Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matt Hancock and Deidre Brock

Thursday 10th May 2018 Commons Chamber

[Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)]

3. What recent discussions he has had with Channel 4 on its potential relocation outside London.

[The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Matt Hancock)]

We warmly welcome Channel 4’s agreement to establish a new national headquarters outside London. I am sure that a number of cities throughout the country will be well placed to host Channel 4. The final decision on the location is one for Channel 4 and will be made later this year.

[Deidre Brock]

Does the Secretary of State agree that the strength of Glasgow’s creative and independent television production sector and its rich cultural diversity make it the ideal place for Channel 4 to land? How will he ensure that the devolved nations get a fair share of the spoils of relocation? There should be no more lift and shift, but some real spending on Scottish production companies.

[Matt Hancock]

Of course, as well as moving its national headquarters outside London, Channel 4 has committed to increase its production spend outside London to 50%, much of which will end up in the devolved nations. I am delighted to say that Channel 4 currently seems to be very popular right across the country. Once it has made its decision to go to one particular place, I hope it remains popular everywhere else.

--- Later in debate ---

[Matt Hancock]

It has made the decision to move its national headquarters, and it will make the decision about where to move them before the end of this year, with the move taking place next year. The case that my hon. Friend makes for Birmingham is a very strong one.

[Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)]

T7. What steps is the Secretary of State taking, and what resources does he intend to provide, to facilitate the UK’s commitments under the European charter for regional and minority languages?

[Matt Hancock]

I am a great fan of minority languages. I grew up just on the Welsh border; I love the Welsh language, and I have strengthened the support for S4C through the S4C review. I am in discussions with the hon. Lady’s colleagues about BBC Alba as well.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matt Hancock and Deidre Brock

Thursday 22nd March 2018 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

As I have said, we have already acted in the Digital Economy Act. The hon. Gentleman served on the Bill Committee—with great distinction, I might add. I made it clear during the debates on the Bill that if Ofcom’s report makes it clear there is a problem, and one that can only be fixed by legislation, we will introduce that legislation.

[Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)]

Creating equality for indigenous language programming takes political will. What will the Secretary of State do personally to bring about parity in funding and original broadcasting output for languages such as Scottish Gaelic and Welsh?

[Matt Hancock]

We are strong supporters of the other indigenous languages of the UK. We have strongly supported the Welsh-language channel S4C. However, I am keen to see what more we can do to support the Gaelic language, and I look forward to meeting the hon. Lady’s colleagues to discuss how we can make that work.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matt Hancock and Deidre Brock

Thursday 8th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

My hon. Friend is dead right.

[Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)]

A recent witness at the Scottish Affairs Committee described the Government’s mobile infrastructure project as a disaster. What are the UK Government doing to address that failure?

[Matt Hancock]

We had a commitment to reach 90% of the UK landmass with mobile coverage by the end of last year. Ofcom is assessing whether that has been met. We now have a commitment to get it up to 95%. We are doing that largely through a commercial roll-out. There is no doubt that mobile phone coverage is going up. It is just a question whether it is going up fast enough.

BBC Pay

Debate between Matt Hancock and Deidre Brock

Tuesday 9th January 2018 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

Of course the BBC has to deal with this objectively, but some very serious allegations have been raised. The BBC has said that it is going to get to the bottom of it. It must get to the bottom of it, and we will hold it to that.

[Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)]

I, too, declare an interest as a member of the APPG on the BBC. As such, I, too, welcome the BBC’s commitment to publish gender pay gap data and its independent audit of pay for most of its staff. However, the problem is that the BBC is in breach of the Equal Pay Act 1970. Surely 47 years is enough time to get its house in order.

[Matt Hancock]

One might have thought so. Now, thanks to the transparency measures that we have brought in, we are going to make sure that that happens.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matt Hancock and Deidre Brock

Thursday 16th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)]

I understand that the UK Government are likely to be taking up BT’s offer of a 10-megabits universal service obligation for the remaining 5% of premises, which is far behind the Scottish Government’s commitment of 30 megabits for 100%, so concerns have been raised about how the two will align. Will the Minister tell us whether he intends to discuss that with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy and Connectivity before reaching a decision? Will he take up the suggestion of a UK-wide working group?

[Matt Hancock]

Yes, I saw my Scottish counterpart last week, and I am going to Scotland in a fortnight to discuss the matter. The problem in Scotland is that we delegated the funding to the Scottish Government, who have contracted more slowly than any English county or the Welsh Government. They need to get on with it.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matt Hancock and Deidre Brock

Thursday 15th December 2016 Commons Chamber

[Matt Hancock]

The sector is going from strength to strength. I strongly support it in doing so. We will continue our support for Channel 4, for appointments based on merit and for the great British TV sector.

[Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)]

6. What assessment she has made of the potential effect on the UK’s creative industries of the UK leaving the EU.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Matt Hancock and Deidre Brock

Wednesday 15th June 2016 Commons Chamber

[Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)]

2. What representations he has received on his Department’s boycott and divestment guidance.

[The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Matthew Hancock)]

We have received a wide range of representations about boycotts in public procurement. The Government’s position is very clear: public sector organisations should not use procurement to run their own independent foreign policies.

[Deidre Brock]

Does the Minister agree that people who stand for election to local authorities and who then serve as councillors perform an important role in communities the length and breadth of these islands, and does he further agree that they should be trusted to make political judgments for themselves? Will the Government abandon the boycott and divestment guidance in favour of supporting local democracy?

[Matthew Hancock]

Yes, I think councillors do an excellent job at what councils are meant to do, but councils are not meant to set foreign policy, and attempts at local foreign policies that are discriminatory are potentially illegal, and we make that clear at every opportunity.