Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on enforcement of the Broadcasting Code.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ofcom on a range of issues.
As the UK’s independent broadcasting regulator, it is rightly a matter for Ofcom to determine whether there has been a breach of the Broadcasting Code, and whether to take any action.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) reducing and (b) abolishing VAT on (i) maintenance and (ii) energy-efficiency improvements on historic and cultural buildings.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will provide additional financial support to help the creative sector meet (a) energy and (b) maintenance costs.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the proposal by the Independent Game Developers’ Association to introduce a Video Games Investment Fund.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s games sector. As part of a wider package to support the growth of the creative industries, the Government has expanded the UK Games Fund with over £8 million investment over three years starting in April 2022. The Government recognises the high potential of UK games companies and the UK Games Fund will continue to provide targeted support to early-stage games development and talented graduates throughout the UK. In addition, the Video Games Tax Relief continues to make the UK one of the leading destinations in the world for making video games.
While we are not taking forward the proposal on the Video Games Investment Fund at this point in time, we welcome continued discussions with the games industry on how best to support a thriving UK games sector.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of the proposal by the Independent Game Developers’ Association to introduce a video games investment fund.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK’s games sector. As part of a wider package to support the growth of the creative industries, the government is delivering an £8 million expansion of the UK Games Fund. The UK Games Fund will provide valuable support to early stage games development businesses and talented graduates throughout the UK. In addition, the Video Games Tax Relief continues to make the UK one of the leading destinations in the world for making video games.
We are not seeking to take forward a proposal for a new Video Games Investment Fund. We welcome continued discussions with the games industry on how best to support a thriving UK games sector.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much the Department spent on communications staff in (a) 2019-20, (b) 2020-21 and (c) 2021-22.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Expenditure (pay costs) on communications staffing was £1,904,000 in 2019-20, £2,489,000 in 2020-21 and £2,788,000 in 2021-22. This increase reflects changes the Department has made to pay band minimums and specialist communication allowances over the three year period, whilst the communication function in the department has reduced from 4% to 2% as a proportion of the departmental FTE headcount as DCMS' responsibilities have increased significantly.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many communications staff are employed by her Department (a) full time, (b) part time and (c) on flexible working arrangements as of 19 April 2022.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The number of staff working in the DCMS central Communications team to deliver the communications function is currently 44 (41.63 FTE). 36 are employed on full time contracts, 8 are employed on part time contracts. DCMS has a flexible working policy, which is available to all staff.