Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
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 number of (a) elderly people and (b) people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to covid-19 who do not have access to (i) a smart phone and (ii) secure broadband; and what steps he is taking to reduce levels of digital exclusion among those groups.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Estimates based on Ofcom data suggest that between 4,920,000 - 5,780,000 people aged 70+ do not personally use a smartphone. Between 2,390,000 - 3,220,000 people aged 70+ do not have household access to connected devices. We do not have robust data on the digital access of people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to covid-19 and we are seeking to improve our understanding of this issue.
In March, the government agreed a set of voluntary commitments with telecommunications providers to support and protect vulnerable consumers and those who might become vulnerable as a result of Covid-19. This included a commitment to work with customers who are finding it difficult to pay their bills to ensure that they are treated fairly and appropriately supported. The Government also brokered a deal with providers which have allowed half a million NHS staff to benefit from better connectivity, and also ensured that a number of websites, including the NHS website, are zero-rated.
The introduction of the digital entitlement means that from August 2020, adults with no or low digital skills can undertake new digital skills qualifications up to Level 1 free of charge. The Government also supports the Future Digital Inclusion programme focussing on those hardest to reach. Since 2014, the programme has helped over 1.4 million people to gain the digital skills they need for life and work.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
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 has taken to ensure that (a) voluntary and (b) community sector organisations have access to the resources they need to adapt to distanced delivery during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government has made available an unprecedented £750 million package of support, specifically for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE). This funding supports charities to adapt and enhance the delivery of vital services during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Similarly, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Loan Interruption Scheme and Bounce Back Loans help VCSE organisations adapt their services in response to the challenges caused by the Covid-19 outbreak
Furthermore, the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 allows many VCSE organisations to hold Annual General Meetings and other members’ meetings online until 30 December which provides them with the flexibility to continue operating at a distance.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to (a) publish a long-term, costed strategy on closing the digital divide and (b) make that strategy available for consultation.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
I announced last month that the government will be publishing a new digital strategy in the Autumn that reflects the new post-COVID reality. This will focus on growth and using tech to power us out of the recession, to drive productivity and to create jobs in all parts of our economy.
For the aspirations of this strategy to be delivered successfully, we recognise people will need the capability and confidence to get the most out of an increasingly digital world, and we welcome ideas for the strategy from stakeholders.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to tackle online (a) direct or indirect threats of physical or sexual violence against women, (b) targeted harassment of women and (c) privacy violations of women.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Online Harms White Paper sets out our plans to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users, overseen by an independent regulator. Companies will be held to account for tackling harms occurring on their platforms, including hate crime, harassment and cyberstalking.
The Law Commission is also to conducting a second phase of its review of the legal framework around abusive and offensive communications online. This will include considering whether co-ordinated harassment by groups of people online could be more effectively dealt with by the criminal law. The review will make specific recommendations for legal reform and is due to report in early 2021.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
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 (a) tackle and (b) protect victims of online (i) racist, (ii) transphobic and (iii) homophobic abuse.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Online Harms White Paper sets out our plans to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users, overseen by an independent regulator. Companies will be held to account for tackling harms occurring on their platforms, including hate crime.
The Law Commission is also conducting a second phase of its review of the legal framework around abusive and offensive communications online. This will include considering whether co-ordinated harassment by groups of people online could be more effectively dealt with by the criminal law. The review will make specific recommendations for legal reform and is due to report in early 2021.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
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 cost to the public purse of employment tribunal decision, Ms A Braine and others v The National Gallery: 2201625/2018.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Following the decision of the Employment Tribunal, the National Gallery paid a total of £158,000 (inclusive of VAT) in backdated holiday pay to those individuals who were found by the Tribunal to have had ‘worker’ status while providing education services for the Gallery.
In common with all publicly funded cultural institutions, the National Gallery operates independently and at arm’s length from Government. Arm’s Length Bodies are required to adhere to all relevant employment law, but their individual staffing structures and contractual arrangements are decisions to be taken solely by the gallery’s executive and trustees.
I understand, however, that the National Gallery disputes the way in which aspects of this case have been characterised, including the notion that the employment tribunal was a test case for the ‘gig economy’ in the arts. More broadly, the 2017 Mendoza Review of Museums in England considered in detail the nature of employment in the museums sector; the Review Team found no evidence of widespread poor practice or insecure employment in the museums sector.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
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 extent of (a) poor employment practice and (b) insecure work at publicly funded cultural institutions.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Following the decision of the Employment Tribunal, the National Gallery paid a total of £158,000 (inclusive of VAT) in backdated holiday pay to those individuals who were found by the Tribunal to have had ‘worker’ status while providing education services for the Gallery.
In common with all publicly funded cultural institutions, the National Gallery operates independently and at arm’s length from Government. Arm’s Length Bodies are required to adhere to all relevant employment law, but their individual staffing structures and contractual arrangements are decisions to be taken solely by the gallery’s executive and trustees.
I understand, however, that the National Gallery disputes the way in which aspects of this case have been characterised, including the notion that the employment tribunal was a test case for the ‘gig economy’ in the arts. More broadly, the 2017 Mendoza Review of Museums in England considered in detail the nature of employment in the museums sector; the Review Team found no evidence of widespread poor practice or insecure employment in the museums sector.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
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 employment tribunal decision, Ms A Braine and others v The National Gallery: 2201625/2018 on other publicly-funded cultural institutions.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Following the decision of the Employment Tribunal, the National Gallery paid a total of £158,000 (inclusive of VAT) in backdated holiday pay to those individuals who were found by the Tribunal to have had ‘worker’ status while providing education services for the Gallery.
In common with all publicly funded cultural institutions, the National Gallery operates independently and at arm’s length from Government. Arm’s Length Bodies are required to adhere to all relevant employment law, but their individual staffing structures and contractual arrangements are decisions to be taken solely by the gallery’s executive and trustees.
I understand, however, that the National Gallery disputes the way in which aspects of this case have been characterised, including the notion that the employment tribunal was a test case for the ‘gig economy’ in the arts. More broadly, the 2017 Mendoza Review of Museums in England considered in detail the nature of employment in the museums sector; the Review Team found no evidence of widespread poor practice or insecure employment in the museums sector.
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
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 tackle (a) reports of poor employment practices, (b) insecure work and (c) the gig economy within publicly-funded cultural institutions.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Following the decision of the Employment Tribunal, the National Gallery paid a total of £158,000 (inclusive of VAT) in backdated holiday pay to those individuals who were found by the Tribunal to have had ‘worker’ status while providing education services for the Gallery.
In common with all publicly funded cultural institutions, the National Gallery operates independently and at arm’s length from Government. Arm’s Length Bodies are required to adhere to all relevant employment law, but their individual staffing structures and contractual arrangements are decisions to be taken solely by the gallery’s executive and trustees.
I understand, however, that the National Gallery disputes the way in which aspects of this case have been characterised, including the notion that the employment tribunal was a test case for the ‘gig economy’ in the arts. More broadly, the 2017 Mendoza Review of Museums in England considered in detail the nature of employment in the museums sector; the Review Team found no evidence of widespread poor practice or insecure employment in the museums sector.