Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing broadcasters to use verified fact checkers during the media blackout period on election days.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) legislative and (b) regulatory steps the Government is taking to enable UK news publishers to negotiate for fair payment by technology companies for the news content that they generate.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Newspapers play an invaluable role in the fabric of our society and the government is committed to considering all possible options in the interest of supporting the sustainability of the press. As society continues to move online, the news publishing sector is facing significant challenges in transitioning to sustainable digital business models. As part of this, we are aware of concerns about the effect of the power and position of some online platforms when dealing with news publishers, as identified by the Cairncross Review.
The government set out its proposals for a new pro-competition regime for digital markets in a public consultation in July 2021. The regime will drive a more vibrant and innovative economy across the UK. In line with codes proposed in the Cairncross Review, the regime’s conduct requirements will improve competition and transparency and so make an important contribution to the sustainability of the press. We have also sought advice from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Ofcom on how the regime would govern the relationship between platforms and content producers including news publishers. No final decisions have been made.
A consultation response will be published in due course and we will legislate to put the regime on a statutory footing as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals in the next parliamentary session to put the new Digital Markets Unit in the Competition and Markets Authority on a statutory basis.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government consulted on our proposed approach to a new pro-competition regime, overseen by the Digital Markets Unit, last year. The consultation closed in October, and we are carefully considering the responses. We will set out the final design of the regime in our response shortly, and will introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals in 2022 to provide the Digital Markets Unit with full statutory powers.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The Government consulted on our proposed approach to a new pro-competition regime, overseen by the Digital Markets Unit, last year. The consultation closed in October, and we are carefully considering the responses. We will set out the final design of the regime in our response shortly, and will introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.