Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Defending Democracy Taskforce includes representatives from the (a) university, (b) research and (c) higher education sectors.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The Defending Democracy Taskforce was established in November 2022. Its mission statement is to reduce the risk of foreign interference to the UK’s democratic processes, institutions, and society, and ensure that these are secure and resilient to threats of foreign interference.
The Taskforce is a cross-departmental and inter-agency initiative made up of ministers and officials from policy-owning departments, including the Cabinet Office, Home Office, DSIT, DLUHC and DfE, law enforcement, the UK intelligence community and Parliament.
Meetings of the Taskforce will be complemented by wider formal engagement with partners outside central government and Parliament, including in the devolved administrations, local government and private, education and third sectors.
The government takes the risk of foreign interference in higher education very seriously.
This is why there is already a dedicated cross-government programme of work to assess and counter foreign interference in higher education. This responsibility ultimately lies with Department for Education, but the Taskforce has taken a keen interest in this issue and will continue to support efforts to protect academic freedoms and universities from the threat of foreign interference.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what processes are in place to ensure that representations can be made to the Defending Democracy Taskforce by non-members.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The Defending Democracy Taskforce was established in November 2022. Its mission statement is to reduce the risk of foreign interference to the UK’s democratic processes, institutions, and society, and ensure that these are secure and resilient to threats of foreign interference.
The Taskforce is a cross-departmental and inter-agency initiative made up of ministers and officials from policy-owning departments, including the Cabinet Office, Home Office, DSIT, DLUHC and DfE, law enforcement, the UK intelligence community and Parliament.
Meetings of the Taskforce will be complemented by wider formal engagement with partners outside central government and Parliament, including in the devolved administrations, local government and private, education and third sectors.
The government takes the risk of foreign interference in higher education very seriously.
This is why there is already a dedicated cross-government programme of work to assess and counter foreign interference in higher education. This responsibility ultimately lies with Department for Education, but the Taskforce has taken a keen interest in this issue and will continue to support efforts to protect academic freedoms and universities from the threat of foreign interference.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Defending Democracy Taskforce plans to make an assessment of foreign interference at universities; and whether representatives from universities can participate in relevant meetings.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The Defending Democracy Taskforce was established in November 2022. Its mission statement is to reduce the risk of foreign interference to the UK’s democratic processes, institutions, and society, and ensure that these are secure and resilient to threats of foreign interference.
The Taskforce is a cross-departmental and inter-agency initiative made up of ministers and officials from policy-owning departments, including the Cabinet Office, Home Office, DSIT, DLUHC and DfE, law enforcement, the UK intelligence community and Parliament.
Meetings of the Taskforce will be complemented by wider formal engagement with partners outside central government and Parliament, including in the devolved administrations, local government and private, education and third sectors.
The government takes the risk of foreign interference in higher education very seriously.
This is why there is already a dedicated cross-government programme of work to assess and counter foreign interference in higher education. This responsibility ultimately lies with Department for Education, but the Taskforce has taken a keen interest in this issue and will continue to support efforts to protect academic freedoms and universities from the threat of foreign interference.
Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) application process is and (b) appointment criteria are for members of the Defending Democracy Taskforce
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The Defending Democracy Taskforce was established in November 2022. Its mission statement is to reduce the risk of foreign interference to the UK’s democratic processes, institutions, and society, and ensure that these are secure and resilient to threats of foreign interference.
The Taskforce is a cross-departmental and inter-agency initiative made up of ministers and officials from policy-owning departments, including the Cabinet Office, Home Office, DSIT, DLUHC and DfE, law enforcement, the UK intelligence community and Parliament.
Meetings of the Taskforce will be complemented by wider formal engagement with partners outside central government and Parliament, including in the devolved administrations, local government and private, education and third sectors.
The government takes the risk of foreign interference in higher education very seriously.
This is why there is already a dedicated cross-government programme of work to assess and counter foreign interference in higher education. This responsibility ultimately lies with Department for Education, but the Taskforce has taken a keen interest in this issue and will continue to support efforts to protect academic freedoms and universities from the threat of foreign interference.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on the potential impact of the BBC's planned changes to local radio broadcasting on its public service obligations as set out in the BBC Charter, Agreement, and Operating Licence.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government remains disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local output. Ministers have met with the BBC on several occasions since the announcement where they have expressed our shared concerns in this House about the BBC’s plans.
While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, the Government is clear that the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.
The BBC is still required to deliver its remit as set out in the Charter and Agreement. It should prioritise using its £3.8 billion annual licence fee income as necessary to deliver that remit.
