Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the loss of income to freelance photographers as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
On 5 July, the Government announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. Guidance has been published by Arts Council England, the British Film Institute, Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund for applicants to the Culture Recovery Grants application rounds, and by Arts Council England for applicants to the Repayable Finance Scheme. Further details on eligibility and application processes are available in the published guidance.
This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of sectors, with one of our core objectives being to support the cultural organisations that are crucial to places across the whole country. We will ensure that funding is distributed fairly, and that smaller organisations and cultural venues that are at the centre of their communities are protected.
We also recognise the crucial role that individuals play in making our arts and creative industries world-leading. As a result of these grants and loans, organisations will be more able to resume cultural activity, albeit in a socially distanced way, which will increase employment opportunities for freelancers.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
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 work with the football authorities to help tackle racist abuse of players (a) in person and (b) online; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Racism or any form of discrimination has no place in football or society, whether in person or online.
The Government continues to liaise closely with all the football authorities about their work to tackle discrimination. This includes actions targeted at and around football grounds, such as improving reporting systems, providing better training and support for referees and stewards, and improving the quality of CCTV around stadia.
What is unacceptable offline is also unacceptable online. As set out in the Online Harms White Paper, we intend to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users which will be overseen by an independent regulator. The ‘duty of care’ will ensure companies take risk-based and proportionate steps to keep their users safe from harms including harassment and abuse.
The criminal law must be fit for purpose to deal with online harms. DCMS and the Ministry of Justice have engaged the Law Commission on a second phase of their review of abusive and offensive online communications. The Law Commission will review existing communications offences and make specific recommendations about options for reform, to ensure that criminal law provides consistent and effective protection against such behaviour. The Law Commission is also looking into the adequacy of protection offered by hate crime legislation, and this review is expected to report in 2021.
We will continue to work with all the football authorities to tackle discrimination in the game.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
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 (a) UK Sport and (b) British Gymnastics on recent allegations of physical and mental abuse of gymnasts; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
I wrote to British Gymnastics on 9th July, expressing my concerns at the emerging allegations of abuse.
It is vital that everyone participating in sport feels safe and secure and that where allegations of inappropriate or harmful behaviour are made, these are taken seriously. There is no place for abuse of any kind in sport and anyone responsible for such behaviour must be held accountable.
I therefore welcome the launch, on 25th August, of the Whyte Review which will look into allegations of mistreatment within the sport of gymnastics.
My department will follow the Whyte Review and its findings closely and will continue to work with Sport England, UK Sport and the Child Protection in Sport Unit to strengthen safeguarding provision.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
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 BBC Director-General on protecting the future of (a) BBC Cymru Wales and (b) S4C.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government is committed to ensuring a strong and sustainable broadcasting system in all parts of the UK. Ministers meet regularly with the BBC and S4C to discuss a range of issues. The BBC and S4C are operationally and editorially independent of government. The future of BBC Cymru Wales is a matter for the BBC.
Both the BBC and S4C are regulated by Ofcom.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he will take to safeguard the welfare of gymnasts receiving UK Sport funding; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
It is vital that everyone participating in sport feels safe and secure and that where allegations of inappropriate or harmful behaviour are made, these are taken seriously. There is no place for abuse of any kind in sport and anyone responsible for such behaviour must be held accountable.
I wrote to British Gymnastics on 9th July, expressing my concerns at the emerging allegations of abuse. I welcome their decision to step aside from the review they had initially announced, and to allow UK Sport and Sport England to co-commission a fully independent review.
All organisations in receipt of public funding from Sport England and UK Sport have been required to meet the standards set out in the Code for Sports Governance since April 2017. The Code contains specific obligations around safeguarding, including a requirement for national governing bodies to adhere to the Standards for Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport, which are issued by the Child Protection in Sport Unit.
My department will follow the independent review and its findings closely and will continue to work with Sport England, UK Sport and the Child Protection in Sport Unit to strengthen safeguarding provision wherever possible.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he will take to safeguard the welfare of athletes receiving UK Sport funding; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
It is vital that everyone participating in sport feels safe and secure and that where allegations of inappropriate or harmful behaviour are made, these are taken seriously. There is no place for abuse of any kind in sport and anyone responsible for such behaviour must be held accountable.
