Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has held discussions with the BBC Board on the potential impact of the BBC's proposals for Local Radio on staff.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government remains disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local output. Ministers have met with the BBC on several occasions since the announcement where they have expressed the concerns shared across the House about the BBC’s plans.
While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, the Government has been clear with the Chair of the BBC Board and the Director General that the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK. These services are a key part of the BBC’s public service remit and an example of how the BBC can use its licence fee funding to provide content that is directly relevant to audiences, particularly in areas that may be underserved by the market.
The BBC is editorially and operationally independent, and the decision over whether to proceed with these changes is for them. It is also the BBC’s responsibility to consider the potential impacts for audiences and staff of these changes under their public sector equality duty.
Since its initial announcement of these cuts, the BBC has confirmed that all local radio stations will retain the ability to break out of shared programming and respond to breaking local stories including extreme weather conditions or public health emergencies.
The Government also expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. As part of this, the BBC will be required to monitor the impact of changes on audiences and publish more information about how it delivers high quality, distinctive content and services for audiences across the UK.
In the publication of the BBC’s new Operating Licence, Ofcom sets out that it will hold the BBC to its commitments on local radio in England in relation to news and travel, breaking news and major incidents and its contribution to local democracy.
As a public authority, the BBC is itself responsible for undertaking equality impact assessments under the Public Sector Equality Duty (as contained in the Equality Act 2010). The BBC Director General was asked whether the BBC has carried out an equality impact assessment regarding the local radio proposals at his 13 June appearance at the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, and has committed to sharing relevant information on this with the Committee.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has held with the BBC Board on conducting equality impact assessments on changes to BBC local radio coverage for rural communities.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government remains disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local output. Ministers have met with the BBC on several occasions since the announcement where they have expressed the concerns shared across the House about the BBC’s plans.
While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, the Government has been clear with the Chair of the BBC Board and the Director General that the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK. These services are a key part of the BBC’s public service remit and an example of how the BBC can use its licence fee funding to provide content that is directly relevant to audiences, particularly in areas that may be underserved by the market.
The BBC is editorially and operationally independent, and the decision over whether to proceed with these changes is for them. It is also the BBC’s responsibility to consider the potential impacts for audiences and staff of these changes under their public sector equality duty.
Since its initial announcement of these cuts, the BBC has confirmed that all local radio stations will retain the ability to break out of shared programming and respond to breaking local stories including extreme weather conditions or public health emergencies.
The Government also expects Ofcom, as regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. As part of this, the BBC will be required to monitor the impact of changes on audiences and publish more information about how it delivers high quality, distinctive content and services for audiences across the UK.
In the publication of the BBC’s new Operating Licence, Ofcom sets out that it will hold the BBC to its commitments on local radio in England in relation to news and travel, breaking news and major incidents and its contribution to local democracy.
As a public authority, the BBC is itself responsible for undertaking equality impact assessments under the Public Sector Equality Duty (as contained in the Equality Act 2010). The BBC Director General was asked whether the BBC has carried out an equality impact assessment regarding the local radio proposals at his 13 June appearance at the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, and has committed to sharing relevant information on this with the Committee.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps to provide financial support to charities in Hampshire in the context of the rise in energy prices.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Government has taken action to support charities across the country, including in Hampshire, with rising energy prices.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme provided charities and voluntary organisations with support for their energy bills up to 31 March 2023, and they continue to receive support under the Energy Bill Discount Scheme.
As announced in the Spring Budget, the government will also provide over £100 million of support for charities and community organisations in England. This will be targeted towards those organisations most at risk from cost of living pressures, due to increased demand and higher delivery costs, as well as providing investment in energy efficiency. Work is underway to finalise the delivery time frames and eligibility criteria. Further details will be announced as soon as possible.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps to financially support charities in Hampshire who have increased service demand.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
The Government has taken action to support charities across the country, including in Hampshire, with rising energy prices.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme provided charities and voluntary organisations with support for their energy bills up to 31 March 2023, and they continue to receive support under the Energy Bill Discount Scheme.
