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Written Question
ByteDance
Monday 25th March 2024

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether Bytedance would be required to divest ownership of TikTok under the terms of the provision on Foreign power acquisition of news media organisations added by the Government to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The new terms introduced in our amendments to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (DMCC) are based on the Enterprise Act 2002, and will therefore only apply to newspapers and news magazines given the unique role these publications play in contributing to the health of our democracy by providing accurate news and information, helping to shape opinions and contributing to political debate.

These changes would not cover online news providers or online intermediaries, including social media platforms such as TikTok.


Written Question
Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Public Expenditure
Monday 4th December 2023

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which spending programmes their Department devolves for administration to (a) local government in England and (b) other local spending bodies; and what the budget is of each such programme for each year for which budgets are agreed.

Answered by John Whittingdale

The Government has set itself a mission that, by 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal, with powers at or approaching the highestlevel of devolution, with a simplified, long-term funding settlement. At Spring Budget, the government announced the trailblazer devolution deals with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and West Midlands Combined Authorities (WMCA), which included a commitment to introduce single funding settlements at the next Spending Review for these combined authorities.

At Autumn Statement, the Government published a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GMCA and WMCA, setting out how the single settlements will work. The government also announced an ambitious new ‘level 4’ of the devolution framework.

Details of major funding programmes, including those administered by local government or other local bodies, are available on gov.uk.


Written Question
Indo-Pacific Region: Expenditure
Thursday 8th December 2022

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether there has been a change in her Department's (a) departmental expenditure limit and (b) annually managed expenditure spending in the Indo-Pacific region since 16 March 2021.

Answered by Paul Scully

The publication of the Integrated Review in March 2021 affirmed the UK’s increased focus and long-term commitment to the Indo-Pacific.

DCMS does not capture spend by region. However, the department’s International Directorate has established a bespoke team to lead our Indo-Pacific and China Strategy and Engagement. This shift in focus and resource has been underway for the past year and has resulted in increased collaboration with key regional partners.


Written Question
Foreign Companies: China
Monday 23rd May 2022

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether there are Government restrictions or constraints on the UK business activities of (a) Huawei, (b) ZTE, (c) Hikvision, (d) Hytera, (e) Alibaba, (f) Tencent, (g) Dahua, (h) China Telecom, (i) China Mobile, (j) DJI, (k) Byte Dance, (l) Kingsoft, (m) SenseTime, (n) Megvii, (o) SMIC, (p) China Unicom and (q) Fujian Jinhua.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

As set out in the Integrated Review, we will continue to pursue a positive trade and investment relationship with China, whilst ensuring our national security and values are protected. We have published guidance which provides UK firms with clear, up-to-date information and specialist support to help negotiate the ethical, legal and commercial questions they may encounter in China or when working with Chinese businesses.

As an open economy, we welcome foreign trade and investment, including from China, where it supports UK growth and jobs. However, the government will not accept investments that compromise our national security, and all investment must meet stringent legal and regulatory requirements to protect the UK’s national interest. Where we identify concerns, the government will not hesitate to use its powers to protect national security on a case-by-case basis. The National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, which fully commenced on 4 January 2022, gives the government powers to scrutinise and potentially intervene in acquisitions of control over entities and assets in or linked to the UK that may pose national security risks.

In addition, on 19 May, legislation came into force extending the scope of export control powers as they apply to exports of otherwise non-controlled goods and technology intended for a “military end-use” in a destination subject to arms embargo. This fulfilled the commitment made by the International Trade Secretary in her Written Ministerial Statement of 8 December 2021. These changes allow us to better address threats to national security, international peace and security, and human rights arising from the use of non-listed items by the military, police or security forces, or entities acting on their behalf, in an embargoed destination. We also added China to the list of “embargoed destinations” to which military end-use controls can be applied.

Last year we introduced the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021, which gives new national security powers for the government to impose controls on public communications providers' use of designated vendors' goods, services and facilities in UK public telecoms networks. The Government has held a consultation on proposals to use the new national security powers in the case of Huawei.


