Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to implement the power to create an offence of breaching limits on internet and other ticket sales contained in section 106 of the Digital Economy Act 2017.
Answered by Matt Hancock
This offence will be enacted by secondary legislation. We will be consulting industry and consumer interests to help inform the drafting of this legislation before giving the European Commission and Member States requisite notice, as the offence falls under the Technical Standards Directive. We will then seek a legislative opportunity to table the regulation which has to be approved by both Houses.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times she has met (a) StubHub, (b) Viagogo, (c) Seatwave, (d) GetMeIn! and (e) representatives of each of those companies since her appointment as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Secretary of State met with representatives from Stubhub and Ticketmaster during a roundtable meeting on 30 November 2016 to discuss the issue of ticketing ‘bots’. Seatwave and GetMeIn! are Ticketmaster companies. The Secretary of State has not met representatives from Viagogo.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who attended and from which organisations her Department's roundtable on the secondary market on 30 November 2016.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Secretary of State met with representatives from the organisations listed below on 30 November 2016 to discuss the issue of the use of ‘bots’ in the online ticketing market:
Ticketmaster
Stubhub
Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR)
English and Wales Cricket Board
Concert Promoters Association
Music Managers Forum
National Arenas Association
Association of Secondary Ticketing Agents (ASTA)
Glastonbury Festivals
Songkick
London 2017, World Athletics
Citizens Advice
which?
AEG
Margot James, Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, Nigel Adams MP, and Professor Waterson, Chair of the Independent Review into the consumer protection measures concerning online ticketing facilities, were also present.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to publish the responses received by the review on secondary ticketing as required by section 94 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Answered by David Evennett
The plan is to publish responses to the Call for Evidence in due course.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to lay the report relating to secondary ticketing before Parliament as required by section 94 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Answered by David Evennett
My Rt. Hon Friends, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport intend to lay the report shortly.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with its UN and EU member counterparts on the reform of Standard Industrial Classification codes in order more accurately to measure the growth of the video games industry.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Opportunity to review how the ONS SIC code system captures the computer games industry only occurs when the UN considers revising the overall SIC system. The UN last considered a revision in 2015, and decided against it.
DCMS is working with trade bodies across the Creative Industries, in particular with Ukie and Nesta, to build the case for change when the next opportunity to review the SIC codes arises in 2017. DCMS also continues to work with ONS to lobby for these changes.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to assist and promote the UK video games industry in areas outside London.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The video games tax relief, launched in April 2014, is available to support video games productions based anywhere in the UK. Additionally, in October 2015 we launched our new £4m UK Games Fund to accelerate video games sector growth in all UK regions offering grants, mentoring and skills support for micro-businesses and SMEs. Of the first 24 successful grant applicants announced in February 2016, 18 were based outside London. Grant winning companies located in the North East of England for example included Coatsink Software in Sunderland, Nosebleed Interactive in Newcastle and Cardboard Sword and Double Eleven, both in Middlesbrough. The second call for applications is currently underway and closes on 18th April.
The UK Games Fund’s talent programme, Tranzfuser, is currently in development and will be working with a UK-wide network of regional hubs including Vector 76 in the North East of England, The Digital Creativity Hub in the North West and Sheffield Hallam University in South Yorkshire.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to develop a UK games archive to preserve computer and online games and the creative process which is part of their development as part of the UK's cultural identity.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
This Government recognises the cultural value of video games and the importance of the industry to the UK economy. The games sector is particularly well placed to deliverfurther prosperity in the regions and help increase UK exports. The creation of a video games archive and additional support for video games from public agencies were proposed in the recent industry report, A Blueprint for Growth.It also highlighted the contribution video games make to British culture and our economy, as well as the potential for further growth. We are currently reviewing the evidence in the report, its various recommendations and any implications for our future policies.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to coordinate additional support for and recognition of the importance to modern British culture of the video games industry from (a) the BFI, (b) Arts Council of England and (c) other public agencies.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
This Government recognises the cultural value of video games and the importance of the industry to the UK economy. The games sector is particularly well placed to deliverfurther prosperity in the regions and help increase UK exports. The creation of a video games archive and additional support for video games from public agencies were proposed in the recent industry report, A Blueprint for Growth.It also highlighted the contribution video games make to British culture and our economy, as well as the potential for further growth. We are currently reviewing the evidence in the report, its various recommendations and any implications for our future policies.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations his Department has received on including art and design within the curriculum for STEM subjects.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Department works closely with the Department for Education and Arts Council England to increase access to music and cultural education for every child. This Government has ensured that art and design remain core subjects that must be taught in Key Stages 1-3 as part of the National Curriculum.