Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
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 needs of rural communities in her Department’s review of the future of TV distribution; and whether Ofcom plans to conduct a similar review.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government’s recently launched research and engagement programme will look at how UK audiences, including those in rural communities, will get their TV in the decades to come, across digital terrestrial television (DTT), satellite, cable, and online.
Before any decisions about the future of TV distribution are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on DTT as their primary means of watching television.
Ofcom is the UK’s independent broadcasting regulator, and it is for Ofcom to determine the scope of their work. However, as set out in the Broadcasting White Paper, the Government asked Ofcom to continue to track changes in DTT viewing and to undertake an early review on market changes that may affect the future of content distribution before the end of 2025. To that end, Ofcom recently published a call for evidence on the future of TV distribution, which includes how audience trends are changing and how the use of TV platforms varies between different demographics.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
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 public service value of (a) broadcast TV and (b) radio service for those living in rural communities with minimal access to broadband.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government remains committed to the future of free-to-air TV and radio services. Millions of households across the UK rely on these services, particularly those living in rural communities. We also recognise the crucial role that free-to-air television and radio services play in the wider UK broadcasting system, in particular in helping ensure that public service content continues to be widely available and free-to-air to all audiences.
The Government has recently launched a major research and engagement programme looking at how UK audiences will get their TV in the decades to come, including digital terrestrial television (DTT), satellite, cable, and online.
Before any decisions about the future of terrestrial television are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on DTT as their primary means of watching television.
Currently, over 97% of premises across the UK have access to a superfast connection (>=30 Mbps), which in many cases is likely to be sufficient for audiences wishing to watch or listen online. In addition, by 2025, the Government’s target is to have at least 85% gigabit-capable broadband coverage, and to achieve nationwide coverage (99%+) as soon as possible thereafter, and by 2030. As of November 2023, over 78% of UK premises can now access gigabit-capable broadband, which represents significant progress since January 2019, when coverage was just 6%.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
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 value of broadcast services for individuals living in areas with limited broadband connections.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government remains committed to the future of free-to-air TV and radio services. Millions of households across the UK rely on these services, particularly those living in rural communities. We also recognise the crucial role that free-to-air television and radio services play in the wider UK broadcasting system, in particular in helping ensure that public service content continues to be widely available and free-to-air to all audiences.
The Government has recently launched a major research and engagement programme looking at how UK audiences will get their TV in the decades to come, including digital terrestrial television (DTT), satellite, cable, and online.
Before any decisions about the future of terrestrial television are made, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on DTT as their primary means of watching television.
Currently, over 97% of premises across the UK have access to a superfast connection (>=30 Mbps), which in many cases is likely to be sufficient for audiences wishing to watch or listen online. In addition, by 2025, the Government’s target is to have at least 85% gigabit-capable broadband coverage, and to achieve nationwide coverage (99%+) as soon as possible thereafter, and by 2030. As of November 2023, over 78% of UK premises can now access gigabit-capable broadband, which represents significant progress since January 2019, when coverage was just 6%.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2021 to Question 71465, on National Lottery, if he will provide a breakdown by region of the 222 National Lottery retailers that only sell National Lottery scratchcards and do not sell tickets for draw based games.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Gambling Commission have provided the following information showing retailers across different regions that only sell National Lottery scratchcards and do not sell tickets for draw based games. These retailers are spread throughout the different regions of the UK.
Following on from the previously mentioned PQ, Question 71465 answered on 15 November 2021, the number of retailers selling only National Lottery scratchcards has decreased by one as one of the stores is no longer active, meaning the total number in the table below is 221.
Region | Active stores |
East Coast of Scotland & Northeast England | 8 |
West Coast of Scotland & Northern Ireland | 11 |
Lake District, North Lancashire, West Yorkshire | 25 |
East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, East Midlands | 30 |
M62 Corridor, Yorkshire to Liverpool (including Manchester | 18 |
West Midlands & North Wales | 18 |
East Anglia | 12 |
Home Counties (Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire) | 15 |
M4 Corridor (Bristol to London) | 21 |
London | 18 |
South Coast | 22 |
South West, South Wales | 23 |
| Total of 221 |
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many of the National Lottery’s 44,000 retail partners are required under their retailer agreement to sell (a) both draw based tickets and instant win tickets, (b) only instant win tickets and (c) only draw based game tickets.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The vast majority of National Lottery retailers sell both draw based games and scratchcards. Currently, 1,931 sell only draw based games and 222 sell only scratchcards.