I wrote to British Gymnastics on 9th July, expressing my concerns at the emerging allegations of abuse. I welcome their decision to step aside from the review they had initially announced, and to allow UK Sport and Sport England to co-commission a fully independent review.
All organisations in receipt of public funding from Sport England and UK Sport have been required to meet the standards set out in the Code for Sports Governance since April 2017. The Code contains specific obligations around safeguarding, including a requirement for national governing bodies to adhere to the Standards for Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport, which are issued by the Child Protection in Sport Unit.
My department will follow the independent review and its findings closely and will continue to work with Sport England, UK Sport and the Child Protection in Sport Unit to strengthen safeguarding provision wherever possible.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many meetings he has held with representatives of (a) the pub trade, (b) gym owners and (c) leisure centres in each of the last six months.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The SOS and I have regular discussions with sector and industry bodies to understand the full impact of COVID-19 on all areas across the Department's remit.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many data breaches his Department has reported to the Information Commissioner in each of the last five years.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Data Protection legislation introduced on 25 May 2018 makes it clear that organisations need to report personal data breaches to the Information Commissioner’s Office where there is a high risk to people’s rights and freedoms following the breach.
The number of departmental data breaches that have been reported to the Information Commissioner during the last five years are as follows:
1 January 2015 to 31 December 2016: 1 case
1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017: 2 cases
1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018: 2 cases
1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019: 1 case
1 January 2020: 0 cases to date
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
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 covid-19 outbreak on tourism in London; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
We recognise the COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted the coastal tourism industry. DCMS, DEFRA, MHCLG and VisitEngland remain in regular contact with tourism stakeholders and Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) in coastal regions to closely monitor the situation and to assess the economic effects.
The Chancellor has announced a host of measures to support businesses and individuals through the crisis, including those in the tourism sector. This includes the recently extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Bounce Back Loans scheme.
Through VisitEngland, we announced a £1.3 million scheme to provide financial support to DMOs at risk of closure due to COVID-19. The DMO Resilience Fund has supported a number of coastal DMOs around the country, as well as the National Coastal Tourism Academy, enabling them to continue their vital business support work.
From 4 July, people will be allowed to enjoy holidays at the coast in England. To help coastal tourism businesses prepare, we have published reopening guidance on Gov.uk for the visitor economy as well as hotels and other guest accommodation.
We set up the Cultural Renewal Taskforce to help our sectors’ businesses prepare to reopen when it is safe to do so. Within this taskforce, I meet regularly with stakeholders through the Visitor Economy Working Group. We will continue to engage with the industry to assess how we can most effectively support the coastal tourism’s recovery.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
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 covid-19 outbreak on the tourist industry in coastal areas; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
We recognise the COVID-19 crisis has significantly impacted the coastal tourism industry. DCMS, DEFRA, MHCLG and VisitEngland remain in regular contact with tourism stakeholders and Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) in coastal regions to closely monitor the situation and to assess the economic effects.
The Chancellor has announced a host of measures to support businesses and individuals through the crisis, including those in the tourism sector. This includes the recently extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Bounce Back Loans scheme.
Through VisitEngland, we announced a £1.3 million scheme to provide financial support to DMOs at risk of closure due to COVID-19. The DMO Resilience Fund has supported a number of coastal DMOs around the country, as well as the National Coastal Tourism Academy, enabling them to continue their vital business support work.
From 4 July, people will be allowed to enjoy holidays at the coast in England. To help coastal tourism businesses prepare, we have published reopening guidance on Gov.uk for the visitor economy as well as hotels and other guest accommodation.
We set up the Cultural Renewal Taskforce to help our sectors’ businesses prepare to reopen when it is safe to do so. Within this taskforce, I meet regularly with stakeholders through the Visitor Economy Working Group. We will continue to engage with the industry to assess how we can most effectively support the coastal tourism’s recovery.