Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister of 23 June 2020, Official report, column 1169, when the taskforce on re-opening swimming pools will have its first meeting; what the timetable is to make swimming pools covid-19-secure so that they can reopen; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The issues around the re-opening of swimming pools are being considered in a number of fora. The consideration of different venues and the activities involved are underpinned by understanding the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 associated with particular activities.
We recognise the importance of re-opening our indoor and outdoor pools and we agree that swimming is a great way for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy. There are concerns about transmission around points of contact within such facilities, like changing rooms due to the high volume of contacts. As such, we need to provide reassurance that these facilities will be safe, and are working hard to achieve this in the coming weeks.
The Sport Working Group, led by myself, feeds into the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce and ensures strong sector and expert support for the co-development of guidelines and will help leisure facilities become Covid-secure and re-open as early as possible in July.
The Government is actively working towards a safe way to re-open these facilities, with supporting guidance.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the timeframe is for the restarting of cricket as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Officials are working very closely with the ECB on plans to deliver the safe return of club cricket as soon as possible. We are working at pace to shape guidance that will allow the safe return of competitive cricket and other team sports. Any shared sporting equipment may risk transmission, but these risks can be mitigated with good hygiene practice as being adopted across a wide range of sectors. I hope to make further progress on this in the coming weeks so that teams can enjoy a great cricketing summer.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a national museum for the study of Black, Asian and minority ethnic history and culture on a similar scale and model to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
There are currently no plans to expand the portfolio of DCMS-Sponsored national museums.
Many of the existing national museums display material relating to Black, Asian and minority ethnic history and culture as part of their permanent exhibitions. This includes material displayed at the British Museum, National Portrait Gallery, V&A, Tate, Horniman, and National Museums Liverpool. These collections include art, ceramics, fashion and photography. Many museums work with diaspora communities to better understand collection items and place them in historical and contemporary context. A number of museums have also held temporary exhibitions that focus on Black, Asian and minority ethnic history and culture.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps BDUK is taking to engage with stakeholders; and what stakeholders BDUK has met with in the last 12 months.
Answered by Margot James
BDUK has extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.
Over the last 12 months BDUK has met with representatives from across the following stakeholder groups: central, local, and devolved governments; the European Commission; Ofcom; communications providers; suppliers; local communities; and industry bodies.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what evaluation measures the Government plans to put in place for the superfast broadband roll-out.
Answered by Margot James
The Department is currently undertaking evaluation of the Superfast Broadband Programme’s role in improving broadband connectivity and reaching areas that would otherwise not have been reached through commercial plans. The evaluation is focusing on the economic and social impacts of the programme, including the impact of the superfast programme on business performance and growth, employment, on quality of life and the reduction in benefits claimants in areas that would have lost out to higher connectivity areas, if it were not for the programme.
The Department released The UK Broadband Impact Study in 2013 which made an assessment of the impacts of faster broadband including the economic impacts. The study can be accessed on the Department's website (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-broadband-impact-study--2). The Department will be producing results from the current evaluation in 2018.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the 10Mbps minimum speed for broadband under the universal service obligation will be the minimum speed consumers receive in their homes at peak times; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Margot James
There is a difference between what we define as the download speed, or sync speed, and the actual speed end users experience. The sync speed is the maximum speed that is achievable on the connection between the network and the premises. In reality, the actual speed that is provided to an end user is typically lower than the sync speed and this will vary depending on the number of other people using the network at that point in time. The specification that we consulted on was for a sync speed of at least 10Mbps. Ofcom says that a 10Mbps sync speed meets the needs of a typical household.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that new build developments are connected to fibre broadband; and if he will take steps to ensure that new build developments in North East Hertfordshire are connected to fibre broadband.
Answered by Margot James
My Department brokered an agreement in February 2016 between the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and Openreach to connect new build developments to superfast broadband, and where possible, ultrafast broadband. Both Virgin Media and the utility provider GTC have made similar agreements with the HBF. Whilst these voluntary agreements between industry stakeholders have been successful and are welcomed, we are monitoring their effectiveness closely. DCMS’ Barrier Busting Task Force are prepared to explore further measures, including legislative options, if necessary in order to ensure residents get the connectivity they deserve.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made in ensuring that the First World War is appropriately commemorated.
Answered by Helen Grant
The events DCMS hosted on 4th August set a fitting tone and struck a chord with the public. This month my RT. Hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, announced a memorable and dignified programme of events to commemorate the Gallipoli campaign. Alongside the Department for Communities and Local Government and other partners we are also offering a variety of programmes that are allowing local communities to mark the centenary in their own way, including the restoration of War memorials, school battlefield visits and the honouring of local VC recipients.
Asked by: Oliver Heald (Conservative - North East Hertfordshire)
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 the adequacy of the speed of delivery of superfast broadband to rural areas in East Hertfordshire.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire superfast broadband project has already enabled 14,140 premises to receive fibre broadband and is on track to deliver 91.1% superfast coverage by March 2016. A further £6.63m has been allocated for Phase 2 of the project to extend superfast coverage to up to 96.6% of premises in Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire by December 2017.