Ministers met Ofcom before the publication of the BBC’s new Operating Licence to emphasise that the Government expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. In the publication of the new Licence, Ofcom sets out that it will hold the BBC to its commitments on local radio in England in relation to news and travel, breaking news and major incidents and its contribution to local democracy. Ofcom will be monitoring the BBC’s performance in this area closely and will step in if they are concerned the BBC is not delivering for audiences. Ofcom also plans to commission new research to better understand what audiences need and value from local services.
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to ensure the security of IT used in elections.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
The Government is committed to safeguarding democracy and has established the Defending Democracy Taskforce, which has a mandate to safeguard our democratic institutions and electoral processes.
Whilst elections continue to be delivered in a traditional manner - with electors voting with pencil and paper - the supporting infrastructure uses digital systems. The Register to Vote on-line service undergoes regular security and accessibility checks.
Through the Defending Democracy Taskforce, this department works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre to provide guidance and support relating to the risks of election-related cyber-attacks to local authorities and their suppliers, as well as to political parties.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department has taken to help ensure that there is a public consultation with listeners on the planned changes to BBC local radio services.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the important role that the BBC’s local radio services play in terms of the provision of local news and information, and of community engagement in the local area.
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the Government as set out in its Royal Charter, and decisions on service delivery and how it consults with audiences are a matter for the BBC. However, we are disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local radio output. In the Department’s regular conversations with the BBC, we have been clear that it must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.
The Government also expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. Ofcom recently published a new BBC Operating Licence, which sets out that it will hold the BBC to its commitments on local radio in England in relation to news and travel, breaking news and major incidents and its contribution to local democracy.
Under the new Operating Licence, the BBC will be required to monitor the impact of changes on audiences and publish more information about how it delivers high quality, distinctive content and services for audiences across the UK. Ofcom monitor the BBC’s performance in this area closely and step in if they are concerned the BBC is not delivering for audiences. Ofcom also plans to commission new research to better understand what audiences need and value from local services.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions her Department has had with the BBC Board on the provision of BBC local radio services.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the important role that the BBC’s local radio services play in terms of the provision of local news and information, and of community engagement in the local area.
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the Government as set out in its Royal Charter, and decisions on service delivery and how it consults with audiences are a matter for the BBC. However, we are disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local radio output. In the Department’s regular conversations with the BBC, we have been clear that it must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK.
The Government also expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. Ofcom recently published a new BBC Operating Licence, which sets out that it will hold the BBC to its commitments on local radio in England in relation to news and travel, breaking news and major incidents and its contribution to local democracy.
Under the new Operating Licence, the BBC will be required to monitor the impact of changes on audiences and publish more information about how it delivers high quality, distinctive content and services for audiences across the UK. Ofcom monitor the BBC’s performance in this area closely and step in if they are concerned the BBC is not delivering for audiences. Ofcom also plans to commission new research to better understand what audiences need and value from local services.
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to provide financial support to local newspapers.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to supporting local and regional newspapers as vital pillars of communities and local democracy. They play an essential role in holding power to account, keeping the public informed of local issues and providing reliable, high-quality information.
However, as the independent Cairncross Review into the future of journalism identified, society is increasingly moving online and local news publishers are facing significant challenges in transitioning to sustainable digital business models.
The Government supported the majority of Cairncross recommendations and has taken them forward through a range of fiscal and regulatory interventions. With regard to financial support, this has included the delivery of the £2 million Future News Fund; the zero rating of VAT on e-newspapers; and the extension of a 2017 business rates relief on local newspaper office space until 2025. The BBC also supports the sector, through the £8m it spends each year on the Local News Partnership, including the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. The Government was pleased to see the BBC conduct a thorough review of this initiative in 2020, as recommended by the Cairncross Review. As set out in our response to the Review, we would support any efforts by the BBC to grow the scheme.
Asked by: Michael Fabricant (Conservative - Lichfield)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to make it easier for public notices to be published in non print publications; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Policy responsibility for each specific type of public notice lies with a range of different government departments. The Government is mindful of the potential effect that any changes to the existing publicity requirements for public notices might have on transparency and local democracy, as well as the potential effect on the sustainability of the local news sector as a whole. We recognise the continued importance of print local newspapers to the communities they serve and that there will continue to be a need to reach out to people who cannot digitally access information.
At the same time, to help address the desire for more digitalisation and greater audience reach in the publication of public notices, the local newspaper sector has been working with Google to develop an online Public Notice Portal. The Portal is intended to take advantage of print publishers’ growing digital audiences, providing a centralised resource for all types of public notice. The Government is monitoring the Portal’s development, and the effect that it has on the transparency of public notices.