Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards the introduction of a new cultural development fund; how that fund will support the Industrial Strategy's commitment to invest in the creative industries; and what consultation will take place with local government about its development as one of the largest public funders of cultural investment.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Conservative manifesto stated Government would introduce a Cultural Development Fund to use cultural investment to turn around communities, and we will set out further details in due course.
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of reducing the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals from £100 to £2.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Government issued a call for evidence to inform the Review of Gaming Machine Stakes and Prizes and Social Responsibility Measures last year. Following on from the call for evidence the Government published on 31 October a consultation which includes options on reducing the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals. The consultation, and its accompanying impact assessment are attached and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-proposals-for-changes-to-gaming-machines-and-social-responsibility-measures
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made with their review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
We hope to make an announcement on the Review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures shortly.
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - 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 5 December 2016 (HL3691), whether a representative from local government will be eligible to join the new BBC Board in order to help ensure that the BBC meets its public purpose of helping audiences to engage fully with major regional and local issues.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The BBC Board as a whole is required by the Royal Charter to ensure that the BBC promotes all of its Public Purposes, including helping people from all parts of the UK to understand and engage with the world around them. The Charter also sets out that there must be a 'Nation Member' for each of the UK’s four constituent nations who will have a specific role in ensuring that the BBC is both engaging with and reflecting all regions and diverse communities of the whole of the UK. Representatives from local government are eligible to apply for any of the roles on the Board which are currently being advertised.
Asked by: Lord Porter of Spalding (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the BBC as part of its Charter renewal to ensure that local government is represented on the BBC’s coverage of local elections and across the BBC’s current affairs programmes.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
How the BBC covers local elections is an editorial matter for the BBC. The Government's reform to the BBC's public purposes ensure that they provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them.