Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Leeds Gypsy & Traveller Exchange and London Gypsies and Travellers, in collaboration with PIRC Media that Moves, published on 27 January; and what steps they are taking to support the recommendations in that report.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Her Majesty’s Government has noted the report and its findings.
Regarding the report's findings on press regulations, Her Majesty’s Government is committed to a free and independent media. It is not appropriate for Her Majesty’s Government to arbitrate on what should or should not be published or broadcast. Ofcom is the UK’s independent regulator of television services. The Ofcom Broadcasting Code covers standards in programmes and has rules to ensure that broadcast news is reported with due accuracy and impartiality. There exists an independent self regulatory regime to ensure that the press adheres to a wider set of clear and appropriate standards, and to offer individuals a means of redress where these are not met.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which online advertisements promote discrimination against Traveller communities; what plans they have to ensure that digital media platforms do not carry adverts that include such discrimination; and what steps they intend to take against individuals or organisations that place adverts that discriminate against Traveller communities.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The regulation of online advertising in the UK is led by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). The ASA is responsible for the day-to-day enforcement of the UK Code for Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (the CAP Code).
Within the CAP code, section 4.1, covers rules around discrimination, stating that “particular care must be taken to avoid offence on the grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.” Marketers should be particularly aware of their depictions of these characteristics, and ensure that their ads do not contain anything which may be likely to cause serious or widespread offence on any grounds.” More information can be found here: https://www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/offence-use-of-stereotypes.html
In investigating a possible breach of advertising rules, the ASA will use the CAP code to determine the course of action. If the advertisement is deemed to be offensive or discriminatory, the advertiser will be asked to take down the ad.
Asked by: Baroness Whitaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to respond to the report by Friends, Family and Travellers, Digital Exclusion in Gypsy and Traveller communities in the United Kingdom, published in September.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
We are committed to tackling digital exclusion and the UK Digital Strategy, published in March 2017, describes the steps we are taking across government, including establishing the Digital Skills Partnership, which brings together stakeholders from the private, public and charity sectors to join efforts to help people increase their digital skills at all levels; introducing fully-funded basic digital skills training for adults lacking these vital skills from 2020; and using the 3000 libraries across England to provide a trusted network of accessible locations with trained staff and volunteers, free Wi-Fi, computers, and other technology as well as Assisted Digital access to a wide range of digital public services where individuals are unable for whatever reason to access these services independently.
The Race Disparity Audit showed us Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities are amongst the most disadvantaged in British society and we agree that more needs to be done to make sure nobody is excluded or left behind.
The Government funds the Future Digital Inclusion programme managed by the Good Things Foundation and delivered through the 3,000 strong Online Centres network. To date this programme has supported over 800,000 adult learners to develop their basic digital skills, many of whom are socially excluded.
The NHS Digital Widening Digital Participation programme, delivered in partnership with Good Things Foundation, develops projects that enable people in England to improve their digital health skills and to increase their access to digital services and tools that support their health and care. Partnership working is at the heart of this programme. In order to better understand the needs of those with low literacy (including low health & digital literacy), NHS Digital regularly works with national and local organisations who know them best and really understand the barriers and challenges for them with getting online.
The UK Digital Strategy, published in 2017, states that one of the Government's objectives is to 'enable people in every part of society - irrespective of age, gender, physical ability, ethnicity, health conditions, or socio-economic status - to access the opportunities of the internet', and to deliver this, the Government will focus on 'ensuring that we continue to tackle the root causes of digital exclusion and that everyone can increase their digital capability to make the most of the digital world.'