The Retailer Agreement which is entered into between individual retailers and the current operator of the National Lottery does not stipulate that particular categories of National Lottery products must be sold.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many of the National Lottery’s 44,000 retail partners sell (a) both draw based tickets and instant win tickets, (b) only instant win tickets and (c) only draw based game tickets.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The vast majority of National Lottery retailers sell both draw based games and scratchcards. Currently, 1,931 sell only draw based games and 222 sell only scratchcards.
The Retailer Agreement which is entered into between individual retailers and the current operator of the National Lottery does not stipulate that particular categories of National Lottery products must be sold.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2021 to Question 59963 on Channel Four Television, whether her Department has made an estimate of the annual value of the (a) intellectual property and (b) exports generated for independent producers by working with Channel 4.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The government has not decided to sell Channel 4, or how Channel 4 may be sold.
We have consulted on the best ownership model to support Channel 4 into the future. Our public consultation closed on 14 September. The government's view on policy choices, including the publisher-broadcaster model, will be informed by the consultation responses, which we are still analysing.
Whatever decision is made about Channel 4’s ownership model, any reforms will not compromise our commitment to the independent production sector or the wider creative economy.
If we were to decide to proceed with a sale, as with the sale of any government asset, it would need to meet stringent scrutiny processes to ensure value for money is achieved for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October 2021 to Question 59963 on Channel 4, what estimate she has made of the transfer of value if Channel 4 moves from a publicly owned not-for-profit body to a privatised broadcaster if the publisher-broadcaster model is removed.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Channel 4 has played an important role in supporting independent production in the UK. The sector is now flourishing and increasingly less reliant on income from UK Public Service Broadcasters. Independent production has grown exponentially from an estimated worth of £850 million in 2003 to in excess of £3 billion in 2019, driven in particular by the boom in international revenues with 158% growth between 2014 and 2019. In 2014, international revenue accounted for 19% of total producer revenue, whereas in 2019 it accounted for 38%.
We have consulted on the best ownership model to support Channel 4 for years to come. We are carefully considering the views and evidence we have received to inform the government’s policy-making and final decision. Whatever decision we make will not compromise this government’s commitment to the independent production sector.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate her Department has made of the annual value of the intellectual property and exports generated for independent producers by working with Channel 4.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Channel 4 has played an important role in supporting independent production in the UK. The government has been clear that we want Channel 4 to remain a public service broadcaster, with obligations and benefits similar to those all public service broadcasters have - including those PSBs that are currently privately-owned broadcasters - if there is a change of ownership.
We are clear that Channel 4’s public service remit, and its strengths in working with independent producers are precisely the strengths we would expect to be attractive to a buyer, and that we would expect any buyer to be likely to nurture and develop through new investment.
We have consulted on a potential change of ownership of Channel 4. Our public consultation closed on 14 September. We are carefully considering the views and evidence we have received to inform the government’s policy-making and final decision.
Whatever decision we make about the future ownership model of Channel 4 will not compromise this government’s commitment to the independent production sector and to the wider creative economy.
Asked by: Simon Fell (Conservative - Barrow and Furness)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make it his policy to maintain Channel 4’s 50 per cent commissioning spend outside of London in the event that Channel 4 is privatised.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Whatever decision is made about Channel 4’s ownership, we are clear that any changes will not compromise our commitment to the independent production sector or the wider creative economy, including our creative powerhouses across the UK. We are clear that we want Channel 4 to remain a public service broadcaster, with public service obligations.
We have consulted on the best ownership model to support Channel 4 for years to come. Our public consultation ran for 10 weeks before closing on 14 September. We are carefully considering the views and evidence we have received to inform the government’s policy-making and final decision.