Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had with the Royal College of Defence Studies about its decision to ban Israeli soldiers next year.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
UK military educational courses have long been open to personnel from a wide range of countries, with all UK military courses emphasising compliance with international humanitarian law.
However, the Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong. There must be a diplomatic solution to end this war now, with an immediate ceasefire, the return of the hostages and a surge in humanisation aid to the people of Gaza. We have therefore paused future Israeli participation in UK-run courses.
The Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) is a constituent part of the Ministry of Defence, and as such implements Government policy and decisions. All relevant teams across the Department, including RCDS, were informed of the decision to pause the future allocation of places on UK training and education courses to Israel.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support The National Archives to establish an economic operator within the European Union under the terms of the Windsor Framework to ensure it can sell merchandise to people in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Leong - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The National Archives shop operates on a self-funding commercial basis and aims to resume sales to Northern Ireland in the future.
Some GB based businesses have faced changes due to the updated EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). We have issued guidance, will keep this under review and continue to engage businesses directly to ensure we are supporting them to trade freely within the UK and with the EU. DBT signposts businesses to verified external service providers specialising in GPSR.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the acquittal of Jamie Bryson on 3 July by the Belfast Magistrates Court, what assessment they have made of the conduct of the Security Industry Authority in that prosecution, and of the value for money for taxpayers of that prosecution.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The SIA is an operationally independent arm’s length body, responsible for the service it provides, including how it manages its private prosecutions.
The organisation is already accountable to Parliament for its activities, including its financial accounts, which are audited by the National Audit Office and laid in Parliament on an annual basis.
The SIA did not bring these proceedings against Mr Bryson and was therefore not involved.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will set up an independent review of the Security Industry Authority’s prosecution of Jamie Bryson, in particular with regard to the conduct of the Security Industry Authority and the public money spent on that prosecution.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The SIA is an operationally independent arm’s length body, responsible for the service it provides, including how it manages its private prosecutions.
The organisation is already accountable to Parliament for its activities, including its financial accounts, which are audited by the National Audit Office and laid in Parliament on an annual basis.
The SIA did not bring these proceedings against Mr Bryson and was therefore not involved.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the financial impact on vulnerable groups of the costs of moving from terrestrial television broadcasts to internet protocol television.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has an ongoing project on the future of TV distribution that is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. This will include assessing the advantages of hybrid television distribution models, as well as other options such as IPTV transition.
As part of this project, the Government published independent research led by Exeter University last year that included data on the use of different distribution methods by a range of different demographic groups, which included rural communities. A wide range of views are being sought from across the TV sector, audience groups and infrastructure through the Stakeholder Forum.
This includes a number of groups representing rural and UK-wide audiences, such as the Rural Services Network.
With regards to vulnerable groups, the Government has now published qualitative research that was commissioned to understand in more detail the specific preferences, motivations and barriers regarding TV viewing among groups who are currently unconnected. This research included groups who could be vulnerable. Affordability is a factor that is in scope of the Stakeholder Forum, which includes members with specific expertise on this issue; such as the Digital Poverty Alliance.
The future of DTT is secured in legislation until at least 2034. Before any decision is made in relation to the availability of services beyond this point, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television. The government stakeholder forum will conclude later this year and then the government will make a decision.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to make a decision about the long-term future of digital terrestrial television beyond 2034.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has an ongoing project on the future of TV distribution that is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. This will include assessing the advantages of hybrid television distribution models, as well as other options such as IPTV transition.
As part of this project, the Government published independent research led by Exeter University last year that included data on the use of different distribution methods by a range of different demographic groups, which included rural communities. A wide range of views are being sought from across the TV sector, audience groups and infrastructure through the Stakeholder Forum.
This includes a number of groups representing rural and UK-wide audiences, such as the Rural Services Network.
With regards to vulnerable groups, the Government has now published qualitative research that was commissioned to understand in more detail the specific preferences, motivations and barriers regarding TV viewing among groups who are currently unconnected. This research included groups who could be vulnerable. Affordability is a factor that is in scope of the Stakeholder Forum, which includes members with specific expertise on this issue; such as the Digital Poverty Alliance.
The future of DTT is secured in legislation until at least 2034. Before any decision is made in relation to the availability of services beyond this point, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television. The government stakeholder forum will conclude later this year and then the government will make a decision.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value of digital terrestrial television to rural connectivity.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has an ongoing project on the future of TV distribution that is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. This will include assessing the advantages of hybrid television distribution models, as well as other options such as IPTV transition.
As part of this project, the Government published independent research led by Exeter University last year that included data on the use of different distribution methods by a range of different demographic groups, which included rural communities. A wide range of views are being sought from across the TV sector, audience groups and infrastructure through the Stakeholder Forum.
This includes a number of groups representing rural and UK-wide audiences, such as the Rural Services Network.
With regards to vulnerable groups, the Government has now published qualitative research that was commissioned to understand in more detail the specific preferences, motivations and barriers regarding TV viewing among groups who are currently unconnected. This research included groups who could be vulnerable. Affordability is a factor that is in scope of the Stakeholder Forum, which includes members with specific expertise on this issue; such as the Digital Poverty Alliance.
The future of DTT is secured in legislation until at least 2034. Before any decision is made in relation to the availability of services beyond this point, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television. The government stakeholder forum will conclude later this year and then the government will make a decision.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of digital terrestrial television to critical national infrastructure.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government understands how important it is that everyone can access information in times of national emergency. Television and radio both play an important role in providing such access in a range of different emergency scenarios, including scenarios where other communications may be disrupted.
The BBC has specific requirements under its Framework Agreement in relation to broadcast security and resilience, and works closely with DCMS in ensuring its networks are able to support emergency communications.
The Government’s project looking into the future of TV distribution is considering a range of relevant factors, including the future resilience requirements for broadcast networks.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the needs of viewers in Northern Ireland are taken into account in the Future of TV Distribution Stakeholder Forum.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government’s project on the future of TV distribution is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. As part of this process, a wide range of views are being sought. The Stakeholder Forum benefits from the perspectives of a number of groups representing the interests of Northern Irish and UK-wide audiences, such as Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Digital Poverty Alliance and Silver Voices as well as the BBC. The Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the devolved governments alongside industry representatives from Northern Ireland to understand the unique characteristics of broadcasting in each nation well in advance of any decision being taken.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term future of digital terrestrial television, in particular the national resilience value of a commercially viable broadcast network.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government understands how important it is that everyone can access information in times of national emergency. Television and radio both play an important role in providing such access in a range of different emergency scenarios, including scenarios where other communications may be disrupted.
The BBC has specific requirements under its Framework Agreement in relation to broadcast security and resilience, and works closely with DCMS in ensuring its networks are able to support emergency communications.
The Government’s project looking into the future of TV distribution is considering a range of relevant factors, including the future resilience requirements for broadcast networks.