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Written Question
Greyhound Racing: Coronavirus
Tuesday 2nd June 2020

Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) financial and (b) other support his Department has provided to the greyhound racing sector as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

Greyhound racing, as part of the leisure industry, is eligible to access the help announced by the Chancellor on 17 March. This set out a business rates holiday for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, irrespective of rateable value, so that all eligible businesses will pay no business rates for 12 months. On 18 March, MHCLG published guidance for local authorities on the application of the relief.

In addition, the government has announced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, through which all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees’ salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis. Furthermore, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme provides loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, backed by an 80% government guarantee.


Officials continue to be in regular communication with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain to understand the needs of the sector during this time and ensure they are aware of central government guidance as we work towards the resumption of greyhound racing.

Written Question
Internet: Safety
Monday 27th April 2020

Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish his Department’s list of identified online harms and the groups at risk from each of them.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

The Government published the initial response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation on 12 February 2020. This confirmed that the Government is developing legislation on online harms to establish a new duty of care on online companies towards their users, overseen by an independent regulator. Companies will be expected to ensure higher levels of protection for children than for the typical adult user.

The White Paper provided an indicative list of online harms that in-scope companies would be expected to address. That list was not exhaustive or fixed. Online harms legislation will need to be sufficiently flexible, so that it is responsive to emerging technologies and forms of harmful content and behaviour, while at the same time providing sufficient certainty to companies. The White Paper also excluded some types of harm from scope, including harm to companies and harm arising from a breach of data protection legislation or cyber-security. Further information on the duty of care and harm to be addressed will be provided in the Full Government Response to the White Paper consultation.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 Jan 2020
Economy and Society: Contribution of Music

"I beg to move,

That this House has considered the contribution of music to the economy and society.

It is a pleasure to see you in your place, Sir Roger—an unexpected pleasure, but a pleasure none the less. I am delighted, as secretary of the all-party parliamentary group on music, …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 Jan 2020
Economy and Society: Contribution of Music

"Absolutely. I share my hon. Friend’s ambition to do that, as well as her warm words for her predecessor. Like him, she certainly was not backward in coming forward to intervene so early in my speech.

UK Music’s new report, “Music By Numbers”, represents the most comprehensive set of data …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 Jan 2020
Economy and Society: Contribution of Music

"I agree entirely, and I think we will find agreement on that across the Chamber...."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 Jan 2020
Economy and Society: Contribution of Music

"I agree entirely. I will come to the points made by both my right hon. Friend and the hon. Member for Solihull (Julian Knight) in more detail later in my speech.

There has been an incredible 10% increase in the number of overseas visitors coming to the UK for shows …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 Jan 2020
Economy and Society: Contribution of Music

"I agree entirely. It is that diversity and depth that gives UK music its strength.

It is clear that music in the UK punches well above its weight economically, but that is only part of the picture. Music’s value is not purely financial; its social value must not be ignored. …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 Jan 2020
Economy and Society: Contribution of Music

"I will, and I will then make some progress, because many people want to speak and I want to give them that opportunity...."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 Jan 2020
Economy and Society: Contribution of Music

"Absolutely, they are the very definition of holistic therapy. Nordoff Robbins has worked with over 10,000 vulnerable people, holding 37,000 music therapy sessions in 15 different places across the country, and 90% of those who had music therapy last year were clear that it improved their quality of life.

According …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 21 Jan 2020
Economy and Society: Contribution of Music

"I do, and I will come to that in my closing remarks.

I could say much more about music in my constituency—I am keen to talk about it to anyone who wants to listen to me—but I want to let other colleagues in, so I will move on, but, before …..."
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