Asked by: John Whittingdale (Conservative - Maldon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of TV viewing transitioning to online delivery digital viewing on linear TV broadcasting on her Department's policy aims for local TV.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the important role that local TV continues to play in the wider broadcasting ecosystem. That is why last year we brought forward legislation to enable Ofcom to renew the licences for the local TV multiplex and the 34 individual local TV services. Local TV services provide audiences with local content, including news and current affairs. This contributes to our broader policy objectives of ensuring a strong local media sector and keeping communities informed about local issues and decision making. We will consider how we can further safeguard local TV’s contribution to these objectives through the Local Media Strategy.
However, at the same time we understand that there are challenges facing the local TV sector, as there are all broadcasters. The shift from broadcast to online viewing has led to audiences becoming increasingly fragmented, while increasing distribution costs.
In particular, we are aware of the local TV sector’s concerns that they will not receive prominence for their internet programme services (apps) as part of the new online prominence regime established in the Media Act 2024. At the moment we are not aware of the existence of any local TV on-demand apps. However, we would strongly welcome an app being brought to market that improves the availability of local content. This would enable the Government to consider whether the app should receive prominence under the online prominence regime in the same way local TV services have enjoyed prominence on DTT, satellite and cable platforms since they began broadcasting in 2013.
We are also aware of other distribution challenges that are material to local TV’s future success and sustainability, including the long term future of the DTT platform itself. We have launched a project to consider the future of TV distribution, with local TV representatives included on our stakeholder forum. As part of this work, we will also keep under review the policy framework which requires local TV services to broadcast over DTT as the market and viewer behaviour continues to evolve, subject to broader decisions about the future of DTT.
Asked by: John Whittingdale (Conservative - Maldon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish details of the Section 31 notice issued to Mid and South Essex Hospitals relating to maternity services at Broomfield Hospital.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is working to publish its report following its inspection of maternity services in Mid and South Essex at the earliest opportunity. Publication of the report, following the Care Quality Commission’s inspection of maternity services in Mid and South Essex, has been delayed due to system and technology issues that have occurred during a large-scale transformation programme within the CQC. Details about any enforcement action, including the Section 31 against Broomfield Hospital, will be included in the full report.
The CQC is taking urgent steps to ensure that it is able to publish inspection reports in a more timely manner. While the publication of some reports has been delayed, any immediate action that is needed to take to protect people using these services will not have been affected, and is being acted on appropriately.
Asked by: John Whittingdale (Conservative - Maldon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the report of the CQC inspection of maternity services in Mid and South Essex carried out in March 2024.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is working to publish its report following its inspection of maternity services in Mid and South Essex at the earliest opportunity. Publication of the report, following the Care Quality Commission’s inspection of maternity services in Mid and South Essex, has been delayed due to system and technology issues that have occurred during a large-scale transformation programme within the CQC. Details about any enforcement action, including the Section 31 against Broomfield Hospital, will be included in the full report.
The CQC is taking urgent steps to ensure that it is able to publish inspection reports in a more timely manner. While the publication of some reports has been delayed, any immediate action that is needed to take to protect people using these services will not have been affected, and is being acted on appropriately.
Asked by: John Whittingdale (Conservative - Maldon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding her Department plans to provide for the Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme in the 2025-26 financial year.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Departmental settlements have been set following the Budget announcement on October 30. Individual programmes will now be assessed during the departmental Business Planning process.
Asked by: John Whittingdale (Conservative - Maldon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to hold roundtable discussions on the police's use of facial recognition technology; and who will attend the roundtable discussions.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
Live facial technology is being used effectively by some police forces to identify suspects more quickly and accurately. Its use is governed by data protection, equality, and human rights legislation supplemented by specific policing guidance. However, I am aware of the concerns some have expressed about the lack of specific statutory provision for police use of the technology.
At the Westminster Hall Debate on live facial recognition on 13 November, I was clear that the government wants to take time to think carefully about how much support the police may need from Government and Parliament to set and manage the rules for the use of this technology.
I will also be listening to those with views on the legal framework and to the public in the coming months. This will include a series of roundtable meetings in December and January with regulators, civil society groups and industry.
Asked by: John Whittingdale (Conservative - Maldon)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce legislation to govern the use of facial recognition technology by the police.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)
Live facial technology is being used effectively by some police forces to identify suspects more quickly and accurately. Its use is governed by data protection, equality, and human rights legislation supplemented by specific policing guidance. However, I am aware of the concerns some have expressed about the lack of specific statutory provision for police use of the technology.
At the Westminster Hall Debate on live facial recognition on 13 November, I was clear that the government wants to take time to think carefully about how much support the police may need from Government and Parliament to set and manage the rules for the use of this technology.
I will also be listening to those with views on the legal framework and to the public in the coming months. This will include a series of roundtable meetings in December and January with regulators, civil society groups and industry.
Asked by: John Whittingdale (Conservative - Maldon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2024 to Question 8500 on Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, whether he plans to have further meetings with the European Commissioner for Justice.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Yes, the Secretary of State and other ministers in the department will continue to meet with the European Commissioner for Justice on this important issue as many times as necessary throughout the EU adequacy review process.
Asked by: John Whittingdale (Conservative - Maldon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2024 to Question 8499 on Information Commission, what implications for the Digital Information and Smart Data Bill were discussed with the Information Commissioner's Office.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology has worked with John Edwards, the Information Commissioner (IC) on the development of the upcoming Data (Use and Access) Bill.
When they met on 30 July, DSIT SoS thanked the IC for his and ICO’s officials’ ongoing support in the development of Bill, and they discussed the plans to give the ICO new, stronger powers and a more modern structure.
The IC supports the aims of the Bill and is a vital stakeholder in the Bill’s success. DSIT’s engagement with the IC also fulfils the Government's statutory duty to consult with the ICO when developing policy proposals relating to the processing of personal data.
Asked by: John Whittingdale (Conservative - Maldon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Office on the potential impact of the planned switch from the Public Switched Telephone Network on emergency services.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Yes, the Department engages regularly with the Home Office to identify and mitigate risks associated with the Public Switched Telephone Network switchover, including risks posed to the emergency services. Mostly recently, on 17 September the Department chaired a cross-Government engagement group that the Home Office attended, which included a discussion of the impact on emergency services.
The Department also supports the 999 / 112 Liaison Committee chaired by the emergency services, which coordinates and manages all risks and issues related to 999 and ensures efficient handling of emergency calls between the public, call handling agents, and emergency authorities.
Asked by: John Whittingdale (Conservative - Maldon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2024 to Question 8503 on Government Departments: Telecommunications, whether he plans to meet with Cabinet colleagues to discuss the use of ISDN telephone lines across Government.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department chairs a quarterly cross-government group on this issue, to which all government departments are invited. The group allows for discussion around plans and progress, and the opportunity to raise any concerns around the retirement of these legacy networks. Where dependencies have been identified, the Department is actively monitoring the progress of mitigation plans and engaging with industry on removing obstacles to migrating off legacy networks.