statistics and University College London suggests that whilst the overall number of people feeling lonely has remained stable during Covid-19, those already likely to experience loneliness may be at a higher risk of feeling lonely during the pandemic. Studies on loneliness during the pandemic have not explored the differences between rural and urban areas. In general, evidence from the Community Life Survey suggests there is no significant difference in loneliness levels between rural areas and urban areas.
Government has provided support to tackle loneliness and isolation during the pandemic, including issuing guidance on how people can help themselves and others safely, and a new cross-sector Tackling Loneliness Network. Since the start of the pandemic, the government has provided £23 million to over 1100 charities who undertake activities that tackle loneliness. This has been awarded as part of the government’s £750 million charity funding package.
We will shortly launch a further £4 million fund, together with the National Lottery Community Fund, targeted at small local charities and grassroots groups. There will be two application rounds next year, with local groups able to apply for up to £2 500 each through this fund.
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reasons fibre cables used for bringing superfast broadband to businesses and homes are taxed at the same rate as commercial buildings; what steps she is taking to tackle obstacles to investment in broadband infrastructure; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Matt Warman
The Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2018 paves the way for full-fibre broadband and future 5G communications. By enabling 100% business rates relief for operators who install new fibre on their networks, the Act incentivises operators to invest in the broadband network.
My Department is committed to removing barriers to investment in fibre broadband and other digital communications infrastructure. Officials within the Department’s Barrier Busting Task Force are working closely with industry to identify these barriers and bring forward measures to remove them, such as the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill which, if enacted, will create a streamlined process for operators to deploy broadband in multiple-dwelling buildings when landlords fail to respond to requests for access. The Department has also issued guidance to local authorities on ways they can support and encourage local investment in broadband through its Digital Connectivity Portal and Street Works Toolkit.
For business rates, all rateable values, including those for telecommunications networks, are assessed to the same standard of annual rental value. This ensures that all ratepayers are treated equally and that utility companies, such as gas electric and telecom networks, make a fair contribution to local services. Individual rateable values are assessed independently of Ministers by the Valuation Office Agency.