Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to tackle skills and labour shortages in digital technology industries.
Answered by Paul Scully
DCMS works with departments across government and with industry to grow the digital workforce, tackle the digital skills gap, and support a diverse range of people into digital roles. Actions taken include the launch of the Digital Skills Council, the introduction of AI and Data Science Conversion Courses, and working with the Home Office on visa routes related to the digital workforce.
DCMS launched the Digital Skills Council (DiSC) in June 2022. The council has brought together industry leaders and training experts from organisations such as Amazon Web Services and Multiverse. The council works directly with employers and is encouraging investment in employer-led initiatives focused on upskilling the UK workforce, including initiatives related to increasing the number of digital apprenticeships.
Continuing to develop, attract, and train people to work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the core of our plan for maintaining the UK’s position in this field. In February 2022, DCMS announced the creation of up to 2,000 additional scholarships for students studying AI and Data Science conversion course masters, helping people from underrepresented groups to join the UK’s world-leading AI industry. Along with these conversion courses, DCMS has supported the introduction of Alan Turing Institute AI research fellowships and 16 dedicated Centres at universities across the country to train 1000 extra AI PhDs.
An important part of developing skills is providing inspiration to young people, which is why DCMS launched the Cyber Explorers youth-inspiration programme, which has engaged over 30,000 young people from more than 2,000 schools. To grow the cyber workforce, DCMS has also introduced the 'Upskill in Cyber' training programme and the CyberFirst interventions, which include bursary offers for undergraduate students. DCMS are currently working with the Behavioural Insights Team to understand how we can improve the perception and understanding of digital subjects, including computer science, AI, and cyber.
DCMS recognises the importance of improving the diversity of the digital workforce and has supported the Tech Talent Charter since 2016. The Tech Talent Charter is helping to improve the diversity of the digital workforce by improving reporting on diversity statistics and fostering collaboration to create a more diverse tech workforce.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to increase the number of females working in the technology sector.
Answered by Paul Scully
We recognise that the Tech Sector can only reach its true potential if it is fully representative of society. This Government is committed to this mission, which is why we have supported the Tech Talent Charter (TCC) since 2016. The TTC gathers data and reports on diversity statistics from 700 organisations across all sectors. This approach fosters collaboration and innovation to create a more inclusive and diverse tech workforce. For example, the TTC’s annual diversity in tech report is a key resource that encourages businesses to hire diverse talent, as well as sharing the best diversity and inclusion practices across the sector.
We recognise that digital skills are fundamental to ensuring everyone can make the most of a digital future. As the department that leads on digital skills, we are focusing on broadening and deepening the pool of talent. The Digital Skills Council convenes stakeholders from across the sector to deliver industry led action on driving the growth of the digital workforce, including widening the skills pipelines, and ensuring Tech roles are accessible for all. One of the council’s objectives is to promote mechanisms to provide increasingly diverse access to digital roles and digitally enabled roles.
We are also funding a new generation of AI talent through scholarships, each worth £10,000, supporting underrepresented groups, including women, to undertake AI and Data Science Conversion Courses. The conversion courses provide a masters in AI and data science, and allow those from a non-STEM background to learn the skills needed to secure employment in the UK’s cutting-edge AI and Data Science sectors. Emerging findings show that the programme is driving increased diversity - 76% of the scholarships so far have been awarded to women, leading to a 32% increase of women on the courses against comparable benchmarks.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the events of 28 May 2022 at the UEFA Champions League final in Paris, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of claims made by (a) the French Government about the supposed prevalence of fake tickets held by Liverpool fans and (b) representatives of UEFA about the alleged late arrival of fans; and whether she has had discussions with the French Minister for the Interior on that matter; and whether she has been provided any evidence on that matter from the French Minister for the Interior.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
We were appalled by the terrifying and potentially dangerous conditions experienced by many Liverpool fans at the Champions League and I am shocked and concerned by what has come to light. I met with the French Minister for Sport last week, and raised these concerns directly, and we will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities and with Liverpool FC.
We welcome the fact that UEFA have commissioned an independent investigation, and issued an apology to fans who attended the final; and that the French Government has commissioned a review of the delivery of the event and will also be supporting the UEFA investigation.
UEFA has in place a complaints procedure for fans to present evidence, and Liverpool FC are collating fan experiences, via their website, to contribute to the UEFA investigation. We urge fans to send accounts of their experiences to the club.