Written Question
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Public Expenditure
Monday 25th April 2022

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 131081 on Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Public Expenditure, if she will specify the funding associated with each programme in each of the next three years.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The programmes provided within the Answer of 7 March 2022 that are managed by DCMS from which some funds are provided to local government and local spending bodies are set out below. Profiles are liable to change during the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates processes.

  • 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme “Urban Connected Communities Project”

Trials new 5G services and applications to individuals and businesses. This project has now finished.

  • 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme “5G Create” scheme

Aims to explore and develop new use-cases and 5G technical capabilities. The total funding provided for the 5GTT programme is £6m in 2022-23 only.

  • Building Digital UK Superfast

Aims to ensure that delivery of superfast broadband can reach a number of under-served local areas. The total funding provided for this programme is £7m in 2022-23, £5m in 2023-24 and £7m in 2024-25.

  • Cultural Investment Fund

Invests in cultural infrastructure, local museums and neighbourhood libraries to benefit communities across the country. The total funding provided for this programme is up to £150m over 2022-23 - 2024-25.

  • Life Chances Fund

Provides top-up funding contributions to Social Impact Bond projects through outcomes-based contracts. These contracts involve social investors and are locally commissioned. The total fund is £70m and will be paid as outcomes are achieved over the Spending Review period.

  • Local Digital Skills Partnerships Catalyst Fund

Brings government together with national and local businesses and charities to address the digital skills gap in a collaborative way. The total fund over the lifespan of Local Digital Skills Partnerships programme (Catalyst Fund) is £1.3m.

  • Local Full Fibre Networks

Aims to stimulate investment, create UK digital leadership, and drive productivity and growth in UK digital products and services. This programme is now finished and no funding is provided in this Spending Review period.

  • Rural Connected Communities competition

Funds 5G research and development projects. The total funding provided for the 5GTT programme is £6m in 2022-23 only.

  • UK City of Culture

The UK City of Culture competition is a key part of DCMS’s broader offer to level up opportunity across the UK. It invites places across the UK to set out their vision for culture-led regeneration and takes place every four years. Funding of £1.615m in 2022-23 and £1m in 2023-24 will be provided to the Coventry City of Culture Trust (the organising body for the current titleholder).

  • Youth Investment Fund

Aims to create, expand and improve local youth facilities and their services, in order to drive positive outcomes for young people. The £368m investment over 22/23 - 24/25 will be targeted at those localities with most need in accordance with levelling up principles. Local authorities will be able to bid into this fund as will civil society youth service providers.


Written Question
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Public Expenditure
Monday 7th March 2022

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will (a) list the spending programmes her Department devolves for administration to local government in England and other local spending bodies and (b) specify the value for each programme for every year for which budgets are agreed.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

DCMS does not devolve any funds for administration to local government and other local spending bodies (taking local spending bodies to denote local government structures); however there are programmes managed by DCMS from which some funds are provided to local government and local spending bodies. These include the below:

  • 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme “Urban Connected Communities Project”

Trials new 5G services and applications to individuals and businesses.

  • 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme “5G Create” scheme

Aims to explore and develop new use-cases and 5G technical capabilities.

  • Building Digital UK Superfast

Aims to ensure that delivery of superfast broadband can reach a number of under-served local areas.

  • Cultural Investment Fund

Invests in cultural infrastructure, local museums and neighbourhood libraries to benefit communities across the country.

  • Life Chances Fund

Provides top up contributions to outcomes-based contracts involving social investment, referred to as Social Impact Bonds.

  • Local Digital Skills Partnerships Catalyst Fund

Brings government together with national and local businesses and charities to address the digital skills gap in a collaborative way.

  • Local Full Fibre Networks

Aims to stimulate investment, create UK digital leadership, and drive productivity and growth in UK digital products and services.

  • Rural Connected Communities competition

Funds 5G research and development projects.

  • UK City of Culture

Invites places across the UK to set out their vision for culture-led regeneration and takes place every four years.

