Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reason the Government did not commit to the recommendation set out in the Digital Radio and Audio Review on introducing a set of rules to guarantee access to UK radio on smart speakers in the future.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
As set out in the government’s response to the Digital Radio and Audio Review, published alongside the broadcasting white paper on 28 April 2022, we agree that the case has been made for taking action to protect radio’s long term position in the context of the rapid growth in usage of smart speakers. We are looking at appropriate legislative vehicles through which to take this forward.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government has plans to bring forward legislative proposals to provide the Digital Markets Unit with statutory powers in the parliamentary session 2022-23.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
We will legislate to put the Digital Markets Unit (DMU) on a statutory footing as soon as parliamentary time allows. The Draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill was announced as part of the Queen’s Speech in May this year. This draft legislation will set out new competition rules for digital markets and the largest digital firms.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government plans to publish the responses in full to the consultation on a change of ownership of Channel 4 Television Corporation.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Government consulted extensively on a change of ownership of Channel 4, and the views and evidence gathered from a wide range of stakeholders has informed the government’s assessment of any potential impact of a change of ownership.
The Government will publish a sale impact analysis shortly. It will also publish its response to the consultation. This will include a summary of the responses received.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether a full impact assessment was carried out before the decision was made to privatise Channel 4.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Government consulted extensively on a change of ownership of Channel 4, and the views and evidence gathered from a wide range of stakeholders has informed the government’s assessment of any potential impact of a change of ownership.
The Government will publish a sale impact analysis shortly. It will also publish its response to the consultation. This will include a summary of the responses received.
Asked by: Chris Elmore (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking with the Department for Education to promote early years cyber security education.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
DCMS works closely with the Department for Education and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure that children across the UK can freely access cyber security learning and resources. This includes the ‘CyberSprinters’ online game for 7-11 year olds, developed by NCSC, and ‘Cyber Explorers’, our recently launched online learning platform for 11 -14 year olds. Cyber Explorers supports teachers by complementing the school curriculum whilst widening the diversity of pupils who may be open to considering a future career in cyber security. We are not currently offering cyber security education to children under 7 years of age though online safety is taught to pupils from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 4 (age 5 – 16) as part of the computing curriculum. The curriculum covers the principles of e-safety with progression in content to reflect the different and escalating risks that young people face in life. The e-safety content focuses on the underpinning knowledge and behaviours that can help pupils to navigate the online world safely and confidently, regardless of device, platform or app.