Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether a senior manager in her Department has been given the portfolio for leading on departmental sustainability.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to making its estate and operations more sustainable and resilient, through the Greening Government Commitments. We report on these commitments every quarter. In DCMS, the Director General for Strategy and Operations is responsible for this work.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much her Department has spent on producing social media videos and graphics for use on Ministerial social media accounts since January 2020.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We are now in a digital age, where social media and digital communications are an essential part of government, helping inform the public directly about matters which may affect their lives or interests.
In addition to the Civil Service Code, the Government Communications Service offers propriety in digital and social media guidance and is available to discuss questions relating to social media when working with ministers.
DCMS employs an in-house social media team to use digital channels and create content to communicate departmental policies online. It is often appropriate for content relating to Government policies, guidance and announcements, created by civil servants, to be amplified or posted on other channels including ministers' own social media accounts where this helps drive wider engagement from the public.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff in her Department are managing Ministerial social media accounts as either (a) their primary responsibility or (b) as part of their role.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We are now in a digital age, where social media and digital communications are an essential part of government, helping inform the public directly about matters which may affect their lives or interests.
In addition to the Civil Service Code, the Government Communications Service offers propriety in digital and social media guidance and is available to discuss questions relating to social media when working with ministers.
DCMS employs an in-house social media team to use digital channels and create content to communicate departmental policies online. It is often appropriate for content relating to Government policies, guidance and announcements, created by civil servants, to be amplified or posted on other channels including ministers' own social media accounts where this helps drive wider engagement from the public.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the total floor area of her departmental estate was in each year from 2010-11 to 2020-21.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
This is shown in the table below, taken from the State of the Estate Reports.
The 2020-21 figure is significantly higher as it includes museums. These were not included in previous years.
Year | DCMS sqm (NIA - net internal area) |
2010 | 92,605 |
2011 | 86,224 |
2012 | 75,391 |
2013 | 69,928 |
2014-2015 | 124,031 |
2015-2016 | 124,384 |
2016-2017 | 126,090 |
2017-2018 | 122,871 |
2018-2019 | 122,305 |
2019-2020 | 120,364 |
2020-2021 | 778,348 |
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if will take steps to ascertain what criteria were used by management at the Imperial War Museum when appointing ZE Global as the holders of its security contract; and if he will make an assessment of ZE Global's effectiveness in that role.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
DCMS-sponsored museums operate independently, at arm’s length from government. The Imperial War Museum’s review of its security operations is an operational matter. As such, Ministers and officials have not assessed or discussed it.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with management at (a) the Imperial War Museum and (b) ZE Global on job security following the transfer of staff from Bidfest Noonan to ZE Global which is due to take place on 1 April 2021.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
DCMS-sponsored museums operate independently, at arm’s length from government. The Imperial War Museum’s review of its security operations is an operational matter. As such, Ministers and officials have not assessed or discussed it.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has made an assessment of the findings of the Imperial War Museum's security review report; and whether he plans to take steps to implement the recommendations of that report.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
DCMS-sponsored museums operate independently, at arm’s length from government. The Imperial War Museum’s review of its security operations is an operational matter. As such, Ministers and officials have not assessed or discussed it.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with management at the Imperial War Museum on its (a) recently completed security review and (b) decision to appoint ZE Global as its security provider; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
DCMS-sponsored museums operate independently, at arm’s length from government. The Imperial War Museum’s review of its security operations is an operational matter. As such, Ministers and officials have not assessed or discussed it.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
What assessment his Department has made of the effect of the removal of the TV licence concession for the over-75s on the Government’s loneliness strategy.
Answered by John Whittingdale
We remain disappointed with the BBC's decision to restrict the over 75 licence fee concession to those in receipt of pension credit. We recognise the value of free TV licences for over-75s and believe the BBC must look at how it uses its substantial licence fee income to support older people.
The government remains committed to working with partners across society to tackle loneliness. During Covid-19 we’ve provided £18 million for loneliness charities, updated our awareness campaign and launched a new Tackling Loneliness Network.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the latest covid-19 guidance, published on 22 September 2020 affects the ability for indoor grassroots performing arts organisations to rehearse and perform in groups of six.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
It is against the law to gather in groups of more than six, where people are from different households or support bubbles. Some activities - such as those organised for under-18s - are exempt. In a COVID-19 Secure venue or public outdoor place, non-professional performing arts activity, including choirs, orchestras or drama groups can continue to rehearse or perform together where this is planned activity in line with the performing arts guidance and if they can do so in a way that ensures that there is no interaction between groups of more than six at any time.
If an amateur group is not able to ensure that no mingling takes place between these sub-groups of no more than six (including when arriving at or leaving activity or in any breaks or socialising) then such non-professional activity should not take place.