Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that the Public Lending Right will be extended to e-book loans in time for the planned implementation date of 1 July.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Section 31 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA 2017), when commenced, will extend the Public Lending Right (PLR) to include the remote lending of e-books and audiobooks, where such lending takes place away from library premises. The Department is currently consulting with interested parties about amending relevant secondary legislation to ensure that it reflects section 31 of the DEA 2017. We intend to lay the necessary statutory instruments to amend relevant secondary legislation as soon as is practicable, following consideration of the responses to consultation.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to lay statutory instruments before Parliament to extend the Public Lending Right to e-book loans.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Section 31 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA 2017), when commenced, will extend the Public Lending Right (PLR) to include the remote lending of e-books and audiobooks, where such lending takes place away from library premises. The Department is currently consulting with interested parties about amending relevant secondary legislation to ensure that it reflects section 31 of the DEA 2017. We intend to lay the necessary statutory instruments to amend relevant secondary legislation as soon as is practicable, following consideration of the responses to consultation.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish an equivalent, domestic, mechanism to Article 7 of the EU's Electronic Communications Framework Directive (2002/21/EC) to provide oversight of Ofcom's decisions.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Government will ensure that the legislative framework for electronic communications in place after exit day will continue to provide an appropriate level of regulatory control that balances the needs of industry and consumers. We will announce our plans regarding the Article 7 process in due course.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to update the regulation of the electronic communications sector in a manner which will avoid imposing additional complexity on British companies trading across Europe after Brexit; and whether those plans are dependent on whether the EU Electronic Communications Code is implemented during the transition period after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
We will ensure that regulation of the electronic communications sector remains fit for purpose and avoids any unnecessary complexity for business and consumers. Those objectives are not dependent on the implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code, although we will of course adhere to the applicable legal framework at all times.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to remain fully aligned throughout the transition period with the EU Electronic Communications Code in the event that implementation of that Code is delayed until after the European Union (Withdrawal) Act comes into force.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) is still under negotiation. We anticipate that it is likely to be adopted by the EU this year. It is not yet clear how long the transposition period will be, but we anticipate that the deadline for transposition will be after EU Exit but during the expected post-Exit Implementation Period. As the terms of the Implementation Period have been agreed, common rules will remain in place until the end of the period.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to announce the dates for digital television transmitter changes that will take place after 2018.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Government will announce the schedule at an appropriate time before the changes take place.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Ofcom about whether the future auction proceeds generated by the 700 MHz clearance were considered when designing the funding scheme for users of Programme Making and Special Events equipment displaced by the 700 MHz clearance.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Up to £55m of funding will be available to help support the programme making and special events sectors impacted by the 700MHz spectrum clearance programme. This is part of the funding envelope for the 700MHz clearance programme to achieve the benefits associated with the spectrum clearance, independent of potential auction receipts.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Ofcom about the non-equipment costs of Programme Making and Special Events equipment users clearing the 700 MHz band.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Ofcom issued a consultation on a Help Scheme for PMSE last year. Ofcom has reviewed responses to the consultation and will be publishing its Statement in due course. Ofcom have provided advice to Government on the proposed scheme and the details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out in the forthcoming Statement.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Ofcom about the impact of the 700 MHz clearance on Programme Making and Special Events equipment operating below 694 MHz.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Ofcom issued a consultation on a Help Scheme for PMSE last year. Ofcom has reviewed responses to the consultation and will be publishing its Statement in due course. Ofcom have provided advice to Government on the proposed scheme and the details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out in the forthcoming Statement.
Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Ofcom about why the draft funding scheme for users of Programme Making and Special Events equipment displaced by the 700 MHz clearance does not cover non-equipment clearance related costs.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Ofcom issued a consultation on a Help Scheme for PMSE last year. Ofcom has reviewed responses to the consultation and will be publishing its Statement in due course. Ofcom have provided advice to Government on the proposed scheme and the details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, will be set out in the forthcoming Statement.