Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 6 December 2010, Official Report, column 7WS, what consideration her Department has given to the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child when making new policy and legislation since May 2015.
Answered by Matt Hancock
On 17 October the Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families laid a Written Ministerial Statement before this House reaffirming the Government’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It stated that both the UNCRC articles and the Committee’s recent Concluding Recommendations serve as a helpful and important guide to making sure that our policies – whether they hold direct or indirect consequences – consider children.
It is very important that we analyse the impact of policies in relation to particular groups: this is a fundamental part of good policy-making. This is done in a range of ways, particularly through engagement with civil society and professionals. In addition, Cabinet Office guidance encourages all government departments to consider, and set out in summary, the anticipated effects of legislation on children and on the compatibility of draft legislation with the UNCRC. This guidance can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/450239/Guide_to_Making_Legislation.pdf
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has introduced a number of policies which will continue to have a positive impact on the lives of children and young people. For example, Government’s strategy for sport and physical activity (published in December 2015) extended Sport England’s responsibility for participation in grassroots sport to include children as young as five. In September, Arts Council England launched three pilots for its “Cultural Citizens Programme”, focusing on introducing cultural activities to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The UK is also a world leader in child online safety, with legal protections against abuse and illegal content, and tools for parents and children to avoid content they do not wish to see. The UK Council for Child Internet Safety, set up in 2008, brings Government together with key stakeholders to help to keep children and young people safe online. We also have a strong track-record in working with the internet industries to drive progress. We have introduced draft legislation to require age verification controls for access to online pornographic material provided on a commercial basis.
Asked by: Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the Lake District National Park Partnership in its bid for status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Government continues to support the excellent work of the Lake District National Park Partnership and other stakeholders, which has led to the Lake District becoming the UK's nomination for World Heritage Status in 2017.
Officials will be present to support the partnership during the World Heritage Committee mission to the Lake District, due to take place in October 2016.