Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has has with the BBC Board on the future of investigative journalism in the BBC's programming.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Secretary of State meets the BBC regularly to discuss a wide range of issues.
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the Government. While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, the Government is clear that the BBC must make sure it continues to provide the news content required to deliver its remit, as set out in the Charter and Agreement.
The BBC's first Public Purpose in the Charter is to provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them. The Charter also makes clear that the BBC has a vital role to play in enabling all audiences to engage fully with major local, regional, national and global issues, and participate in the democratic process, at all levels, as active and informed citizens.
The Government expects Ofcom, as the BBC regulator, to ensure the BBC is held to account in delivering its public service duties.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the management of the Royal Parks Estate on the employment practices of private contractor Just Ask Estate Services Ltd; and whether she has received representations on that company not providing employees with accurate contracts of employment.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The management of the Royal Parks has been delegated by The Secretary of State to The Royal Parks Limited which is responsible for all operational decisions in relation to the maintenance of the Parks.
The Royal Parks Limited must, in the exercise of its public functions, have due regard to section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department takes to monitor the employment practices of private suppliers given contracts on the Royal Parks estates to ensure they comply with Public Sector Equalities Duties.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The management of the Royal Parks has been delegated by The Secretary of State to The Royal Parks Limited which is responsible for all operational decisions in relation to the maintenance of the Parks.
The Royal Parks Limited must, in the exercise of its public functions, have due regard to section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the management of The Royal Parks estate on the level of job reductions included within the tender contract specification for roles currently undertaken by those employed by Just Ask Estates Services Ltd across that estate.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The management of the Royal Parks has been delegated by The Secretary of State to The Royal Parks Limited which is responsible for all operational decisions in relation to the maintenance of the Parks.
The Royal Parks Limited must, in the exercise of its public functions, have due regard to section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans the Government has to allow the re-opening of tenpin bowling centres as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active. From 1 August, we will reopen bowling alleys.
The Government is committed to reopening leisure facilities and visitor attractions, including bowling alleys, as soon as it is safe to do so. The Sport Working Group and the Visitor Economy Working Group both feed into the Cultural Renewal Taskforce, and ensure strong sector and expert support for the co-development of guidance. This will help ten pin bowling alleys become Covid-19 Secure and re-open as early as possible.
As with all aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, our decisions will continue to be based on scientific evidence and public health assessments.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of diversity in employment in public and private sectors of the media industry.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Promoting greater equality of opportunity in the workforce is a matter the Government takes seriously. The Government is actively engaging with leading organisations in the media industry who are working together through the Creative Diversity Network to help address the under-representation of ethnic minorities in that sector. The industry will outline the steps it intends to take at a roundtable event in early July. Equality data monitoring is among a number of issues that will be discussed. In addition, Ofcom has a number of duties relating to equality of opportunity, as set out in the Communications Act 2003. These include requiring all UK licensed radio and television broadcasters' licences to have in place arrangements for promoting equal opportunities in employment on the basis of gender, race and disability, and to review those arrangements with regard to any relevant guidance published by Ofcom.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department plans to take to improve equality monitoring of employment within the media industry; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Promoting greater equality of opportunity in the workforce is a matter the Government takes seriously. The Government is actively engaging with leading organisations in the media industry who are working together through the Creative Diversity Network to help address the under-representation of ethnic minorities in that sector. The industry will outline the steps it intends to take at a roundtable event in early July. Equality data monitoring is among a number of issues that will be discussed. In addition, Ofcom has a number of duties relating to equality of opportunity, as set out in the Communications Act 2003. These include requiring all UK licensed radio and television broadcasters' licences to have in place arrangements for promoting equal opportunities in employment on the basis of gender, race and disability, and to review those arrangements with regard to any relevant guidance published by Ofcom.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what advice or guidance his Department provides to employers in the media industry on equality monitoring.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Promoting greater equality of opportunity in the workforce is a matter the Government takes seriously. The Government is actively engaging with leading organisations in the media industry who are working together through the Creative Diversity Network to help address the under-representation of ethnic minorities in that sector. The industry will outline the steps it intends to take at a roundtable event in early July. Equality data monitoring is among a number of issues that will be discussed. In addition, Ofcom has a number of duties relating to equality of opportunity, as set out in the Communications Act 2003. These include requiring all UK licensed radio and television broadcasters' licences to have in place arrangements for promoting equal opportunities in employment on the basis of gender, race and disability, and to review those arrangements with regard to any relevant guidance published by Ofcom.