Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has had discussions with gambling firms on helping to ensure customers are able to withdraw surplus funds from betting accounts in timely way.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The department meets regularly with the gambling industry and its representatives, where this issue has previously been raised.
Data provided to the Commission by some of the largest gambling companies shows that those firms approve, process and fulfil around 99% of customer withdrawal requests within 24 to 48 hours of the request being made. However, problems with withdrawing funds from gambling accounts remain the most common topic raised by people contacting the Gambling Commission’s Contact Centre.
The Commission’s licence conditions and codes of practice contain a number of provisions to ensure operators treat their customers in a fair and open way. It makes clear that any necessary identity verification or anti money laundering checks should take place when funds are deposited rather than when customers try to make withdrawals.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the support provided by the BBC for local radio in the Scottish Highlands.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The BBC is editorially and operationally independent, and any decisions over its radio services in Scotland are for the BBC to make. However, the Government has been clear with the Chair of the BBC Board and the Director General that the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK. These services are a key part of the BBC’s public service remit and an example of how the BBC can use its licence fee funding to provide content that is directly relevant to audiences, particularly in areas that may be underserved by the market.
The Government also expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. Ofcom has noted that, if it has concerns about the BBC’s provision for audiences in Scotland, it would look at whether it is necessary to introduce new requirements into the BBC’s Operating Licence. The BBC also publishes information on how it is delivering for Scottish audiences in its Annual Report and Accounts.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department have made of the potential merits of changing advertisement rules of delivery conditions for distance sellers so that they cannot advertise free delivery to mainland UK if they have terms of services excluding mainland UK addresses from free delivery.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Advertising Standards Authority’s rules make it clear that advertising materials must not materially mislead. This includes any advertising that includes false information, such as free delivery.
Additionally, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations prohibit misleading advertising. This includes delivery charges where applicable. If there are delivery restrictions or exclusions, these also need to be made clear from the outset. Where a business fails to take steps to comply, it can be at risk of action from enforcement bodies, including Trading Standards and the Competition and Markets Authority.
The Government is currently reviewing the regulation of online advertising to provide additional protections for consumers from false and misleading advertising. Our consultation on the Online Advertising Programme (OAP) closed last year, and we will be publishing a response in due course.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of the Inverness-model for the rapid increased delivery of access to full-fibre broadband within communities.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Building Digital UK (BDUK) is working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Highland Council, with the support of the Scottish Government, to identify where Project Gigabit might support the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal and improve digital connectivity in the region. A Public Review to confirm suppliers’ commercial plans was carried out from 7 October to 14 November 2022 and the results of this review are currently being assessed, alongside engagement with broadband providers, to identify the potential scope of a gigabit broadband procurement in the Inverness area.
BDUK is also working with the Scottish Government on options for Project Gigabit procurement activity across the rest of Scotland.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the current barriers to market access experienced by full-fibre broadband providers.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government’s Barrier Busting Task Force (BBTF) was set up within DCMS towards the end of 2017. Its key objective is to identify and address the barriers preventing the fast, efficient and cost-effective deployment of gigabit-capable broadband and improved mobile coverage, including next generation 5G technology.
The team liaises with stakeholders from across the industry, including landowner representatives, to identify any barriers which could adversely impact rollout. It has recently identified and worked in the following areas:
Electronic Communications Code
In January 2021, the BBTF team consulted on changes to the Electronic Communications Code, which resulted in the Government bringing forward measures in the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, which completed its parliamentary passage last week.
Measures in the Bill which will specifically assist telecoms operators providing broadband services include an increased ability to upgrade and share the existing duct and pole network and a procedure to deal with non-responsive landowners. This is in addition to the Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Act 2021, which is due to come into force at the end of the year and will make it easier for broadband operators to install in multiple dwelling units where the landlord is repeatedly unresponsive to requests for access.
New Build Connectivity
One of the barriers we identified to the roll out of gigabit broadband coverage was the lack of deployment of broadband networks to new homes. In September we laid the Building etc. (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2022 which come into force on 26 December 2022. These make it mandatory for developers to install gigabit-ready infrastructure and, where it can be done within a £2,000 cost cap, a gigabit-capable connection in each dwelling.
Streetworks
The BBTF has worked with the Department for Transport (DfT) to make street works for the rollout of broadband more simple and cost-effective. This has involved amending guidance, such as the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways to allow more innovative technologies to be used. DfT has also introduced Street Manager, a digital service to streamline processes across highways authorities, who authorise and coordinate streetworks in England and Wales. In addition, the team encourages collaboration between broadband companies and highways authorities, publishing the Street Works Toolkit in 2018. The Toolkit sets out best practice for highways authorities and telecoms companies to work together as efficiently as possible.
Local Authorities
The BBTF has published guidance through the Digital Connectivity Portal. The Portal provides practical information for local authorities, for instance on debunking myths around 5G, on the application of legislation such as the Electronic Communications Code and planning regulations, and on creating an effective digital strategy to facilitate telecoms deployment. The Task Force also regularly facilitates meetings and workshops between local authorities and the telecoms industry, aimed at increasing understanding of the importance of digital connectivity to local communities, as well as the practicalities around its deployment.
