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Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 04 Mar 2019
Brexit: Museums and Galleries

"My Lords, given last week’s finding of the employment tribunal regarding the National Gallery 27, which supported their legal claim to worker status—having been denied it for decades—does the Minister regret that precious resource from a DCMS body was spent in legal action to justify shoddy work practices? Will he …..."
Baroness Grender - View Speech

View all Baroness Grender (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Brexit: Museums and Galleries

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 12 Nov 2018
Social Media Services

"My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson of Balmacara, for initiating this debate on such an important subject. It is timely because while so much seems to be at the stage on initiation, very little has reached a conclusion, so it is good to take stock. It is …..."
Baroness Grender - View Speech

View all Baroness Grender (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Social Media Services

Written Question
Museums and Galleries: Conditions of Employment
Friday 27th July 2018

Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have given to those UK museums and galleries that are public bodies regarding the employment status of workers who have been employed for 10 years or more.

Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Ministry of Defence both sponsor museums and galleries in England; these are all Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs). The Border Force, part of the Home Office, also supports a collection (Seized!), housed in a DCMS museum ALB. All Government ALBs, including museums and galleries, are responsible for their own employment policies and processes, including ensuring that they comply with employment laws.

The Government will be considering the Pimlico Plumbers LTD and another v Smith judgment as we prepare the response to our employment status consultation. The outcome of this consultation should help provide clarity for all public bodies, including ALBs, regarding the status and rights of of individuals who work for them, as well as advice on sick and holiday pay. More information regarding the consultation can be found here, and is attached: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/employment-status.

National museums in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are sponsored by the respective devolved administrations.


Written Question
Museums and Galleries: Conditions of Employment
Friday 27th July 2018

Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of people who work for UK museums and galleries that are public bodies who are on the payroll and taxed at source but inaccurately described as freelance, following the Supreme Court ruling in Pimlico Plumbers Ltd and another v Smith.

Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Ministry of Defence both sponsor museums and galleries in England; these are all Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs). The Border Force, part of the Home Office, also supports a collection (Seized!), housed in a DCMS museum ALB. All Government ALBs, including museums and galleries, are responsible for their own employment policies and processes, including ensuring that they comply with employment laws.

The Government will be considering the Pimlico Plumbers LTD and another v Smith judgment as we prepare the response to our employment status consultation. The outcome of this consultation should help provide clarity for all public bodies, including ALBs, regarding the status and rights of of individuals who work for them, as well as advice on sick and holiday pay. More information regarding the consultation can be found here, and is attached: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/employment-status.

National museums in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are sponsored by the respective devolved administrations.


Written Question
Museums and Galleries: Conditions of Employment
Friday 27th July 2018

Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, following the ruling of the Supreme Court in Pimlico Plumbers Ltd and another v Smith, to advise those museums and galleries in the UK that are public bodies about sick pay and holiday pay.

Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Ministry of Defence both sponsor museums and galleries in England; these are all Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs). The Border Force, part of the Home Office, also supports a collection (Seized!), housed in a DCMS museum ALB. All Government ALBs, including museums and galleries, are responsible for their own employment policies and processes, including ensuring that they comply with employment laws.

The Government will be considering the Pimlico Plumbers LTD and another v Smith judgment as we prepare the response to our employment status consultation. The outcome of this consultation should help provide clarity for all public bodies, including ALBs, regarding the status and rights of of individuals who work for them, as well as advice on sick and holiday pay. More information regarding the consultation can be found here, and is attached: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/employment-status.

National museums in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are sponsored by the respective devolved administrations.


Written Question
Museums and Galleries: Conditions of Employment
Friday 27th July 2018

Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what actions they have taken, following the ruling of the Supreme Court in Pimlico Plumbers Ltd and another v Smith, to ensure that workers in museums and galleries in the UK that are public bodies have appropriate rights.

Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Ministry of Defence both sponsor museums and galleries in England; these are all Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs). The Border Force, part of the Home Office, also supports a collection (Seized!), housed in a DCMS museum ALB. All Government ALBs, including museums and galleries, are responsible for their own employment policies and processes, including ensuring that they comply with employment laws.

The Government will be considering the Pimlico Plumbers LTD and another v Smith judgment as we prepare the response to our employment status consultation. The outcome of this consultation should help provide clarity for all public bodies, including ALBs, regarding the status and rights of of individuals who work for them, as well as advice on sick and holiday pay. More information regarding the consultation can be found here, and is attached: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/employment-status.

National museums in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are sponsored by the respective devolved administrations.


Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 23 Jan 2018
Museums and Galleries

"My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Cormack, for introducing this all-important debate. Museums and galleries in the UK are available for all levels of interest, knowledge and understanding; indeed, they provide many of us with deeply personal and lifelong memories. I will never forget my visit to the …..."
Baroness Grender - View Speech

View all Baroness Grender (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Museums and Galleries

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 10 Jul 2017
Data Ethics Commission

"My Lords, will this commission cover not only ethics but the use and application of data, for example through machine learning and development of algorithms? Can the Minister also explain how this commission will interrelate with the new data protection regulations starting in 2018 and the digital charter announced in …..."
Baroness Grender - View Speech

View all Baroness Grender (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Data Ethics Commission

Written Question
BBC: Royal Charters
Wednesday 16th September 2015

Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the BBC Charter renewal advisory panel will have the power to commission research; and, if so, from whom.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)

The Department published the names of the Advisory Group members, as well as their principal roles, both current and former, in July 2015. This information is shown in the table below:

Advisory Group Member

Current or former role

Dawn Airey

Senior Vice President of Yahoo’s business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and formerly Chairman and Chief Executive of Channel 5.

Dame Colette Bowe

Chairman of the Banking Standards Board, President of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer and former Chair of Ofcom.

Andrew Fisher

Executive Chairman at Shazam.

Darren Henley OBE

CEO of Arts Council England and former Managing Director of Classic FM.

Ashley Highfield

CEO of Johnston Press, one of the largest local media groups in the UK, and former director at the BBC.

Alex Mahon

Former CEO of Shine Group, global television content production company.

Lopa Patel MBE

Digital entrepreneur and founder/CEO of NewAsianPost.com and Diversity UK.

Stewart Purvis OBE

British broadcaster and academic, and former Editor-in-Chief and CEO of ITN.

The Group has no legal status or powers and no decision-making or research commissioning functions. These are not public appointments and therefore the Group is not subject to the Cabinet Office guidelines for public appointments.


Written Question
BBC: Royal Charters
Wednesday 16th September 2015

Asked by: Baroness Grender (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any declarations of interest by the members of the BBC Charter renewal advisory panel will be published.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)

The Department published the names of the Advisory Group members, as well as their principal roles, both current and former, in July 2015. This information is shown in the table below:

Advisory Group Member

Current or former role

Dawn Airey

Senior Vice President of Yahoo’s business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and formerly Chairman and Chief Executive of Channel 5.

Dame Colette Bowe

Chairman of the Banking Standards Board, President of the Voice of the Listener and Viewer and former Chair of Ofcom.

Andrew Fisher

Executive Chairman at Shazam.

Darren Henley OBE

CEO of Arts Council England and former Managing Director of Classic FM.

Ashley Highfield

CEO of Johnston Press, one of the largest local media groups in the UK, and former director at the BBC.

Alex Mahon

Former CEO of Shine Group, global television content production company.

Lopa Patel MBE

Digital entrepreneur and founder/CEO of NewAsianPost.com and Diversity UK.

Stewart Purvis OBE

British broadcaster and academic, and former Editor-in-Chief and CEO of ITN.

The Group has no legal status or powers and no decision-making or research commissioning functions. These are not public appointments and therefore the Group is not subject to the Cabinet Office guidelines for public appointments.