Oral Answers to Questions

Alistair Carmichael Excerpts
Thursday 10th May 2018

(5 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Matt Hancock Portrait Matt Hancock
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The west midlands has an awful lot to say for itself, in terms of more broadcasting. The move of BBC 3 to Birmingham soon is a step in the right direction, but I am sure there is much more to do.

Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)
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T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Matt Hancock Portrait The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Matt Hancock)
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It has been another busy month for the Department. We have announced the artificial intelligence sector deal and the creative industries sector deal, agreed an ambitious new tech partnership in India and piloted the Data Protection Bill through the House, while protecting press freedoms.

I will, if I may, take a moment to congratulate my colleague and very honourable Friend, the Minister for Sport and Civil Society. She reaches a milestone of three very successful years in post on Saturday, and here’s to many more to come.

Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Carmichael
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I will never forget the day that David Cameron set up the Leveson inquiry, because on that day I met the family of the late Milly Dowler, and you just had to spend a few minutes in their company to understand how radically their lives had been affected by press intrusion. That is why we set up the Leveson inquiry in 2011. That is why David Cameron stood at the Dispatch Box in 2012 and promised the victims of press intrusion that there would be a second part to that inquiry. Can the Secretary of State tell the House what has changed?

Matt Hancock Portrait Matt Hancock
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As the right hon. Gentleman says, there has been bad behaviour by the press, but what has changed is that we have to look forward to how we address things now. Strengthening the Independent Press Standards Organisation and the improvements that we made to the Data Protection Bill yesterday are all about ensuring that we have a system for the future which ensures that the press is reasonable and fair but can also thrive in the difficulties of a digital age.