Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to coordinate additional support for and recognition of the importance to modern British culture of the video games industry from (a) the BFI, (b) Arts Council of England and (c) other public agencies.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
This Government recognises the cultural value of video games and the importance of the industry to the UK economy. The games sector is particularly well placed to deliverfurther prosperity in the regions and help increase UK exports. The creation of a video games archive and additional support for video games from public agencies were proposed in the recent industry report, A Blueprint for Growth.It also highlighted the contribution video games make to British culture and our economy, as well as the potential for further growth. We are currently reviewing the evidence in the report, its various recommendations and any implications for our future policies.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations his Department has received on including art and design within the curriculum for STEM subjects.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Department works closely with the Department for Education and Arts Council England to increase access to music and cultural education for every child. This Government has ensured that art and design remain core subjects that must be taught in Key Stages 1-3 as part of the National Curriculum.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he plans to take to ensure that high-speed broadband provision can meet the likely demand for such provision by 2020 of creative and digital companies in geographic clusters.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
This Government recognises the need for creative and digital companies to have access to have access to high-speed broadband, wherever in the UK they are located. The Government’s Superfast Broadband Programme is on track to deliver superfast broadband coverage to 95 per cent of UK premises by the end of 2017.Inaddition we are supporting seven pilot projects to explore ways to extend superfast broadband beyond 95 per cent of UK homes and businesses. The Government will also launch a public consultation early next year in preparation for the implementation of a new broadband USO by 2020, with the ambition to give people the legal right to request a connection to broadband with speeds of 10 Mbps,nomatterwherein the countrytheylive.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the average length of a consultation period is in his Department.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
DCMS consults in line with Government’s Consultation Principles, which can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consultation-principles-guidance.As outlined in the guidelines, the amount of time required to consult will depend on the nature and impact of the proposal, and might typically vary between two and 12 weeks.It confirms that there is no set formula for the consultation length, and that this must be assessed on a case-by-case basis depending on the subject.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Consumer Rights Act 2015, when he expects the review into the secondary ticketing market to (a) commence and (b) report its findings.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Government is currently considering who should chair the Review, who should assist them and the finalised terms of reference and will make an announcement on commencement shortly. The Review will report its findings before 26 May 2016.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Consumer Rights Act 2015, what the (a) terms of reference, (b) composition of membership and (c) timescale is of the review into the secondary ticketing market.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Government is currently considering who should chair the Review, who should assist them and the finalised terms of reference and will make an announcement on commencement shortly. The Review will report its findings before 26 May 2016.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the review of measures relating to secondary ticketing that is to be established under section 94 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, when he plans to announce the (a) identity of the Chair and other members, (b) scope and (c) timetable of that review.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
My Department is working with the Department for Business (BIS) regarding the commencement of the statutory review of the consumer protection measures in the online secondary ticketing market. The review will be given an appropriate amount of time to conclude with its findings being published within a year of commencement of the relevant aspects of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and be presented to Parliament. The review leadership will be announced in due course and it will be funded and resourced jointly between BIS and DCMS.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what process he plans to adopt for the selection of a Chair and members of the review of measures relating to secondary ticketing that will be established under the provisions of section 94 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
My Department is working with the Department for Business (BIS) regarding the commencement of the statutory review of the consumer protection measures in the online secondary ticketing market. The review will be given an appropriate amount of time to conclude with its findings being published within a year of commencement of the relevant aspects of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and be presented to Parliament. The review leadership will be announced in due course and it will be funded and resourced jointly between BIS and DCMS.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many members of his Department's executive board are (a) white British and (b) from any other ethnic background.
Answered by Helen Grant - Shadow Solicitor General
The DCMS Executive Board has 7 white British members and 1 from any other ethnic background.
Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Gateshead South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many members of his Department's executive board are disabled.
Answered by Helen Grant - Shadow Solicitor General
No members of the DCMS Executive Board are disabled.