Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress her Department has made on responding to the report entitled Raising the bar: reframing the opportunity in women's football, published on 13 July 2023.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Independent Review of Women’s Football, published earlier this year, made ten strategic recommendations which would lift minimum standards of women’s football, delivering bold and sustainable growth at elite and grassroots levels. The Government is due to publish its response to the Review before the end of the year.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 July 2023 to Question 191885 on Sportsgrounds: Rubber, whether her Department has made an assessment of a potential variation of approach in addressing safety concerns for 3G pitches with rubber crumb in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in line with European Committee for Standardisation recommendations.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The government takes seriously concerns regarding Artificial Grass Pitches (AGPs), specifically the presence of rubber infill. Following the UK’s exit from the EU, the regulatory framework for these matters now sits at a UK level (except for Northern Ireland, which will continue to follow EU REACH requirements).
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) commissioned an evidence project, under the UK REACH 2022/23 Work Programme, on intentionally added microplastics, including rubber infill. This will assess any risks they pose, and will inform any future regulatory actions in the UK.
The sports councils across the UK (Sport England, Sport Wales, sportscotland, Sport NI) are working together with leading sport bodies and respective governments to appropriately manage the transition away from rubber infill, and to identify suitable alternatives. The Group's latest statement on the issue can be viewed here.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will hold discussions with the Director General of the BBC on the adequacy of the BBC's transparency practices for publishing relevant BBC-related outside earnings of senior BBC presenters.
Answered by John Whittingdale
As a public service broadcaster, the Government expects the BBC to be as open and transparent as possible.
Since the beginning of 2021, the BBC has published a quarterly summary of the paid-for external events undertaken by on-air staff in journalism and senior leaders.
The BBC’s external events register can be seen here.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Answered by John Whittingdale
His Majesty’s Government is fully committed to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in the UK.
As with any international treaty, ratification of UNESCO Conventions should be considered fully, including assessing their adequacy and value for money to the UK taxpayer. This process is making good progress, and ministers expect to take a decision on the merits of ratification soon.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her policy is on the future of digital terrestrial television.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government remains committed to the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT), the technology which underpins Freeview. Millions of households across the UK rely on digital terrestrial television, particularly rural communities and older people.
We also recognise the crucial role that digital terrestrial television services play in the wider UK broadcasting system, in particular in helping ensure that public service content continues to be widely available free-to-air to all audiences.
For these reasons, the Government has legislated to secure continuity of digital terrestrial television until at least 2034.
As the sector evolves, it is right that we continue to evaluate the future distribution of television services. To that end, and as set out in the Broadcasting White Paper, the Government has asked Ofcom to continue to track changes in DTT viewing and to undertake an early review on market changes that may affect the future of content distribution before the end of 2025.
Before any decisions about the future of terrestrial television are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on DTT as their primary means of watching television.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which regulatory bodies have responsibility for safety issues for 3G pitches with rubber crumb in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The safety of pitches, whether they feature rubber in-fill or not, is the responsibility of individual field owners and operators and those designing, building and maintaining 3G pitches. They have a duty of care to ensure their pitch does not create unnecessary risks to players, match officials and those undertaking maintenance.
A number of governing bodies, including FIFA, World Rugby and the International Hockey Federation (FIH), have included recommendations from the European Committee for Standardisation into their certification programmes for artificial grass pitches, and the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) provides guidance on developing and managing sport construction projects and facilities.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to accede to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Government is fully committed to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in the UK.
As with any international treaty, UK ratification of UNESCO Conventions should be considered fully, taking into account value for money to the UK taxpayer and the interests of both the Devolved Administrations and our Overseas Territories. When this process has been completed, Ministers will take a decision on the merits of ratification.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the average proportion of homes and business that have high speed broadband availability in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The vast majority of the United Kingdom (96.7%) has access to superfast broadband. Superfast broadband allows households to work or learn from home and stream a high definition film simultaneously. Additionally, the government is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity as soon as possible. Today, over 66% of premises can access gigabit-capable networks, up from just one in ten in November 2019. By 2025 the government is targeting a minimum of 85% gigabit-capable coverage.
According to ThinkBroadband, as of 21/03/2022 coverage statistics were as follows:
England - (Superfast 97.5%) and (Gigabit 67.9%)
Scotland - (Superfast 94.9%) and (Gigabit 60.8%)
Wales- (Superfast 96%) and (Gigabit 49%)
Northern Ireland - (Superfast 91.5%) and (Gigabit 82.3%)