Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
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 take steps to tackle fake news by extending current regulation and guidance on the prominence given to public service broadcasters in printed television guides to (a) such guides and similar information provided online and (b) the operation of voice assistants when they asked for news headlines.
Answered by Margot James
The Government takes the issue of fake news and disinformation very seriously. The Public Service Broadcasters are our best protection against disinformation and it is important that high quality public service content including news content is widely accessible to viewers. That is why under the Digital Economy Act 2017, Ofcom are required to publish a report which looks at the ease of finding and accessing PSB content across all platforms. Ofcom will consult on this issue soon and the final report must be published before December 2020.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that viewers can easily find public service content outside of the main electronic programming guide.
Answered by Margot James
The Government recognises the value and importance of high quality public service content and the need for this to be widely accessible to viewers. That is why under the Digital Economy Act 2017, Ofcom are required to publish a report which looks at the ease of finding and accessing PSB content across all platforms, including those outside of the main electronic programme guide. Ofcom will consult on this issue soon and the final report must be published before December 2020.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
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 effect of the General Data Protection Regulation on organisations operating on a not-for-profit basis; and what steps he is taking to minimise administrative costs placed on those organisations as a result of the General Data Protection Regulation.
Answered by Margot James
The UK exercised its ability to derogate from the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) through the Data Protection Act 2018 to create a proportionate data protection regime which is robust and protects the rights of individuals, whilst providing legal certainty for organisations.
An impact assessment of the derogations to GDPR exercised by the government was published in 2017, and is available at the link below.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/664329/General_Processing_Impact_Assessment.pdf
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of Heritage Lottery Fund funding has been allocated to (a) London and (b) each region in each of the last five years.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The proportion of total Heritage Lottery Fund funding given to each of the regions and nations over the last five years can be seen in the table below, broken down by financial year.
Region/Nation | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
East Midlands | 5% | 6% | 7% | 12% | 4% |
East of England | 7% | 6% | 5% | 8% | 11% |
London | 18% | 21% | 15% | 17% | 14% |
North East | 6% | 8% | 7% | 5% | 8% |
North West | 9% | 9% | 10% | 10% | 6% |
Northern Ireland | 2% | 6% | 1% | 4% | 3% |
Scotland | 13% | 11% | 9% | 13% | 6% |
South East | 16% | 9% | 15% | 7% | 15% |
South West | 7% | 11% | 14% | 8% | 8% |
Wales | 3% | 4% | 5% | 4% | 7% |
West Midlands | 10% | 5% | 6% | 7% | 8% |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 5% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 9% |
TOTAL | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to implement the European Electronic Communications Code in the event that it becomes EU law (a) before any transitional period, (b) during any transition period and (c) after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) is still being negotiated within the EU. Trilogues have not yet even begun and therefore it is too early to say when the EECC will be adopted by the EU.
While the UK is still a Member State of the EU, the UK will act in accordance with our rights and obligations associated with this.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) oversight and (b) powers the Government will have in relation to guidance issued by the Information Commissioner on the application of the General Data Protection Regulation.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Data Protection Bill will require the Information Commissioner to prepare statutory data sharing and direct marketing codes of practice. The Commissioner will be required to submit these codes to the Secretary of State and the codes must subsequently be laid before Parliament for consideration. The Secretary of State may also require the Commissioner to prepare additional codes giving guidance on good practice in other data processing areas. Through regular dialogue, the government will work with the Commissioner to identify other data processing activities and sectors where non-statutory guidance would be of benefit and should be developed.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK operating only as a member of the WTO on the UK’s preparations for complying with the General Data Protection Regulation; and what key differences exist between the (a) WTO rules in respect of the digital sector and (b) those rules that exist by being a member of the EU.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The General Data Protection Regulation will apply to EU member states, including the UK, from 25 May 2018.
The Government is committed to ensuring the highest level of data protection for UK citizens now and in the future. To that end, the Data Protection Bill, as announced in the Queen's Speech, will be introduced to Parliament in due course.
Asked by: Darren Jones (Labour - Bristol North West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to increase funding for public libraries to enable more libraries to become digital community hubs.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has provided support for library authorities throughout England to deliver library services that are accessible, modern and meets local needs. This included funding a £2.6 million programme to support the installation or upgrade of wifi in public libraries in England; benefitting around 1,000 libraries, and enabling over 99% of public libraries to offer free wifi. In addition, DCMS financed the £3.9m Libraries: Opportunities for Everyone fund to support innovative library service activity to benefit disadvantaged people and places in England. Around 60% of the successful local authority applicants are using digital means to support delivery of their projects. The Government will continue to encourage local authorities to invest in libraries to ensure that they remain relevant and meet the needs of the community.