Asked by: Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op) - Manchester Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Government's publication A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation, published on 29 March 2023, how much and what proportion of the budget of each regulator in their Department was spent on regulation of artificial intelligence in the latest period for which information is available; how many staff in each regulator worked (a) wholly and (b) partly on those issues in the latest period for which information is available; and whether those regulators plan to increase resources for their work on artificial intelligence.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regulation White Paper emphasised the importance of ensuring that UK regulators and public bodies have the capacity, expertise, and capabilities to implement the Government's pro-innovation approach whilst recognising and understanding the risks.
We are continuing to engage with regulators across the wider landscape to understand the organisational capacity needed to regulate AI effectively, which will inform our work to develop policy options.
However, due to difficulties in accurately disaggregating 'AI resource', we are not in a position to provide figures on the proportion of budget spent and staff working on AI regulation.
Asked by: Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op) - Manchester Central)
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 potential impact of Ofcom’s proposed revisions to rules on the quantity and scheduling of television advertising on public service channels on the (a) number and (b) diversity of television channels.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Ofcom has a statutory duty to maintain standards in broadcast advertising, working in a co-regulatory partnership with the Advertising Standards Authority. Ofcom also has general duties under the Communications Act 2003 in relation to audience impact, including the plurality and diversity of television services.
This is therefore a matter for Ofcom as the independent regulator that administers the Code on the scheduling of television advertising.
Ofcom's consultation on proposed revisions to the rules governing the quantity and scheduling of television advertising on public service broadcasting channels was announced on 19 April and closed on 31 May. In their consultation document, Ofcom set out how it considers its proposals fit with its duties under the Communications Act 2003. Ofcom will publish their final decision after they have considered the responses and evidence, including on the impacts to audiences, as well as Public Service Broadcasters and other broadcasters.
Asked by: Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op) - Manchester Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how funding his Department allocated to sport and recreation facilities in each year for which records are available.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Supporting grassroots sport is a key Government priority. We recognise that taking part in sport brings communities together and contributes to making people both happier and healthier.
The majority of funding to grassroots sports projects is delivered through our Arms Length Body, Sport England. Last year, Sport England received almost £350 million from the Exchequer and National Lottery.
The Government also invests £18 million a year into community sport facilities via the Football Foundation, alongside the English Football Association and the Premier League. We have committed an additional £230 million UK-wide between 2021 and 2025 to increase participation, particularly for under-represented groups including women and girls and disabled players.
Sport England’s most recent annual report and set of accounts can be found here- https://www.sportengland.org/corporate-information/annual-report.
Asked by: Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op) - Manchester Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of a potential merger between Three and Vodafone on staff of those companies.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
In October 2022, Vodafone and Three announced that they were in talks to merge their UK businesses.
It is the statutory responsibility of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to review mergers under the Enterprise Act 2002 with input from relevant sector regulators, in this case, it would be Ofcom. The Government has no role in the merger review or decision.
On 10 January 2023, I met Ofcom Chairman Lord Grade and one of the topics discussed was Ofcom’s view on the number of mobile operators in the market.
Asked by: Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op) - Manchester Central)
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 Ofcom on the impact of a potential merger between Three and Vodafone on regulation in the telecoms market.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
In October 2022, Vodafone and Three announced that they were in talks to merge their UK businesses.
It is the statutory responsibility of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to review mergers under the Enterprise Act 2002 with input from relevant sector regulators, in this case, it would be Ofcom. The Government has no role in the merger review or decision.
On 10 January 2023, I met Ofcom Chairman Lord Grade and one of the topics discussed was Ofcom’s view on the number of mobile operators in the market.
Asked by: Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op) - Manchester Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of a potential merger between Three and Vodafone on (a) prices and (b) consumer choice.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
In October 2022, Vodafone and Three announced that they were in talks to merge their UK businesses.
It is the statutory responsibility of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to review mergers under the Enterprise Act 2002 with input from relevant sector regulators, in this case, it would be Ofcom. The Government has no role in the merger review or decision.
On 10 January 2023, I met Ofcom Chairman Lord Grade and one of the topics discussed was Ofcom’s view on the number of mobile operators in the market.
Asked by: Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op) - Manchester Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much from the public purse her Department has spent on (a) staff activity, (b) external research and advice, (c) public consultation and (d) stakeholder engagement on the Fan-Led Review of Football Governance and associated proposed legislation since April 2021.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Figures on DCMS’s public spending can be found in DCMS’s Annual Report and Accounts, available on GOV.UK. Spending on the Fan Led Review and associated proposed legislation is a subset of the reported spend of the Sport, Gambling and Ceremonials Directorate.
Asked by: Lucy Powell (Labour (Co-op) - Manchester Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff work as part of the Digital Markets Unit at the Competition and Markets Authority; and what proportion that is of the total number of Authority staff.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) currently has around 70 employees working in the Digital Markets Unit (DMU). The CMA currently has a total headcount of 960 individuals across all roles and functions.