Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions (a) he and (b) officials in his Department have had with UK production companies on the potential impact that privatising Channel 4 may have on the future of the production sector.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The government recognises that Channel 4 has consistently delivered on its remit in the decades since being established, including supporting the UK’s independent production sector.
Forty years on, this sector is now flourishing. Independent production is increasingly less reliant on income from UK public service broadcasters, and will continue to be in demand for the high-quality, differentiated, distinctively British content it produces. In the 10 years between 2008 and 2018, the contribution of PSB commissions to sector revenue fell from 64% to 42%, due in large part to the growth of international revenue.
Potential reform of the publisher broadcaster restriction could enable Channel 4 to achieve greater financial diversification that will support its growth and long term sustainability, therefore increasing its ability to invest in UK content and the creative industries.
We are consulting on this so the government may take into account a broad range of evidence and views to shape its policy-making. Both officials and Ministers have also met regularly with key stakeholders from within the production sector, including PACT.
Whatever decision we make, it will not compromise this Government’s commitment to the independent production sector and wider creative economy. Our support for the UK film and TV industry has helped it bounce back from the impact of the pandemic when it had to shut-down in March 2020. For Q4 2020 the UK film and TV industry had the second highest production spend for any quarter on record - at £1.19 billion.
Last year, the government invested over £1 billion through the creative sector tax reliefs which support the UK screen sectors. In High-End TV, the UK has seen a production boom worth over £4 billion since a dedicated tax relief was introduced in 2013.
More than 600 productions have been supported by the government’s UK Film and TV Production Restart Scheme, protecting over 55,000 jobs and securing £1.9 billion of production spend.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
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 a potential change to Channel 4’s publisher-broadcaster model will not negatively effect businesses and employment in the UK’s production sector.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The government recognises that Channel 4 has consistently delivered on its remit in the decades since being established, including supporting the UK’s independent production sector.
Forty years on, this sector is now flourishing. Independent production is increasingly less reliant on income from UK public service broadcasters, and will continue to be in demand for the high-quality, differentiated, distinctively British content it produces. In the 10 years between 2008 and 2018, the contribution of PSB commissions to sector revenue fell from 64% to 42%, due in large part to the growth of international revenue.
Potential reform of the publisher broadcaster restriction could enable Channel 4 to achieve greater financial diversification that will support its growth and long term sustainability, therefore increasing its ability to invest in UK content and the creative industries.
We are consulting on this so the government may take into account a broad range of evidence and views to shape its policy-making. Both officials and Ministers have also met regularly with key stakeholders from within the production sector, including PACT.
Whatever decision we make, it will not compromise this Government’s commitment to the independent production sector and wider creative economy. Our support for the UK film and TV industry has helped it bounce back from the impact of the pandemic when it had to shut-down in March 2020. For Q4 2020 the UK film and TV industry had the second highest production spend for any quarter on record - at £1.19 billion.
Last year, the government invested over £1 billion through the creative sector tax reliefs which support the UK screen sectors. In High-End TV, the UK has seen a production boom worth over £4 billion since a dedicated tax relief was introduced in 2013.
More than 600 productions have been supported by the government’s UK Film and TV Production Restart Scheme, protecting over 55,000 jobs and securing £1.9 billion of production spend.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
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 delivering the Government’s objectives for Channel 4 by increasing the broadcaster's investment and commissioning more content under the corporation’s current ownership model.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The government is consulting on whether an alternative ownership model for Channel 4 (but one where it retains a public service remit) may be better for the broadcaster, and better for the country.
We want Channel 4 to continue to be a public service broadcaster, and we want it to and continue to contribute socially, economically and culturally to life across the UK. But all linear TV broadcasters are facing significant challenges in today’s changing media landscape and Channel 4 is uniquely constrained in its ability to meet these challenges while it remains under public ownership - particularly because its access to capital and ability to pursue strategic partnership opportunities is limited.
Moving Channel 4 into private ownership could allow it to access new capital, take advantage of international opportunities, and create strategic partnerships only available through the private sector.
Consulting on the broadcaster’s future is therefore about ensuring that Channel 4 can continue to contribute to the UK’s success in public service broadcasting for years to come, and how we ensure its ownership model best supports this aim.
