Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are planning to raise the level of the maximum fine that can be imposed by the Information Commissioner.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which will come into force in all EU Member States on 25 May 2018, establishes a tiered approach to penalties for breaches which enables Data Protection Authorities to impose fines for the most serious infringements of up to the higher of 4% of annual worldwide turnover or EUR20 million. Other specified infringements would attract a fine of up to the higher of 2% of annual worldwide turnover or EUR10m.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 12 September (HL1480), how they will establish whether the Football Association is adhering to the new Code of Governance.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The new Governance Code for Sport in the UK will be published shortly. It will build on the existing governance requirements of UK Sport and Sport England and set out new governance standards that will be expected of all sports bodies seeking public funding. It will be for UK Sport and/or Sport England to determine compliance.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the success of Team GB at the Rio Olympics, and of Wales in the European Football Championship, whether they will review the effectiveness of the governance of English football.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Team GB success at Rio and the achievement of the Welsh football team reaching the semi-final at the European Championships have ensured a memorable summer for sport. Government wants English football to enjoy similar success on the international stage and we are targeting public funding at grassroots sport through increased investment in facilities, coaching and projects that boost participation.
The Football Association, like all UK sports bodies and organisations that want to continue to receive public funding, will have to adhere to the new Code of Governance announced in the government's sport strategy, Sporting Future, in December 2015. The code aims to ensure that the highest levels of transparency, ethical standards and leadership are present across sport in this country.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the conclusions of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee report of February 2015, <i>Future of the BBC</i>, that (1) the BBC’s independence could be compromised by negotiations with government that lack transparency and public consultation; (2) licence fee payers must be consulted and Parliament should have an opportunity to debate any significant changes to funding responsibilities; and (3) that it was wholly wrong that the 2010 licence fee settlement was not subject to any public or parliamentary consultation.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The BBC Charter Review Consultation, published on 16 July 2015, drew heavily on the evidence heard by, and the report from, the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report on the Future of the BBC. The Charter Review provides an opportunity for a wide-ranging national debate about the BBC, and will inform the Government’s proposals for the future of the BBC, including its funding.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that consumers receive the broadband speeds for which they pay.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Ofcom, the independent national regulatory authority for communications has agreed a voluntary industry code of practice on broadband speeds. It was introduced in 2008 and subsequently updated in 2010, and requires internet service providers to provide consumers with information on the maximum speed they can achieve, including an estimated speed range, to help ensure that consumers choose the package that is the most appropriate for them in light of their individual circumstances and needs. All the largest internet service providers representing 98% of the broadband consumer market are signed up to the Code and have agreed to abide by its principles and spirit. Headline broadband speeds advertised are unlikely to be achievable all the time. There are a variety of reasons for broadband speed variations, not all of which are within the broadband service provider�s control. The important thing is that consumers receive accurate information on broadband speeds at the point of sale to allow them to make informed purchasing decisions, and ensure that there is not a mismatch between the speeds they expect to receive and what they actually get.
Ofcom has undertaken successive mystery shopping exercises to check compliance with the Code. Results have shown that the level of compliance has continued to improve. The latest results published in May 2013 found that overall 96% of mystery shopping callers were provided with a speed estimate (93% in 2011/12). There was also an improvement overall in the provision of speeds information provided to mystery shoppers via the web. All signatories to the Code, with the exception of two small providers, offered a speed checker which provide estimated access line speeds. The percentage of assessments where any speed estimate was given via the website rose from 87% in 2011/12 to 92% in 2013.
Ofcom is currently discussing with industry and consumer groups, its proposals to revise the Code to reflect significant changes in the broadband market since the Code�s introduction, with the increased take up of superfast packages. The proposals include improving the information on speeds for consumers buying superfast packages to equal that received by consumers buying current generation services.
Asked by: Lord Birt (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the Digital Economy Act 2010 in reducing copyright theft via the internet.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The online infringement of copyright provisions within the Digital Economy Act 2010 have not yet been implemented, and so no such assessment has been carried out. The delay is due to a number of factors, including legal challenge and ensuring compliance with Government “Managing Public Money” principles. In the meantime the Government has encouraged the industry to investigate a voluntary copyright alert programme, which should produce similar results in a significantly shorter timescale. I am grateful to the industry for the energy with which they have picked up this challenge. Nevertheless, unless an effective alternative is put in place, Government continues to be committed to implementation of the provisions with the Digital Economy Act.