Asked by: Paul Farrelly (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will set out the timetable for extending the public lending right to e-book loans.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Digital Economy Act 2010 extended the Public Lending Right (PLR), with effect from 1 July 2014, to include the lending of audio-books and the lending of e-books where such lending takes place from library premises. The Government response to the consultation on extending the PLR to include public library loans of audio-books and ‘on-site’ e-book loans was published in May 2014.
Section 31 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA 2017), when commenced, will extend the PLR to include the remote lending of e-books and audiobooks, where such lending takes place away from library premises. The Department intends to shortly consult 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 commencing section 31 of the DEA 2017 and amending relevant secondary legislation as soon as is practicable, following consideration of the responses to consultation.
Asked by: Paul Farrelly (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on the extension of the public lending right to e-book loans.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Digital Economy Act 2010 extended the Public Lending Right (PLR), with effect from 1 July 2014, to include the lending of audio-books and the lending of e-books where such lending takes place from library premises. The Government response to the consultation on extending the PLR to include public library loans of audio-books and ‘on-site’ e-book loans was published in May 2014.
Section 31 of the Digital Economy Act 2017 (DEA 2017), when commenced, will extend the PLR to include the remote lending of e-books and audiobooks, where such lending takes place away from library premises. The Department intends to shortly consult 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 commencing section 31 of the DEA 2017 and amending relevant secondary legislation as soon as is practicable, following consideration of the responses to consultation.
Asked by: Paul Farrelly (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will ensure that the forthcoming Consumer Green Paper sets out provisions to ensure that broadband exit fees are charged at a rate that is fair to consumers.
Answered by Margot James
The Consumer Green Paper was published on 11 April. It seeks views on how to ensure that modern consumer markets work for all, both now and in the future, including in the telecoms sector. Government will consider the responses to the Consumer Green Paper and, working with independent regulators including Ofcom, will publish a response detailing how they plan to further protect customers.
Currently, contracts entered into on or after 1 October 2015 are covered by the unfair terms in consumer contracts protections in the Consumer Rights Act 2015. There are also protections under Ofcom rules (GC9.3) to ensure that conditions or procedures for contract termination do not act as a disincentive against changing provider. Additionally, Ofcom has the power to investigate communication providers' compliance and have an open enforcement programme on early termination charges: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/bulletins/competition-bulletins/open-cases/cw_01199.
Asked by: Paul Farrelly (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what involvement her Department has had in the preparation of a sectoral impact assessment into the effect of leaving the EU on (a) advertising and marketing, (b) architecture, (c) broadcasting, (d) crafts, (e) design, (f) gambling, (g) museums, galleries and libraries, (h) music, performing and visual arts, (i) publishing and (j) tourism.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Government are responsibly preparing for a range of outcomes to ensure we have a smooth exit from the EU. The Government is engaging with businesses in every sector and region of the UK economy in order to understand the challenges and opportunities that may impact them in the coming months and years.
Asked by: Paul Farrelly (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he is seeking the advice of Ofcom on Trinity Mirror's purchase of Local World and the implications of that purchase for plurality in provision of local news.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
At the present time the Department has not formally sought the views of Ofcom on this matter.
Asked by: Paul Farrelly (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what meetings he has had with representatives of (a) Sky plc and (b) 21st Century Fox since 7 May 2015.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Information on Ministers' meetings with external organisations, including meetings with Media organisations, are included in the quarterly transparency returns.