Fans deserve to know what happened. So it is absolutely right that the relevant authorities are now fully investigating these events. These investigations must establish the facts so that the authorities can learn lessons from the event and ensure we do not see scenes like this again.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the independence of the inquiry commissioned by UEFA into the events of the 28 May 2022 at the Stade de France in Paris.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
We were appalled by the terrifying and potentially dangerous conditions experienced by many Liverpool fans at the Champions League and I am shocked and concerned by what has come to light. I met with the French Minister for Sport last week, and raised these concerns directly, and we will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities and with Liverpool FC.
We welcome the fact that UEFA have commissioned an independent investigation, and issued an apology to fans who attended the final; and that the French Government has commissioned a review of the delivery of the event and will also be supporting the UEFA investigation.
UEFA has in place a complaints procedure for fans to present evidence, and Liverpool FC are collating fan experiences, via their website, to contribute to the UEFA investigation. We urge fans to send accounts of their experiences to the club.
Fans deserve to know what happened. So it is absolutely right that the relevant authorities are now fully investigating these events. These investigations must establish the facts so that the authorities can learn lessons from the event and ensure we do not see scenes like this again.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with her French counterpart on the events that took place in connection with the UEFA Champions League final at the Stade de France in Paris on 28 May 2022.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
We were appalled by the terrifying and potentially dangerous conditions experienced by many Liverpool fans at the Champions League and I am shocked and concerned by what has come to light. I met with the French Minister for Sport last week, and raised these concerns directly, and we will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities and with Liverpool FC.
We welcome the fact that UEFA have commissioned an independent investigation, and issued an apology to fans who attended the final; and that the French Government has commissioned a review of the delivery of the event and will also be supporting the UEFA investigation.
UEFA has in place a complaints procedure for fans to present evidence, and Liverpool FC are collating fan experiences, via their website, to contribute to the UEFA investigation. We urge fans to send accounts of their experiences to the club.
Fans deserve to know what happened. So it is absolutely right that the relevant authorities are now fully investigating these events. These investigations must establish the facts so that the authorities can learn lessons from the event and ensure we do not see scenes like this again.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish full minutes of discussions she has had with her French counterpart on the events that took place in connection with the UEFA Champions League final in Paris on 28 May 2022.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
We were appalled by the terrifying and potentially dangerous conditions experienced by many Liverpool fans at the Champions League and I am shocked and concerned by what has come to light. I met with the French Minister for Sport last week, and raised these concerns directly, and we will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities and with Liverpool FC.
We welcome the fact that UEFA have commissioned an independent investigation, and issued an apology to fans who attended the final; and that the French Government has commissioned a review of the delivery of the event and will also be supporting the UEFA investigation.
UEFA has in place a complaints procedure for fans to present evidence, and Liverpool FC are collating fan experiences, via their website, to contribute to the UEFA investigation. We urge fans to send accounts of their experiences to the club.
Fans deserve to know what happened. So it is absolutely right that the relevant authorities are now fully investigating these events. These investigations must establish the facts so that the authorities can learn lessons from the event and ensure we do not see scenes like this again.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on discussions she has had with her French counterparts on the events that took place in connection with the UEFA Champions League final in Paris on 28 May 2022.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
We were appalled by the terrifying and potentially dangerous conditions experienced by many Liverpool fans at the Champions League and I am shocked and concerned by what has come to light. I met with the French Minister for Sport last week, and raised these concerns directly, and we will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities and with Liverpool FC.
We welcome the fact that UEFA have commissioned an independent investigation, and issued an apology to fans who attended the final; and that the French Government has commissioned a review of the delivery of the event and will also be supporting the UEFA investigation.
UEFA has in place a complaints procedure for fans to present evidence, and Liverpool FC are collating fan experiences, via their website, to contribute to the UEFA investigation. We urge fans to send accounts of their experiences to the club.
Fans deserve to know what happened. So it is absolutely right that the relevant authorities are now fully investigating these events. These investigations must establish the facts so that the authorities can learn lessons from the event and ensure we do not see scenes like this again.
Asked by: Baroness Elliott of Whitburn Bay (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of rising energy costs on publicly-owned leisure facilities, including (a) swimming pools and (b) gyms.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
We recognise the importance of ensuring public access to leisure facilities, which are great spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and which play an important role within communities.
This is why throughout the pandemic we provided the £100 million National Leisure Recovery Fund which ensured the survival of leisure centres and swimming pools during the pandemic, and supported their reopening after the pandemic.
We also recognise the impact rising energy prices will have on businesses of all sizes. Ofgem and the government are in regular contact with business groups and suppliers to understand the challenges they face and explore ways to protect consumers and businesses. The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at Local Authority level, and the government continues to encourage Local Authorities to invest in leisure facilities.