Investment
In the 2017 Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, DCMS stated its intention for regulation of the sector, which would provide long term stability and certainty, creating a market where operators were willing to invest. This was followed by the 2019 Statement of Strategic Priorities for Ofcom, which implemented the strategy set out in 2019. This has helped deliver significant investment in gigabit-capable networks and an increase in the number of operators rolling out gigabit services.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to protect competition in the delivery of full-fibre broadband networks.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In 2018, the Government published the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR), which set out our strategy to deliver nationwide gigabit-capable broadband. Central to this strategy is our desire to see a regulatory system which incentivises competition and investment in UK fixed telecoms. In this document, DCMS called for regulation that is limited to where it is necessary, and provides the longer-term stability and predictability that investors need.
We followed this with our 2019 Statement of Strategic Priorities for Ofcom. This document implemented the regulatory strategy we established in the FTIR, focussing on incentivising competition in the broadband market.
Ultimately, Ofcom is responsible for safeguarding competition in the broadband market. In 2021, Ofcom published its Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (WFTMR) which set out Ofcom’s decisions for regulation of the fixed telecoms market until 2026. The WFTMR makes explicit mention of the Government’s desire to support market entry and expansion by alternative network operators and is fulfilling this by, for example, providing competitors with effective access to Openreach’s ducts and poles.
Thanks to these measures to incentivise competition, there are now over 80 companies investing over £35bn to connect premises all over the UK, and gigabit coverage has increased to 72%, rising from just 6% in 2019.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made representations to representatives of (a) Ofcom and (b) the Advertising Standards Agency on consumers being misled in respect of the sale of fibre to the cabinet products (FTTC) as full-fibre products; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In 2017, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK's regulator of advertising, reviewed consumer understanding of the term ‘fibre’ as used in broadband advertising (particularly for part-fibre services such as Fibre to the Cabinet) and any impact the use of this term has on consumers’ transactional decisions. The ASA engaged with stakeholders and received a range of responses from providers of part-fibre and full-fibre broadband services, consumer organisations and other regulators.
The ASA published their findings in November 2017 and concluded by stating the following: “It is not possible to conclude that the word ‘fibre’, as currently used in part-fibre advertising, is likely to mislead and misinform consumers.”
Both the ASA and Ofcom are independent regulators and such matters relating to industry rules on advertising and broadband speed claims are a matter for their discretion.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
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 providing dedicated financial support programs for cultural activities undertaken by Ukrainian refugees to protect Ukrainian cultural heritage.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, DCMS Ministers and officials have been in regular contact with their Ukrainian counterparts, international partners and UK cultural institutions regarding the protection of Ukrainian cultural heritage. The UK is currently providing financial support through DCMS’s flagship Cultural Protection Fund, a partnership with the British Council. This covers among other activities the documentation of damage to cultural heritage, safeguarding Ukraine’s cultural heritage in-situ, and supporting Ukrainian artists and cultural practitioners.
DCMS officials are also working across Government to ensure that cultural heritage protection is integrated into all relevant apparatus around war crimes. Officials are examining how to support baseline evidence collection on cultural heritage destruction in Ukraine, as well as developing longer-term approaches.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether officials in her Department have had discussions with representatives of UK cultural bodies on the potential support they can give their Ukrainian counterparts to help protect Ukrainian cultural heritage during the Russian invasion of that country.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, DCMS Ministers and officials have been in regular contact with their Ukrainian counterparts, international partners and UK cultural institutions regarding the protection of Ukrainian cultural heritage. The UK is currently providing financial support through DCMS’s flagship Cultural Protection Fund, a partnership with the British Council. This covers among other activities the documentation of damage to cultural heritage, safeguarding Ukraine’s cultural heritage in-situ, and supporting Ukrainian artists and cultural practitioners.
DCMS officials are also working across Government to ensure that cultural heritage protection is integrated into all relevant apparatus around war crimes. Officials are examining how to support baseline evidence collection on cultural heritage destruction in Ukraine, as well as developing longer-term approaches.
Asked by: Drew Hendry (Scottish National Party - Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with her Ukrainian counterpart on providing support for the cataloguing of Ukrainian cultural artefacts which have been damaged or lost during Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, DCMS Ministers and officials have been in regular contact with their Ukrainian counterparts, international partners and UK cultural institutions regarding the protection of Ukrainian cultural heritage. The UK is currently providing financial support through DCMS’s flagship Cultural Protection Fund, a partnership with the British Council. This covers among other activities the documentation of damage to cultural heritage, safeguarding Ukraine’s cultural heritage in-situ, and supporting Ukrainian artists and cultural practitioners.
DCMS officials are also working across Government to ensure that cultural heritage protection is integrated into all relevant apparatus around war crimes. Officials are examining how to support baseline evidence collection on cultural heritage destruction in Ukraine, as well as developing longer-term approaches.