Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to mitigate the economic effect to (a) businesses and (b) the economy of the cancellation of major events such as the (i) the Edinburgh International Festival (ii) The Open Championship and (iii) The Championships, Wimbledon.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
We recognise the extreme disruption that the necessary actions we are taking to respond to the threat of Coronavirus, including prohibiting public gatherings and events and the fall in inbound tourism, are having on people’s lives, businesses and the nation’s economy.
That is why the Government has announced an unprecedented package of support to protect businesses across the UK, including the Job Retention Scheme (covering 80% of furloughed employees wages up to a cap of £2,500 per month), and Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (up to £2,500 per month in grants for eligible self-employed workers). These support measures are open to businesses across the UK and in every sector, including Culture, Creative Industries and Sport.
In addition, DCMS has worked with our arms-length bodies in England to establish tailored support for DCMS sectors, such as the £160m Arts Council England Emergency Fund and the £195m Sport England economic package. In the specific case of the Edinburgh International Festival, I recognise that it is a cultural asset to the whole of the United Kingdom. However, sports and the arts are devolved matters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and similar schemes have been introduced by the Devolved Administrations, for example the £11m Creative Scotland fund.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to support freelancers in the creative industry affected by the cancellation of events due to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Chancellor has announced measures to protect the self-employed. So long as they fulfil the criteria for these measures, freelancers and the self employed in the music industry benefit from these measures.
The Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will support self-employed individuals (including members of partnerships) whose income has been negatively impacted by COVID-19. The scheme will provide a grant to self-employed individuals or partnerships, worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month.
HMRC will use the average profits from tax returns in 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 to calculate the size of the grant.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring tracked play on gambling machines to reduce the level of problem gambling.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The Government published its response to the consultation on proposed changes to gaming machines and social responsibility measures on 17 May 2018. The response can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-proposals-for-changes-to-gaming-machines-and-social-responsibility-measures
As part of the consultation, the Government has assessed the findings referenced in the Gambling Commission’s response to the consultation (which can be viewed at the link above) for tracked play as a harm reduction tool, in conjunction with other options. The Government has asked the Gambling Commission to work with industry to improve player control measures, including exploring in more detail the costs and benefits of tracked play, not just on B2 gaming machines, but also on B1 and B3 machines in other premises.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to create incentives for broadcasters to stay in the UK.
Answered by Margot James
The United Kingdom is an important broadcasting hub due to its favourable regulatory and economic environment, access to top talent, and cultural factors, such as language. Leaving the EU will not change this.
As set out by the Prime Minister’s Mansion House Speech, we are seeking to strike a bespoke deal with the EU which would allow for continued cross-border broadcasting post EU Exit. This would enable international broadcasting businesses to maintain their UK base.
However, a responsible government should prepare for all potential outcomes, and so we continue to work to ensure a smooth exit from the EU in all eventualities.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment the efficacy of the decision by (a) Viacom International Media Networks and (b) Viceland to move their broadcast licenses outside of the UK.
Answered by Margot James
We understand the importance of broadcast licensing arrangements for the sector. However, it is not for the Government to assess the efficacy of business decisions, which are guided by a multitude of factors.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure the introduction of (a) proposals on mandatory caller ID and (b) more effective call-blocking technology.
Answered by Margot James
The Government have already made it mandatory for marketing firms to display their calling line identification (CLI). Ofcom have also adopted a new CLI rule relating to communications providers, which will enable the telephone number of the person making the call to be displayed to the receiver. The new rules become effective in October 2018.
Ofcom have also formed a Strategic Working Group consisting of nine major communications providers, with the aim of exploring technical measures to block and stop unlawful nuisance calls. As of the end of 2017, six of nine working group members were routinely blocking problematic calls at the network level, and/or offering their customers a free service to block or divert problematic calls. More information about this can be found in the report at https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/110957/nuisance-calls-joint-action-plan-2018.pdf.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many fixed links are operating in the spectrum between 1350 MHz and 1400 MHz.
Answered by Margot James
Ofcom have reported that within the band 1350 – 1375 MHz there are currently 817 links. The band 1375 – 1400 MHz is used by the Ministry of Defence.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
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 feasibility of Programme Making and Special Events services operating in the 1350-1400 MHz band.
Answered by Margot James
Given current use in the 1350 – 1375 MHz band it is not considered feasible to allow sharing in this band for Programme Making and Special Events. The band 1375 – 1400 MHz is used by the Ministry of Defence.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what new services her Department plans on being introduced into the 960-1164 MHz band over the next decade.
Answered by Margot James
It is not possible to comment with any certainty on possible changes to spectrum use over a 10 year time frame.
Asked by: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what new services her Department plans on being introduced into the 1350-1400 MHz band over the next decade.
Answered by Margot James
It is not possible to comment with any certainty on possible changes to spectrum use over a 10 year time frame.