  • Youth Investment Fund

Aims to create, expand and improve local youth facilities and their services, in order to drive positive outcomes for young people.


Written Question
UK Youth Parliament: Finance
Wednesday 31st March 2021

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reasons the funding for the UK Youth Parliament has been reduced; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Matt Warman

HM Government’s core funding for the UK Youth Parliament in 21/22 remains at the same level as the previous two years. Additional funding has been made available in 21/22 to continue enabling UK-wide participation in this programme.


Written Question
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Coronavirus
Friday 26th February 2021

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) policies and (b) grant and funding programmes his Department has introduced to provide support to individuals and organisations in response to the covid-19 outbreak; and what funding has been allocated to each of those programmes in the 2020-21 financial year.

Answered by John Whittingdale

DCMS has provided a range of financial support schemes in response to the Covid-19 outbreak and the challenges it has presented. In July 2020 the Secretary of State announced the Culture Recovery Fund to support arts organisations, heritage sites and independent cinemas through £1.57 billion worth of loans and grants. So far over £1 billion of this has been allocated and a second round of funding including £300 million grants and £100 million in repayable finance was announced in December 2020, and launched in January. This scheme has supported more than 75,000 jobs and has assisted cultural institutions such as the National Theatre, and the Royal Albert Hall, as well as thousands of other organisations across England.

The Government has provided unprecedented support to businesses through tax reliefs, cash grants and employee wage support. On 19th November 2020, the government announced a £300 million Sport Winter Survival Package to provide a lifeline to organisations that would otherwise not survive the winter as a result of the restriction on spectators announced from 1 October. Beyond elite level sport, on the 22nd October 2020, the government announced a £100 million support fund for local authority leisure centres. Sport England are also providing £220million directly to support community sport clubs and exercise centres through this pandemic, including their £35 million Community Emergency Fund. Sport England’s new strategy, ‘Uniting the Movement’, dedicated £50 million to support grassroots sports clubs and organisations.

In addition, DCMS has made available an unprecedented £750 million package of support, specifically for charities, social enterprises and the voluntary sector. This has ensured that charities and other civil society organisations, including those at risk of financial hardship, could continue their vital work during the Covid-19 outbreak. This includes the £7.5m Loneliness Covid-19 Winter Fund targeting loneliness and bringing people together through libraries, arts services and radio, as well as the £16.5m Youth Covid-19 Support fund for grassroots youth clubs, uniformed youth groups and national youth organisations. In order to increase the community support given to vulnerable people affected by Covid-19, we also delivered the £200m Coronavirus Community Support Fund. This funding has helped to maintain and enhance services for vulnerable people affected by the current Covid-19 crisis, where delivery organisations are experiencing income disruption and/or increased demand.


Written Question
Culture Recovery Fund
Friday 13th November 2020

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding has been awarded under the Culture Recovery Fund, by region.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

While over £500m from the Culture Recovery Fund has been allocated, some capital elements are still being allocated, and many applications are still being processed.

However, across heritage and arts recovery grant awards made to date (11 Nov), the regional breakdown is as follows:

Region

No. of awards

Total Awarded

North East

103

£22,454,843

North West

327

£62,663,311

Yorkshire and The Humber

224

£43,099,069

East Midlands

187

£29,701,256

West Midlands

220

£45,502,109

East of England

206

£34,531,071

London

752

£155,917,286

South East

345

£62,615,121

South West

296

£50,529,933

Out of England*

4

£254,850

Grand Total

2664

£507,268,849

*based on applicant postcode


Written Question
Commonwealth Games 2022
Tuesday 13th October 2020

Asked by: Liam Byrne (Labour - Birmingham, Hodge Hill)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to publish the Commonwealth Games 2022 legacy plan.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The £778m investment in the Birmingham 2022 Games is a clear statement of Government’s commitment to ensure the Games deliver deep and lasting benefits, both for the West Midlands and for the whole of the UK. Working with our Games partners, the Government is committed to publishing a legacy plan in early 2021.