Asked by: Callum McCaig (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support local and regional newspapers.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The local press is a crucial source of information for local communities and a vital part of a healthy democracy.
In the March 2016 budget the government announced the introduction of a £1,500 business rates discount for local newspapers for two years from 1 April 2017. The government's response and guidance regarding the business rates relief was published on 2 December 2016. More information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-case-for-a-business-rates-relief-for-local-newspapers
Following the BBC Charter Review, the BBC is also working in partnership with the local news industry to support local journalism. On 12 May 2016 the BBC and the News Media Association announced their plans for the partnership, including the BBC's funding of 150 local journalists from 2017. More information is available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2016/bbc-nma-partnership
Asked by: Callum McCaig (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will commission independent research on the effect of fixed-odds betting terminals on the health of their users and on the communities in which they are prevalent.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The Responsible Gambling Strategy Board (RGSB), was set up to by the Gambling Commission to advise on priorities for research relating to responsible gambling. Research into gambling related harm is commissioned by the independent charity, the Responsible Gambling Trust (RGT), taking into account the priorities set out by the RGSB. At the request of the RGSB, the RGT is currently commissioning research to define Gambling Related Harm which will consider the wider health impacts of problem gambling. The Government continues to encourage such research.
Asked by: Callum McCaig (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of devolving to the Scottish Parliament all aspects of (a) gaming and betting legislation, (b) including curbing the terminals' speed of play and maximum stakes for fixed-odds betting terminals and (c) other regulation of fixed-odds betting terminals.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The Scotland Bill will give the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Ministers the power to vary the number of sub-category B2 gaming machines (FOBTs) permitted by new betting premises licences. The UK Government will retain the equivalent powers on FOBTs for the rest of the UK, except for Northern Ireland where gambling is a devolved matter.