Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department's expert working group on forging stronger links between football supporters and professional football clubs has (a) finalised its terms of reference and (b) set a date by which it will conclude its work; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
Ministers and officials meet with stakeholders across football on a regular basis. The Expert Working Group on Supporter Ownership and Engagement was developed in partnership with the football authorities and supporter representation groups and has their full support. The Group held its first meeting on the 25th November, and has issued a Call for Evidence and agreed Terms of Reference for the Group: these have been published on the DCMS website https://www.gov.uk/government/news/football-supporter-ownership-and-engagement-expert-working-group-issues-call-for-evidence
I expect initial recommendations from the Expert Group this parliament, and a full report later in 2015.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to invite representatives of the Football Supporters Federation and Supporters Direct to attend every meeting of his Department's expert working group on forging stronger links between football supporters and professional football clubs; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
Ministers and officials meet with stakeholders across football on a regular basis. The Expert Working Group on Supporter Ownership and Engagement was developed in partnership with the football authorities and supporter representation groups and has their full support. The Group held its first meeting on the 25th November, and has issued a Call for Evidence and agreed Terms of Reference for the Group: these have been published on the DCMS website https://www.gov.uk/government/news/football-supporter-ownership-and-engagement-expert-working-group-issues-call-for-evidence
I expect initial recommendations from the Expert Group this parliament, and a full report later in 2015.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2014 to Question 211606, whether he has met the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or UKRep to discuss progress on extending the Horseracing Betting Levy to online companies; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
I have not held any discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills or UKRep on this issue. I am determined to extend the Horserace Betting Levy to offshore operators. However simply extending the existing arrangements has proven more difficult than envisaged. Extension is now bound up with wider reform and we will seek to bring about extension either by reforming the Levy or replacing it with a racing right.
A consultation on a racing right will allow us to make a full comparison between reform and replacement. The consultation will be launched early in the New Year. Once we have a preferred option we will discuss that with the European Commission.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which non-executive directors in his Department have been involved in discussions on policy relating to the secondary ticketing market; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
None of the Department's Non-Executive Board Members have been involved in discussions on policy relating to the secondary ticketing market. The role of the Non-Executive Board Members is to provide advice and challenge to the Department and its Ministers on strategic and operational issues. They do not have a role in policy making.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department takes to avoid conflicts of interest among its non-executive directors; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
Non-Executive Board Members are required to complete an annual declaration of interests, declaring any personal or business interests for themselves or their close family which may, or may be perceived to influence their judgement. At each Board or Committee meeting with Non-Executive Board Members present, attendees are routinely asked at the start of the meeting to declare any interests in the agenda items and to withdraw from any discussion where such an interest is identified
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what sport governing bodies he has met to discuss the secondary ticketing market; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on the Departmental website:
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department's non-executive directors met ministers or officials in his Department in the last two years; what the agenda of each meeting was; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
There have been 20 formal meetings between Non-Executive Board Members and ministers and officials in this period, the agendas for which are set out below. Any informal meetings are not recorded.
Departmental Board agenda items December 2012 to December 2014
26 March 2013
Permanent Secretary’s Update
Finance
DCMS 2013-16
Performance and Capability
16 May 2013
Permanent Secretary’s Update including update from Performance Review Group
Finance Update
Soft power’ and influencing internationally
Civil Service Reform: Capability & Capacity
Board effectiveness evaluation
15 July 2013
Permanent Secretary’s Update including update from Performance Review Group
Finance Update
DCMS & ALBs
Capacity and Prioritisation
Broadband
10 September 2013
Update from the Executive Board
Update from Performance Review Group
Finance Update
DCMS – working for growth
Internal Audit’s approach to DCMS and its ALBs
28 November 2013
Permanent Secretary’s Update
Update from Performance Review Group
Finance Update
The Value of Culture
15 January 2014
Permanent Secretary’s Update
Performance Report
Finance Update
Departmental Improvement Plan
Staff Engagement
24 March 2014
Permanent Secretary’s Update
Performance Report
Finance Update
Synergies between GEO and wider Departmental agenda
First World War commemorations – strategic risk management
14 May 2014
Permanent Secretary’s Update
Strategic Narrative
Board Effectiveness Review
Performance Report
Finance Update
ALB accountability
BDUK Overview
14 July 2014
Permanent Secretary’s Update
Performance Review, including Finance
Strategic Property Agenda
20 October 2014
Permanent Secretary’s Update
Performance Review, including Finance
Implications for DCMS of Scottish Referendum
Departmental Sub Board agenda items December 2012 to December 2014
The Departmental Sub Board was established in September 2014 to supplement the Departmental Board.
15 September 2014
Sub-Board Operating Framework
Permanent Secretary’s Update
Performance Review including Finance
People Strategy
Annual Stocktake
Audit and Risk Committee agenda items December 2012 to December 2014
December 2012
Scene setting
Government Equalities Office:
DCMS Group Accounts
NLDF / OLDF accounts
Internal Audit Report
Olympics
8 April 2013
Scene Setting
DCMS Group Accounts
OLDF/NLDF plans
Internal Audit
Olympics
11 June 2013
Scene Setting
Broadband Update
Spending Review – outcome for DCMS
Financial Statements
29 October 2013
Scene Setting
Broadband – Urban Vouchers
Governance Statement and year-end assurance
Consolidated Accounts for DCMS
NAO Report
Internal Audit Report
Fraud, error and debt
18 December 2013
Scene Setting
National Lottery Annual Assurance Review
ALB Risk Review
Issues arising from Consolidated Accounts for DCMS
NAO Report
Internal Audit Report
Liabilities that DCMS will inherit when ODA closes
Information assurance and system security
5 March 2014
Scene Setting
Consolidated Accounts for DCMS
NAO Report
Internal Audit Report
Preparedness for major ceremonials
Improvement programme
ALB new governance arrangements
ARC chair’s annual report to the Board and Accounting Officer
2 July 2014
Scene Setting
NLDF/OLDF Annual Report & Accounts
Group Annual Report & Accounts
NAO Report
Internal Audit Report
Changes to Corporate Services
Improvement Programme
ALB Governance Update
1 September 2014
Scene Setting
Group Annual Report & Accounts
Plans for 14-15 Annual Report & Accounts
NAO Report
Internal Audit Report
BDUK
Security Policy Framework
Embedding Good Government Debt Management
4 December 2014
Scene setting
Group Annual Report & Accounts
NAO Report
Internal Audit Report
Shared Services Update
Options for Legal Risk reporting to ARC
IT project update
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills about the secondary ticketing market; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
I meet regularly with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to discuss a variety of topics.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to introduce a £50 limit on fixed odds betting terminals; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
Draft regulations have been drawn up and are being submitted to the European Commission for comment under the terms of the Technical Standards Directive. We intend for these to come into force on the April 2015 common commencement date.
Asked by: Clive Efford (Labour - Eltham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects the Natcen research into the relationship between fixed odds betting terminals and problem gambling to be published; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
The research in question is scheduled to be published in December 2014 by the Responsible Gambling Trust. This will include an introductory statement on the plausible markers of harm as well as two research reports on patterns of risk along with associated contextual research analysis.