Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Sussex Weald)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of when superfast broadband coverage in Wealden constituency will reach (a) 90 and (b) 95 per cent.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Third party analysis by Think Broadband puts current superfast coverage in the constituency at 89.3%. Coverage is likely to increase further both as a result of the current Go eSussex project (http://www.goesussex.co.uk/) and a potential future project, for which an Invitation to Tender is expected to be issued shortly.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Sussex Weald)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many premises in Wealden constituency have access to superfast broadband through the Broadband Delivery UK scheme.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Over 16,000 premises within the constituency have received access to superfast broadband because of government intervention. A further 24,600 are able to connect as a result of commercially funded rollout.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Sussex Weald)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the progress update to the All-Party Parliamentary Group against Anti-Semitism Inquiry into the rise in the number of anti-Semitic incidents following the Gaza conflict in 2014, published by the Department for Communities and Local Government in December 2016, what the evidential basis is for the statement that there are clear ways to register complaints regarding media content.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The press self-regulators, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) and the Independent Monitor for the Press (IMPRESS) each have a clear process for making complaints regarding the publications they regulate. Information about IPSO's complaints process is available here: https://www.ipso.co.uk/make-a-complaint/. Information about IMPRESS's complaints process is available here: http://www.impress.press/complaints/.
Ofcom's process for complaints covers content on television, radio and on demand programme services. The Broadcasting code includes rules designed to protect viewers and listeners from harm and offence – such as what can be screened on TV before the 9pm watershed. Other areas of the Broadcasting Code address issues such as impartiality and accuracy, sponsorship and commercial references as well as fairness and privacy. Information about Ofcom's complaints process is available here https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/how-to-report-a-complaint
In addition, Government expects social media providers to have robust process in place and act promptly when abuse is reported. The UK has strict laws governing such content, which apply equally online and offline.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Sussex Weald)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing licences for the establishment and operation of social media companies.
Answered by Matt Hancock
We have made no assessment of licensing for social media platforms.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Sussex Weald)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department supports projects in football to tackle anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, homophobia and other forms of discrimination; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
There is no place for discrimination of any kind in sport, at any level. I receive regular updates on English football’s Inclusion & Anti-Discrimination Action Plan, which details the work undertaken by the football authorities, clubs, County Football Associations and campaign groups to tackle all forms of discrimination and ensure the game is open and welcoming to everyone at all levels.
We are fully appreciative of the efforts football and other sports have made over a number of years to tackle discrimination. For example football and rugby union bodies, including the Premier League, the Football Association, the English Football League, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Football Union, all supported Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign to show support for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, and transgender (LGB&T) players and fans, as part of which players and officials wore rainbow-coloured laces and armbands.
My Department is also supportive of the Home Office's recent work in partnership with Kick It Out to develop guidance on tackling anti-Muslim hatred and also on initiatives related to LGB&T hate crime. This was outlined in ‘Action Against Hate', the government’s plan for tackling hate crime, published in July 2016. It builds on Kick It Out's previous work with the Community Security Trust and Maccabi GB on reporting anti-Semitism in football through guidance to all professional clubs and managers of stadia.
Asked by: Nusrat Ghani (Conservative - Sussex Weald)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Home Affairs on proposals for a ministerial seminar on hate on the internet.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
DCMS officials will attend the cross-government hate crime delivery group meeting on 30 January. The development of the Ministerial seminar on hate crime on the internet will be one of the actions this group will take forward.