Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that casinos are not able to take advantage of gambling addicts.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Casinos like other licensed gambling operators must comply with provisions in the Gambling Commission’s licence conditions and codes of practice which are intended to protect children and vulnerable people from harm and exploitation. For instance, they must monitor play and intervene to protect a customer where there is risk of harm. Breaches of provisions in the Commission’s social responsibility code may lead it to review an operator’s licence with a view to suspension, revocation or the imposition of a financial penalty. Our Gambling Act Review is considering the powers and resources of the Commission as well as the wider regulatory framework, including around land-based gambling.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 discussions with representatives of telecommunication firms on preventing potential Russian interference in telecommunications networks.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, as the Lead government department for telecommunications, works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and with telecoms owners, operators and regulator to assess and promote the security and resilience of the sector. DCMS disseminates best practice guidance, products and policy advice to further enhance the sector's security and resilience.
The NCSC, as the UK’s technical authority on cyber, engages closely with the sector to ensure it is alert to any evolving threats, is aware of the support available from NCSC and is taking the necessary actions to strengthen security postures.
Recent legislation will also enable the government to protect our public telecoms networks and services against security threats, both now and for the future. The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 introduces a stronger security framework placing new security duties on public telecoms providers and new national security powers to address the risks posed by high risk vendors. The National Security and Investment Act 2021 protects the UK economy, including the telecoms sector, by giving the government powers to scrutinise and intervene in acquisitions which raise national security concerns by blocking or setting conditions where necessary.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to encourage sports students to continue with their sporting passions after they leave education.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Sports and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health and all generations and communities should be able to enjoy the health, wellbeing, social and other benefits of being active.
Since the government launched its sports strategy, Sporting Future in 2015, Sport England has allocated over £1.5 billion to nearly 5,000 grassroots organisations across the UK to support everyone to continue to participate in sport and physical activity.
The Government also funds the Diploma in Sporting Excellence, a unique qualification that allows student athletes to combine sport and education, so that they have the skills, knowledge and qualifications to pursue a dual career in high level sport alongside separate paid employment in the future.
Through this work we will continue to provide opportunities for sports students to continue with their sporting passions after they leave education.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with the devolved Administrations to promote and enhance access to historical and heritage assets across the UK.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK Government is committed to promoting and enhancing access to historical and heritage assets across the UK. My Department has regular discussions at an official and ministerial level with the devolved administrations and other bodies and organisations across the UK about heritage matters.
In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, heritage policy is devolved however the DA’s work closely with the UK Government on matters of mutual interest and on international issues relating to heritage. We work closely with the devolved administrations on stewardship of our UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the recent addition of Gracehill Moravian Church in County Antrim to the UK's tentative list.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure that swimming pools and leisure facilities have adequate disabled access.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government recognises there are barriers which exist and prevent some people from participating in sport and physical activity, including access to facilities. We want to continue to do all that we can to tackle these.
We continue to work with our arm’s length bodies, Sport England and UK Sport, and sector partners to encourage sport bodies to make sport and facilities more accessible. Sport England's new ten year strategy 'Uniting the Movement' reinforces their commitment to increasing participation in sport and physical activity for those from under-represented groups, including disabled people.
Sport England is also developing a new plan called ‘Accessible and Inclusive Sports Facilities’ and that will be published this year.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to promote staycations to support the tourism sector.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government is committed to supporting the recovery of the UK’s tourism industry and promoting domestic tourism. The Tourism Recovery Plan, published in June 2021, sets out a comprehensive framework for rebuilding the sector.
The plan set out ambitious and stretching targets, which were at least a year faster than independent forecast predictions, in which to recover domestic tourism to pre pandemic levels. A target of 99 million overnight trips and spend of £19 billion by the end of 2022 was set, as well as aiming to return inbound visitor volume to return to 41 million and £28 billion spend by the end of 2023.
The TRP also announced plans for a new rail pass, which we hope to launch this year, to help make it easier and more sustainable for domestic tourists to get around Scotland, England, and Wales.
The National Lottery Days Out Campaign offers people the chance to redeem a lottery ticket for a £25 voucher for attractions around the whole of the UK. The campaign is designed to support domestic tourism by stimulating off-season demand from domestic day trips. As of 21 March, 187,117 vouchers have been redeemed. This campaign ends on 31 March.
2022 also promises a host of unmissable events, including Her Majesty’s Jubilee, with a programme of events over the extended Jubilee Bank holiday; Unboxed, which aims to engage millions of people through in person and digital events; as well as the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will drive visitors to the region.