Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the role of Gaelic language broadcasting in delivering the BBC's commitment to public service broadcasting.
Answered by Matt Hancock
During the BBC Charter Review public consultation we have listened to views across a range of issues in relation to the BBC, including Gaelic language broadcasting.
There is a successful partnership between the BBC and MG Alba for the delivery of Gaelic language broadcasting. The White Paper, published in May 2016, sets out the Government's intention to require maintain a commitment to minority language broadcasting through the new Charter.
The level of funding dedicated to BBC ALBA and the number of hours of in-house Gaelic language programming broadcast are matters for the BBC Board to consider when fulfilling this requirement under the new Charter.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the contribution of Scottish Gaelic language to British culture and the creative industries.
Answered by Matt Hancock
We recognises the important contribution Gaelic language makes to British culture and the creative industries. The Heritage Lottery Fund recently provided £4 million funding to reopen Lews Castle where over 20 community heritage societies have come together to shape the way the story of the Outer Herbrides is celebrated and shared. Interpretation is in Gaelic first with English subtitles throughout the museum.
UK Government and its agencies are committed to working with the Scottish Government to help the creative industries continue to grow in Scotland, through the provision of broadband and mobile infrastructure, fiscal incentives, export promotion, advocacy and facilitation and the provision of official statistics.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to include in the BBC Charter a commitment to broadcast a minimum of 10 hours of in-house Gaelic language programming on BBC ALBA each week.
Answered by Matt Hancock
During the BBC Charter Review public consultation we have listened to views across a range of issues in relation to the BBC, including Gaelic language broadcasting.
There is a successful partnership between the BBC and MG Alba for the delivery of Gaelic language broadcasting. The White Paper, published in May 2016, sets out the Government's intention to require maintain a commitment to minority language broadcasting through the new Charter.
The level of funding dedicated to BBC ALBA and the number of hours of in-house Gaelic language programming broadcast are matters for the BBC Board to consider when fulfilling this requirement under the new Charter.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her policy is on the future funding of BBC Gaelic language broadcasting.
Answered by Matt Hancock
During the BBC Charter Review public consultation we have listened to views across a range of issues in relation to the BBC, including Gaelic language broadcasting.
There is a successful partnership between the BBC and MG Alba for the delivery of Gaelic language broadcasting. The White Paper, published in May 2016, sets out the Government's intention to require maintain a commitment to minority language broadcasting through the new Charter.
The level of funding dedicated to BBC ALBA and the number of hours of in-house Gaelic language programming broadcast are matters for the BBC Board to consider when fulfilling this requirement under the new Charter.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who is responsible for the future of the London 2012 athletics warm-up track.
Answered by David Evennett
Several elements of the 2012 warm-up track have been used in various athletics venues around the country including Gateshead International Stadium, Birmingham Alexander Stadium, Lee Valley Stadium, Allianz Stadium and Swansea Stadium.
The E20 Stadium Partnership (a partnership between the London Borough of Newham and London Legacy Development Corporation, which manages the stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park) is working with organisations, including the London Marathon Charitable Trust (which has funded the future community track at the stadium), to identify uses for the remainder of the London 2012 warm-up track.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, where the London 2012 Olympics athletics warm-up track is being stored.
Answered by David Evennett
The London Borough of Newham agreed to take the warm-up track surface as part of a wider programme with community groups benefiting from Games. Some of the warm-up track was taken by UK Athletics for use at their events; the rest is being stored free of charge by the London Borough of Newham.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has identified a venue for the installation of the London 2012 Olympics athletics warm-up track.
Answered by David Evennett
Several parts of the London 2012 warm-up track have been used in athletics venues around the country including Gateshead International Stadium, Birmingham Alexander Stadium, Lee Valley Stadium, Allianz Stadium and Swansea Stadium. A number of other options are being explored for future use of the remaining track.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost per year is of storing the London 2012 Olympics athletics warm-up track.
Answered by David Evennett
Parts of the London 2012 warm-up track are being stored free of charge by the London Borough of Newham.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of progress in making available access services to on-demand broadcasting content for people with sensory loss since 2013.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
We have been monitoring progress of the provision of access services for Video on Demand (VoD) content since 2013 through engagement with the Authority for Television on Demand (ATVOD), platform operators and content providers.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with providers about improving the availability of access services to on-demand broadcasting content for people with sensory loss.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Officials are undertaking a series of meetings with content providers, platform operators and other participants in the supply chain of Video on Demand services, to better understand why the provision of access services for on demand content is limited. The information derived from these meetings will be used to develop a target that we would expect to see reached by mid-2016.