Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Prime Minister's broadcast announcement on Monday 23rd March 2020, what the Government's policy is on the voluntary sector and community support groups that wish to help vulnerable housebound and self-isolating people during the covid-19 epidemic; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by John Whittingdale
We are working closely with voluntary sector organisations to identify key partners to lead efforts and mobilise volunteers safely. The government launched the NHS Volunteer Responders programme yesterday, however, this is not intended to replace local groups helping their vulnerable neighbours but is an additional service.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure online platforms do not host sexual content which has not been consented to by people who feature in it.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Online Harms White Paper set out government’s plans to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users, enforced by an independent regulator. Companies will be required to take robust action to address harmful content and will be held to account for tackling a comprehensive set of online harms. Non-consensual sharing of private and sexual images, often known as “revenge pornography”, is in scope of these proposals. The regulator will have sufficient powers to take effective action against companies that breach regulatory requirements, including the power to levy substantial fines.
We are also making sure the criminal law is fit for purpose. The Law Commission is conducting a second phase of its review of abusive and offensive online communications. As part of this, the Law Commission will also look at the criminal law around the non-consensual taking and sharing of intimate images, and make recommendations to ensure that the law provides effective protection against the creation and sharing of intimate images without consent.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to help ensure online platforms remove sexual content which has not been consented to by those who have been filmed or photographed.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Online Harms White Paper set out government’s plans to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users, enforced by an independent regulator. Companies will be required to take robust action to address harmful content and will be held to account for tackling a comprehensive set of online harms. Non-consensual sharing of private and sexual images, often known as “revenge pornography”, is in scope of these proposals. The regulator will have sufficient powers to take effective action against companies that breach regulatory requirements, including the power to levy substantial fines.
We are also making sure the criminal law is fit for purpose. The Law Commission is conducting a second phase of its review of abusive and offensive online communications. As part of this, the Law Commission will also look at the criminal law around the non-consensual taking and sharing of intimate images, and make recommendations to ensure that the law provides effective protection against the creation and sharing of intimate images without consent.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to sanction online platforms which do not remove sexual content which has not been consented to by people who have been filmed or photographed.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Online Harms White Paper set out government’s plans to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users, enforced by an independent regulator. Companies will be required to take robust action to address harmful content and will be held to account for tackling a comprehensive set of online harms. Non-consensual sharing of private and sexual images, often known as “revenge pornography”, is in scope of these proposals. The regulator will have sufficient powers to take effective action against companies that breach regulatory requirements, including the power to levy substantial fines.
We are also making sure the criminal law is fit for purpose. The Law Commission is conducting a second phase of its review of abusive and offensive online communications. As part of this, the Law Commission will also look at the criminal law around the non-consensual taking and sharing of intimate images, and make recommendations to ensure that the law provides effective protection against the creation and sharing of intimate images without consent.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he will take to mitigate health risks to the public from increased EMF/RF radiation resulting from the roll-out of the 5G network.
Answered by Matt Warman
Exposure to radio waves is not new and health-related research has been conducted on this topic over several decades. Central to Public Health England’s advice are the guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The ICNIRP is formally recognised by the World Health Organisation and its guidelines underpin health protection policies at UK and European levels.
Provided the ICNIRP guidelines are followed, there is no convincing evidence that 5G is dangerous. Government continues to be guided by Public Health England’s advice on the matter. This states that while a small increase in overall exposure to radio waves under 5G is possible, such an increase would remain well within guidelines and can be expected to have no consequence on public health.
It is important to note that the ICNIRP guidelines apply up to 300 GHz, well beyond the maximum frequencies under discussion for 5G.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Minister of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to New Philanthropy Capital's report entitled Where are England’s charities?, published 16 January 2020, what steps he is taking to support an increase in (a) charities and (b) formal volunteering in the least affluent areas of England.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Civil Society is a vital part of our nation and continues to grow in importance - there are 6,000 more registered charities today than there were in 2010 and annual sector income has grown from £54 billion to £77 billion.
Government recognises the importance and value of civil society, which is why the Civil Society Strategy was published in 2018, setting out a long term vision of how the Government can work with and for civil society to benefit our communities.
The Department has noted New Philanthropy Capital’s report and the Minister for Civil Society, who sits in the House of Lords, will meet the report’s author and will discuss its findings.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Minister of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of New Philanthropy Capital's report entitled, Where are England’s charities?, published 16 January 2020.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Civil Society is a vital part of our nation and continues to grow in importance - there are 6,000 more registered charities today than there were in 2010 and annual sector income has grown from £54 billion to £77 billion.
Government recognises the importance and value of civil society, which is why the Civil Society Strategy was published in 2018, setting out a long term vision of how the Government can work with and for civil society to benefit our communities.
The Department has noted New Philanthropy Capital’s report and the Minister for Civil Society, who sits in the House of Lords, will meet the report’s author and will discuss its findings.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
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 the 2022 Commonwealth Games are economically sustainable.
Answered by Nigel Adams
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
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 the 2022 Commonwealth Games are environmentally sustainable.
Answered by Nigel Adams
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the use of loot boxes in online games aimed at children.
Answered by Jeremy Wright
Products, such as loot boxes, and other microtransactions in online games have to comply with consumer legislation which protects consumers of all ages from misleading and/or aggressive marketing. Consumers requiring advice should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/). Consumers living in Scotland should contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 (www.consumeradvice.scot/).
The government welcomed the introduction last year by the Video Standards Council Rating Board and PEGI (Pan European Game Information) of a new label for video games to warn parents where they include the potential to make in-game purchases such as loot boxes.
However, we are aware of concerns around loot boxes, and will continue to look closely at any evidence around this issue.