Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to progress the fan-led review of football; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an independent football regulator.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is continuing to work at pace on the review having already appointed the Honourable Member for Chatham and Aylesford as Chair and published the Terms of Reference. We have also announced the advisory panel members to support the Chair and I look forward to receiving an interim report over the Summer, before the full report in the Autumn.
I would not want to pre-judge the recommendations of the review but can confirm that the merits of an independent football regulator will be examined as part of the review.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what financial support the Government plans to provide for (a) soft play centres and (b) maternal classes when those facilities reopen after the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active and the Government has been committed to reopening facilities as soon as it is safe to do so. On 13 August, the Government announced that indoor play and indoor soft play venues could open from 15 August. Indoor play and indoor soft play venues have been able to access the unprecedented financial support package that the Government has provided businesses across the economy during the pandemic.
Antenatal classes are provided by the NHS. Like all areas of NHS care, maternity services will be affected by the pandemic, but antenatal contact and new baby visits should continue. Maternity units are working to ensure services are provided in a way that is safe, supported by greater use of digital and remote technologies.
Video consultation capability by NHS providers has rapidly been scaled up in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Attend Anywhere is a web-based video consultation platform intended for use on tablets, smartphones, laptops or PC’s with a webcam and is funded by NHS England and NHS Improvement for all maternity providers to use.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what support is available for hoteliers in the event that customer must self-isolate at the hotel during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
We have published guidance on how to open guest accommodation businesses safely whilst minimising the risks of COVID-19.
If a guest is displaying signs of COVID-19 while staying in overnight accommodation, they should inform the accommodation provider, immediately self-isolate where they are to minimise any risk of transmission, and request a test. If they are confirmed to have COVID-19, they should return home if they reasonably can. If a guest cannot reasonably return home, their circumstances should be discussed with an appropriate health care professional and, if necessary, the local authority.
Unless otherwise provided for in the contractual terms of the booking, the guest will be expected to pay the costs of an extended stay in all but exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances may include, but are not limited to, where the accommodation provider has failed to follow government guidance to create a COVID-secure environment.
The Government has developed a comprehensive support package to help businesses and workers deal with various COVID-related pressures, which hotel and bed and breakfast businesses can continue to access.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the Government's timeframe is for the reopening of soft play centres as covid-19 lockdown measures ease.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 13 August, the Government announced that indoor play and indoor soft play venues could open from 15 August. We worked with BALPPA, the trade body that represents the industry to develop guidance that lays out detailed measures for indoor play and indoor soft play operators to make venues COVID-secure. These include closing ball pits and sensory areas, reducing capacity of venues and soft play frames, regular deep cleaning, pre-bookable timed sessions, increased sanitation, and a rigorous process to support track and trace. We will continue to engage with the sector and will keep the guidance under regular review.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the benefits funding from the National Lottery has delivered to charities in (a) local areas and (b) Southport.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The National Lottery has returned over £39 billion to good causes since 1994, funding projects in every constituency throughout the UK. The National Lottery awards grants to good causes delivered through a range of organisations, including charities, social enterprises and local grassroots groups.
Below is data from the key National Lottery distributors showing the total grants awarded to good causes, including charities, in Southport since 2009/10. A high proportion of charities are based in cities and towns, but deliver activity and services to a much wider area. This means figures often don’t reflect the spread of activity and the overall offer of services and projects funded by The National Lottery within a particular constituency.
Organisation | Total Grants Awarded to Good Causes in Southport since 2009/10 |
The National Lottery Community Fund | £5,008,940 |
The National Lottery Heritage Fund | £3,589,300 |
Sport England | £992,626 |
Arts Council England | £45,323 |
Total | £9,636,189 |
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to increase tourism in (a) coastal areas and (b) the UK.
Answered by Michael Ellis
VisitBritain and VisitEngland are responsible for promoting the UK as a tourist destination, which it does through a range of different initiatives and campaigns. VisitBritain sit on the Coastal Tourism Leadership Forum (run by the National Coastal Tourism Academy), helping to shape the Coastal Visitor Economy Vision and Action Plan. DCMS are observers at the forum.
My colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also provide support and funding to coastal areas through the Coastal Communities Fund and the Coastal Revival Fund, much of which has a tourism focus. They have also set up Coastal Community Teams around the country to support the development of the coastal economy.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of recent strategies put forth by technology companies in relation to online safety.
Answered by Margot James
While we have seen some success with voluntary measures to improve online safety, Government has been clear that tech companies need to take more consistent and effective action to tackle online harms.
A joint DCMS-Home Office White Paper will be published shortly, setting out clear responsibilities for tech companies to keep their users safe online.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to encourage UK citizens to take holidays in UK seaside towns.
Answered by Michael Ellis
DCMS works hard to support the UK’s coastal destinations, engaging closely with the National Coastal Tourism Academy (NCTA) to stay abreast of current trends, opportunities and concerns.
Together with VisitEngland, the £40m Discover England Fund project supports several coastal products, developed to target international visitors but also benefit domestic tourism. Projects such as England’s Coast led by the NCTA, South West Coastal Path led by the South West Coast Path Association and England’s Seafood Coast, led by the English Tourism Riviera Company are some examples of DEF projects in coastal regions.
VisitBritain (VB) run coastal destinations groups which generally meet four times a year, discussing the challenges facing coastal destinations with the aim of sharing insights and best practice, developing joint policy positions to address those deemed most important.
VB sit on the Coastal Tourism Leadership Forum(run by the NCTA), helping to shape the Coastal Visitor Economy Vision and Action Plan. DCMS are observers at the forum.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential economic benefits to the North West of relocating Channel 4 to Merseyside.
Answered by Margot James
We have long been committed to Channel 4 moving out of London, and welcome Channel 4's agreement to move 300 staff out of London, rising over time. There are many creative locations across the UK, including in the North West, which could see a significant positive economic impact from Channel 4 relocating staff. The decision on new out of London locations will be taken by Channel 4, and Channel 4 has said it will take this decision in Q3 2018.
Asked by: Damien Moore (Conservative - Southport)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting care homes and residential homes from their obligation to play the licence fee.
Answered by Margot James
Accommodation for Residential Care licences are already available for people who are either over 60 years old or disabled and living in eligible accommodation. The types of eligible accommodation include residential care homes, supported housing or sheltered accommodation and the criteria is detailed in the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004. The annual licence currently costs £7.50 per resident. The Government has no plans to review these licences.