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Written Question
Television: Disability Aids
Monday 19th December 2022

Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to take steps to require all broadcast television to be fully subtitled.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government recognises the importance of subtitling and supports television being accessible to all. Under the Communications Act 2003 and Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996, broadcasters are already required to meet targets for access services - including subtitling. Statutory targets are set by Ofcom which include five and ten year targets for licensed television services. Ofcom’s Code on Television Access Services sets out these obligations and provides guidance and best practice on subtitling for broadcasters.


Written Question
Arts: North of England
Wednesday 23rd November 2022

Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)

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 a comparative assessment of the amount of funding awarded by the Arts Council to cities in the North of England compared to cities in other regions of England.

Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Arts Council England, which distributes public funding at arm’s length from His Majesty’s Government, is committed to supporting arts and culture across the whole country. Over the next three years, Arts Council England will distribute over £380 million in funding to 282 organisations across the North of England. This follows the request by HM Government to ensure that funding is spread more equitably across England. As a result, 78 organisations based in the North of England are new to the portfolio, including the Liverpool Lighthouse, Bradford Museums and Galleries, Company of Others dance ensemble in Newcastle, and Utopia Theatre in Sheffield.

Cities across the North of England will therefore receive increased investment. For instance, 11 organisations in Sheffield will receive a share of £11 million over three years. This increase in funding is also reflected across South Yorkshire, which will receive an additional £1.8 million per year, totalling £21.2 million over the three years 2023–26.

This shift meets the ambitious targets more fairly to distribute funding for culture to support levelling up objectives by increasing funding to areas outside London, and increasing Arts Council England funding to 109 places identified by the Arts Council and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport as Levelling Up for Culture places (LUCPs). These Levelling Up Culture Places – which include cities in the North of England like Doncaster, Preston and Sunderland – will see investment almost double (a 95% increase). I would also like to draw the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement from the Secretary of State on 7 November 2023 which provides further information and which may be of interest.


Written Question
Independent Press Standards Organisation
Tuesday 1st February 2022

Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Independent Press Standards Organisation in delivering just outcomes.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Since the report of the Leveson Inquiry was published in 2012, we have seen a fundamental reform of the self-regulatory landscape for the press, including the establishment of two new regulators, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) and The Independent Monitor for the Press (IMPRESS). The majority of traditional publishers—including 95% of national newspapers by circulation—are members of IPSO. A small number of publishers have joined IMPRESS.

IPSO has established strong regulatory standards and codes for its members, and offers individuals a means of redress where these standards are not met.

The Government is committed to protecting the freedom of the press and recognises that a vibrant and free press plays an invaluable role in our cultural and democratic life.


Written Question
Treasure Trove: Codes of Practice
Monday 18th October 2021

Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to publish the revised definition of treasure under the Treasure Act 1996.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Officials are currently working on the secondary legislation required to introduce the revised definitions, including working with stakeholders on the changes. Once this work is completed it is proposed to introduce the secondary legislation, subject to the constraints of parliamentary time.


Written Question
Public Libraries: Finance
Thursday 23rd September 2021

Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the resource and capital budget needs of public libraries in the financial years up to 2024-25.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Funding for public libraries is not ring-fenced but forms part of the overall Local Government Funding Settlement.

In this year’s Settlement, the Government made available an increase in Core Spending Power in England from £49 billion in 2020-21 to up to £51.3 billion in 2021-22, a 4.6% increase in cash terms. This recognises the resources councils need to meet their pressures and maintain current service levels.

Local authorities in England have a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service that meets local needs and it is for each local authority to consider how best to manage their total funding mindful of this statutory duty.


Written Question
Broadband: Low Incomes
Tuesday 25th May 2021

Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure broadband is affordable to people on low incomes.

Answered by Matt Warman

In response to Covid-19, the Government and Ofcom agreed a set of commitments with the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators to support vulnerable consumers. Providers committed to working with customers who are finding it difficult to pay their bill to ensure that they were treated fairly and appropriately supported, in addition to providing new and generous landline and mobile offers, such as free or low cost mobile data boosts.

A range of broadband social tariff packages are already available in the market to support those on low incomes or who receive specific benefits. BT, for example, recently announced a Home Essentials package to launch in June which will provide fibre and voice services to those on Universal Credit and certain other legacy benefits for £15 per month. Hyperoptic and other providers are offering similar packages to assist on low incomes. The Government continues to encourage all fixed-line providers to introduce a social tariff offer so as to ensure those on low incomes have affordable access to services and information.

In addition, the Government has strengthened Ofcom's consumer protection rules, to ensure that consumers can access the right information to make informed decisions about new services, have stronger contract rights, and switch between providers more easily. The Government’s work complements that of the regulator particularly its vulnerability guide issued in July 2020, which set out how the sector should support those with financial, health or emotional issues.


Written Question
Arts: Coronavirus
Thursday 25th February 2021

Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on support for the cultural sector after existing support packages end in March 2021.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

We recognise the significant challenge the Covid pandemic poses to our world-leading cultural sectors, and DCMS is fully committed to supporting cultural organisations to survive this period.

This is why over £1bn of funding has already been committed across arts, heritage and independent cinemas through the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, and we are working hard to ensure that Round 2 funding supports as many culturally significant organisations as possible. We are continuing to work closely with our Arm’s Length Bodies to understand the need in the sector and how best to support them as we transition out of lockdown over the coming months.

The Government’s response to Covid-19 impacts on workers has been one of the most generous and comprehensive in the world. This includes the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, both of which have been extended until April 2021. And the £2 billion Kickstart Scheme is creating job placements for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit, with employers able to spread the start date of job placements up until the end of December 2021.

At the Budget the Chancellor will set out the next phase in our economic support package to reflect the steps set out in the Prime Minister’s roadmap to easing restrictions published last month, tailoring support for individuals and businesses to reflect the changing public health restrictions.'


Written Question
Sports: Coronavirus
Thursday 25th February 2021

Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on support for sporting venues operating at reduced capacity once reopened as covid-19 restrictions are eased.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

To date, the government has provided an unprecedented £300 million Sport Winter Survival Package to give a lifeline to organisations that would otherwise not survive the winter as a result of the restriction on spectators announced from 1 October.

At next week’s Budget the Chancellor will set out the next phase in the Government’s economic support package to reflect the steps set out in the roadmap, clarifying the further support for individuals and businesses to reflect the changing public health restrictions.


Written Question
Arts: EU Countries
Thursday 25th February 2021

Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to support creative workers affected by barriers to work in the EU.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

The UK’s creative industries are the finest in the world and this government is determined to support them.

This Government understands that the cultural and creative sectors rely on the ability to move people across borders quickly, simply, and with minimal cost and administration. Touring is a vital part of musicians and performers’ careers, providing not only a vital income stream, but also enriching opportunities for cultural exchange across the world.

Being outside the European Union does not change this. It does, however, mean practical changes on both sides of the Channel that will require understanding and adaptation.

UK performers and artists are of course still able to tour and perform in the EU, and vice versa. However, we understand the concerns about the new arrangements and we are committed to supporting the sectors as they get to grips with the changes to systems and processes.

We are now working urgently across government and in collaboration with the music and wider creative industries, including through a new working group, to help address these issues so that touring in Europe can resume with ease as soon as it is safe to do so.


Written Question
Social Media: Disinformation and Radicalism
Monday 25th January 2021

Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with social media companies on the prevalence of misinformation, conspiracy theories and extremist material on their platforms.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

Ministers and officials have regular meetings with social media platforms on a range of topics, including misinformation, conspiracy theories and extremist material. Information about Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on the gov.uk website.