Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to continue to provide funding for the Football Association Parklife project.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The Government recognises the benefits of the Football Association Parklife project. Further investment in Parklife will continue to be considered at future fiscal events.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether reference copies of statutory instruments are available in hard copy via the public library service; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Hard copies of statutory instruments are not available from public libraries, but can be purchased from The Stationery Office at https://www.tsoshop.co.uk, or accessed online from legislation.gov.uk.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to continue to provide funding for the Football Association Parklife project.
Answered by Nigel Adams
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether reference copies of statutory instruments are available in hard copy via the public library service; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans the Government has to introduce electromagnetic white zones in relation to 5G technology.
Answered by Margot James
Mobile Network Operators will lead the rollout of 5G in the UK and provide the vast majority of commercial investment in 5G networks. The Government is setting the policy and regulatory environment needed to ensure the right conditions for investment in the development of 5G networks.
5G spectrum frequencies that have been granted licenses have similar properties to those which are currently used in mobile communications technologies. A considerable amount of research has been carried out on radio waves and Public Health England (PHE) have concluded that exposures of radio waves to the public are well within the international health-related guideline levels that are used in the UK. All 5G technology will also have to adhere to the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) exposure guidelines.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the providers of 5G on whether they have made any provision for personal liability on health and safety grounds.
Answered by Margot James
I have regular meetings with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) on a range of subjects including 5G developments. MNOs will lead the rollout of 5G in the UK and provide the vast majority of commercial investment in 5G networks.
The Government is setting the policy and regulatory environment needed to ensure the right conditions for investment in the development of 5G networks.
5G spectrum frequencies that have been granted licenses have similar properties to those which are currently used in mobile communications technologies. A considerable amount of research has been carried out on radio waves and Public Health England (PHE) have concluded that exposures of radio waves to the public are well within the international health-related guideline levels that are used in the UK. All 5G technology will also have to adhere to the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) exposure guidelines.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the potential military applications of 5G technology.
Answered by Margot James
Ministers have regular discussions with their Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of issues, but have not discussed the specific issue of the potential military applications of 5G technology.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to request information from mobile operators on the localised effects of the installation of 5G on (a) people and (b) the natural environment.
Answered by Margot James
We are committed to becoming a world leader in 5G, and for the majority of the population to have access to a 5G signal by 2027. Following the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review which sets out the Government’s national, long-term strategy for delivering world leading telecoms infrastructure across the UK, the Government is working to create the right conditions for the deployment of 5G.
Ministers have regular discussions with Mobile Network Operators on a full range of subjects relating to mobile coverage and future digital infrastructure development, including 5G. Specific issues relating to health concerns and the natural environment are the responsibility of DHSC/Public Health England (PHE) and DEFRA respectively.
A considerable amount of research has been carried out on radio waves and we anticipate no negative effects on public health.
PHE’s Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE) takes the lead on public health matters associated with radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, or radio waves, used in telecommunications.
Central to PHE advice is that exposures to radio waves should comply with the guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). ICNIRP is formally recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has been made of the potential effect of 5G on (a) plants, (b) animals and (c) insects.
Answered by Margot James
Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) has the potential to impact the movement of insects and some species of animals, but there is currently no evidence that human-made EMR, at realistic field levels, has population level impacts on (a) plants, (b) animals or (c) insects.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will hold discussions with broadcast media on ensuring balanced coverage of people who claim benefits.
Answered by Margot James
The government does not influence programming decisions, as broadcasters are editorially independent of government. Ofcom, as the independent communications regulator, is responsible for enforcing the Broadcasting Code which sets rules for licensed broadcasters to follow. This includes a requirement for broadcasters to treat individuals within programmes fairly, and material facts must not be presented in a way that is unfair to an individual.
The government is committed to supporting the broadcasting sector to ensure that it provides for and reflects the whole of the UK population, including individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds.