Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what regulations are currently in place for podcasts.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
In accordance with the Communications Act 2003 and the BBC Charter and Agreement, the Broadcasting Code rules cover television, radio, and BBC on-demand programme services (such as the BBC iPlayer) only. Ofcom does not regulate radio stations that only broadcast on the internet, including most podcasts.
The exception to this is BBC podcasts. Those available via iPlayer Radio are subject to all the rules of the Broadcasting Code, as relevant. Ofcom can also advise whether podcasts on some other BBC online sites have met the required standards.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which voluntary action by global companies will be sufficient to make the UK the safest place for young people online, further to the Prime Minister’s speech on 25 January.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
In general, Government favours a self-regulatory approach to the internet, and seeks to work collaboratively with key partners. Considerable success has been achieved, without the need for regulation, such as the roll-out of free, family-friendly ISP level filters for the vast majority of broadband customers with prompts to encourage parents to activate them.
The UK Government is making important progress in tackling online safety issues through the Digital Charter, which was announced in the Queen's Speech and published on 25 January. This work includes the publication of the Internet Safety Strategy green paper on 11 October 2017, which aims to tackle the growing dangers that users can face online. The Strategy sets out how we will continue to work collaboratively with industry, parents and communities, working together to keep citizens safe online. The Strategy consulted on a range of safety initiatives - including a social media code of practice; a social media levy; and transparency reporting to help inform future policy. We plan to take these forward on a voluntary basis, but will consider regulation if necessary.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 8 January (HL4167), which youth programmes the £475 million is to be spent on.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Office for Civil Society (DCMS, formerly Cabinet Office) has spent over £475m on youth programmes and supporting youth service delivery between 2014/15 and 2016/17 - the first full financial year that youth policy sat in these departments to the last completed financial year. This included: National Citizen Service; the Youth Investment Fund; the #iwill and other youth social action Funds; the annual grant to the British Youth Council; the Centre for Youth Impact; and the Delivering Differently for Young People programme.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they have spent on youth service in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Local authorities are responsible for allocating funding to youth services in line with local need. The Government has made over £200bn available to local authorities to spend on local services over this Spending Review.
The Government is committed to making sure young people have opportunities to develop their skills and participate in their communities. The Office for Civil Society (OCS) has spent over £475m on youth programmes and supporting youth service delivery between 2014/15 and 2016/17 - the first full financial year that youth policy sat in OCS to the last completed financial year.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what restrictions they impose on the portrayal of smoking on television in relation to young people.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Broadcasting regulation is a matter for Ofcom, the independent regulator. Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code specifies that smoking must not be featured in programmes made primarily for children unless there is strong editorial justification. In addition, smoking must be generally avoided, and must not be condoned, encouraged or glamorised in programmes broadcast before the watershed or programmes likely to be widely seen by under-eighteens, unless there is editorial justification.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what statutory requirements are imposed on local authorities in relation to youth service.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Section 507B of the Education Act 1996 (as amended by the Education and Inspections Act 2006) requires local authorities to secure access to sufficient services and activities to improve young people’s well-being, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the independence of the Video Standards Council in respect of the discharge of the Council's responsibility for determining age classifications for video games.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Video Standards Council (VSC) applies the independently determined Pan-European Games Information (PEGI) classification system on behalf of industry in order to provide objectivity and consistency in video games age ratings. The VSC’s classification work is reviewed by Government as part of the assessment of their Annual Report.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what qualifications are required of employees and members of the Video Standards Council who are involved in determining age classifications for video games.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Video Standards Council objectively follows the Pan-European Games Information (PEGI) classification criteria produced by psychologists and child welfare experts. Their employees have demonstrated analytical capabilities and include graduates and former police officers. They are also able to consult their Advisory Panel of leading psychologists and legal experts before deciding upon the rating of a video game.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last met representatives of the Video Standards Council; and whether they have any plans to review the work of that body.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Officials last met representatives of the Video Standards Council (VSC) at their St Albans headquarters on 29 August 2017 and maintain regular communications outside of meetings. The work of the VSC will next be reviewed upon submission of their Annual Report in 2018.
Asked by: Lord Storey (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements they have put in place for monitoring the work of the Video Standards Council, and for holding the Video Standards Council Board to account.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Government formally monitors the work of the independent Video Standards Council (VSC) on an annual basis through scrutiny of their Annual Report. This report describes the VSC's application of the independent Pan-European Games Information (PEGI) rating system over the previous year, and is assessed by officials and ministers before being laid before Parliament for further review.