No decisions have been made yet - the government, through its consultation, is seeking evidence from a wide range of stakeholders to inform its policy-making and a final decision on the ownership model of the channel.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on what dates (a) he and (b) officials across Government have had discussions and meetings with (i) global media companies, (ii) UK broadcasters and (iii) financial institutions on the possibility of their purchasing Channel 4.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The government is consulting on whether an alternative ownership model for Channel 4 (but one where it retains a public service remit) may be better for the broadcaster, and better for the country.
We want Channel 4 to continue to be a public service broadcaster, and we want it to continue to contribute socially, economically and culturally to life across the UK. But all linear TV broadcasters are facing significant challenges in today’s changing media landscape and Channel 4 is uniquely constrained in its ability to meet these challenges while it remains under public ownership - particularly because its access to capital and ability to pursue strategic partnership opportunities is limited.
Moving Channel 4 into private ownership could allow it to access new capital, take advantage of international opportunities, and create strategic partnerships only available through the private sector.
Consulting on the broadcaster’s future is therefore about ensuring that Channel 4 can continue to contribute to the UK’s success in public service broadcasting for years to come, and how we ensure its ownership model best supports this aim.
The Government has not decided whether to sell Channel 4, or how Channel 4 may be sold. Ministers and DCMS officials are meeting with a broad range of stakeholders to discuss our ongoing consultation. Their views and evidence will inform our policy-making and a final decision.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many veterans in receipt of (a) an armed forces compensation scheme guaranteed income payment and (b) the war pension scheme unemployability supplement have undertaken a work capability assessment to prove their entitlement to the housing element of universal credit in each year for which information is available.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Work Capability Assessment is not a condition of entitlement to housing costs within Universal Credit.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many veterans in receipt of a war pension are claiming employment support allowance as part of their universal credit claim.
Answered by Sarah Newton
New claims to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) have now stopped, however claimants can receive the ESA component of Universal Credit (UC). Claimants may also be entitled to New Style ESA which can be claimed alongside Universal Credit if the claimant has paid or been credited with sufficient National Insurance contributions, satisfying the New Style ESA eligibility conditions.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the timely implementation of the City Thameslink Service from Maidstone East before the end of 2019.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The rail industry is currently considering proposals regarding the introduction of the new Thameslink service between Maidstone East and Cambridge.
The disruption following the timetable change in May 2018 was completely unacceptable and the Government is committed to ensuring that future timetable changes are comprehensively planned and managed to avoid the risk of passenger disruption.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how small businesses will manage their VAT arrangements with EU customers after the UK leaves the EU; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of those new arrangements on the level of administration undertaken by those businesses.
Answered by Mel Stride - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Government’s aim is to keep VAT processes as close as possible to what they are now. This will provide the best continuity and most certainty for small businesses.
Our future relationship with the EU is subject to further negotiations.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure that the port of Dover is able to manage its customs clearance operations after the UK leaves the EU without increasing the level of administration undertaken by small businesses.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Government recognises the importance of trade fluidity through the UK’s key ports to the country’s economy, and is committed to ensuring that trade is as frictionless as possible through the Port of Dover, the Channel Tunnel, and the local road network.
Government ministers and officials from several departments have met ports and other relevant stakeholders as part of our comprehensive engagement on EU exit. Most of our detailed engagement with ports and stakeholders has taken place in the context of the Border Delivery Group steering group meetings, and in technical workshops.
The precise nature of any new customs arrangement will be determined in negotiations with the EU.
Asked by: Helen Grant (Conservative - Maidstone and Malling)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect of community-based sentencing options on reducing the numbers of mothers on the prison estate and children in care; and if he will ensure that his Department's new female offenders strategy includes measures to prevent the separation of children from their mothers in cases where a mother's sentence is for a non-violent crime and for 12 months or less.
Answered by Phillip Lee
We are currently developing the female offender strategy and have considered the effectiveness of community sentences and custodial sentences for all women as part of that work. Custody should be the last resort and only imposed after the court has considered alternative sentences to be served in the community. We are committed to making sure that as many women as possible are effectively rehabilitated in the community to better protect the public and deliver better outcomes for female offenders and their families.