Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to involve Service families and their children in the official celebrations announced for the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has announced an ambitious programme for the entire nation to commemorate the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ Day. Communities across the country will come together to mark the commemorations - by participating in the official government programme and by organising their own events and activities. Everyone across the UK is invited to participate in events and activities designed to honour the contributions and experiences of the Second World War generation.
Service families and their children will be included in the official celebrations and at the centre of nationwide, locally led commemorations. Furthermore, the Imperial War Museums’ Letters to Loved Ones initiative encourages children to share wartime letters, fostering intergenerational connections and learning.
DCMS has launched an interactive website - ve-vjday80.gov.uk - which offers key information and resources, including ways to get involved in the commemorations. The site features downloadable digital materials and an interactive map of events.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with news broadcasters such as talkSPORT regarding the exclusionary impact on those unable to use a smartphone of requiring people to use smartphones to log in to access their services.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government does not regulate the use of smartphone log ins to access radio services. The department has raised your question with talkSPORT, who have contacted you in response.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with Ofcom regarding talkSPORT’s obligations under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that news broadcasting is available to those not able to use a smartphone to log in.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government does not regulate the use of smartphone log ins to access radio services. The department has raised your question with talkSPORT, who have contacted you in response.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in relation to recruitment to the youth-led round tables and Youth Advisory Board in developing the National Youth Strategy.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We will ensure that young people can influence decisions on the new Youth Strategy at every stage. A Youth Advisory Group is being established, with the first meeting scheduled for January 2025. Members of the group will comprise young people with diverse lived experience from across the country. We will also engage with other youth stakeholder groups through roundtables and a range of other activities.The Minister for Youth, the Secretary of State and DCMS officials have already met with a number of young people and youth sector organisations to hear their thoughts on the Strategy. We will continue to do so over the coming weeks and months.
We know there is existing work across the sector to understand issues faced by young people, propose solutions, and promote youth voice in decision-making. We will build on what already exists to co-produce the strategy.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to distribute the next allocation from the Dormant Asset Scheme, and how much this allocation will be.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
The Dormant Assets Scheme is expected to release £350 million for England between 2024 and 2028. HM Government intends to allocate this equally between the four causes we have set out: youth, financial inclusion, social investment wholesalers, and community wealth funds. Further details will be published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what agreement has been reached on the timetable for the further release of official Government documents relating to the period from 1997.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
Government records are released in line with the requirements set out in the Public Records Act 1958 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Each department is responsible for complying with its obligations under this legislation.
Since 2013, Government departments have been transitioning to a ‘20-year rule’ – that is, transferring selected records 20 years after they were created. This is a reduction from 30 years. Under this transition, departments should be compliant with the 20-year timeframe by the end of 2022.