Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether non-payment of the television licence for solely accessing the BBC iPlayer will be treated as a criminal or civil offence.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Section 363 of the Communications Act 2003 provides that a person who installs or uses a television receiver without being authorised by a licence is guilty of a criminal offence. As of 1 September 2016, this includes watching BBC on-demand services such as the iPlayer.
Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on what date he expects the review of BBC Charter renewal to commence.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
I am currently considering a range of options for reviewing the BBC's Royal Charter and will make an announcement in due course.
Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assistance his Department gives to community groups who wish to take over the running of museums and tourist attractions.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
DCMS does not give direct assistance to community groups who wish to take over the running of museums and tourist attractions. However advice may be sought through bodies including Arts Council England and the Association of Independent Museums, alongside local Destination Organisations. My Department will liaise with the Department for Communities and Local Government, Cabinet Office and the Big Lottery Fund to see where further community support might be appropriate.
Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that superfast broadband is available in remote areas of the UK.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
A new £10 million competitive fund opened on 21 March to market test innovative solutions to deliver superfast broadband services to the most difficult to reach remaining areas of the UK.
The pilot projects will explore how to reach these areas; and we'll use learning from the pilots to inform future government investment decisions