As announced in the Spring Budget, the government will also provide over £100 million of support for charities and community organisations in England. This will be targeted towards those organisations most at risk from cost of living pressures, due to increased demand and higher delivery costs, as well as providing investment in energy efficiency. Work is underway to finalise the delivery time frames and eligibility criteria. Further details will be announced as soon as possible.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to set a deadline for bringing forward legislative proposals to deliver the legal framework for a short-term let registration scheme in England.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Following last year's Call for Evidence, in December 2022 the Government introduced a registration scheme for short-term lets in England in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. On 12 April 2023, a consultation was published which sought views on details about how the scheme will operate. The consultation closed on 7 June 2023, and the Government is working to analyse responses.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will work with the relevant Government departments on the design of the registration scheme and to ensure that different measures which apply to short-term lets are proportionate, complementary and easy to understand.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to support (a) clubs and (b) other groups who deliver grassroots and community sports with increases in the cost of living.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Supporting grassroots sport is a key government priority. Last year, Sport England received almost £350 million from the Government and National Lottery to fund grassroots sports projects so that everyone is able to access quality sport and physical activity opportunities, and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that exercise provides.
There are a range of funding options available to sport clubs struggling with increased costs.
Since its creation, Sport England’s Together Fund has invested more than £3.6 million into projects to support with the cost of living. Additionally, Sport England’s Active Together fund supports campaigns that encourage grassroots community sport and youth participation. Since 2020, the fund has committed £3.5 million to successful projects, with funding going towards supporting rising energy costs, ensuring that these activities remain affordable for communities.
At the Spring Budget, the Government announced a £63 million package to address the cost pressures facing some public swimming pool providers, and provide investment in energy efficiency measures to make facilities sustainable in the long-term. This intervention aims to ensure that children and adults up and down the country have accessible opportunities to get active.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
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 potential impact of increases in costs for sports clubs on the level of youth participation in grassroots sport.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Supporting grassroots sport is a key government priority. Last year, Sport England received almost £350 million from the Government and National Lottery to fund grassroots sports projects so that everyone is able to access quality sport and physical activity opportunities, and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that exercise provides.
There are a range of funding options available to sport clubs struggling with increased costs.
Since its creation, Sport England’s Together Fund has invested more than £3.6 million into projects to support with the cost of living. Additionally, Sport England’s Active Together fund supports campaigns that encourage grassroots community sport and youth participation. Since 2020, the fund has committed £3.5 million to successful projects, with funding going towards supporting rising energy costs, ensuring that these activities remain affordable for communities.
At the Spring Budget, the Government announced a £63 million package to address the cost pressures facing some public swimming pool providers, and provide investment in energy efficiency measures to make facilities sustainable in the long-term. This intervention aims to ensure that children and adults up and down the country have accessible opportunities to get active.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
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 impact of increases in the cost of living on access to grassroots and community sport.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Supporting grassroots sport is a key government priority. Last year, Sport England received almost £350 million from the Government and National Lottery to fund grassroots sports projects so that everyone is able to access quality sport and physical activity opportunities, and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits that exercise provides.
There are a range of funding options available to sport clubs struggling with increased costs.
Since its creation, Sport England’s Together Fund has invested more than £3.6 million into projects to support with the cost of living. Additionally, Sport England’s Active Together fund supports campaigns that encourage grassroots community sport and youth participation. Since 2020, the fund has committed £3.5 million to successful projects, with funding going towards supporting rising energy costs, ensuring that these activities remain affordable for communities.
At the Spring Budget, the Government announced a £63 million package to address the cost pressures facing some public swimming pool providers, and provide investment in energy efficiency measures to make facilities sustainable in the long-term. This intervention aims to ensure that children and adults up and down the country have accessible opportunities to get active.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the long-term delivery of funding changes to local BBC radio stations on the (a) quality and b) localness of news to listeners in (i) Portsmouth and (ii) the South East.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Government recognises the important role that BBC Local Radio services play in delivering local news and reflecting local experiences in Portsmouth and the South East. The Government is therefore disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local radio output.
While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, I have met with BBC leadership and shared concerns expressed in recent parliamentary proceedings about reductions to BBC Local Radio. The Government has been clear that, as our national broadcaster, the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK. The BBC should set the standard in the UK and internationally with high-quality output across its services.
The BBC has outlined that, under current proposals, overall investment in local services is being maintained, which includes £19m from broadcast services being moved to online and multimedia production to adapt to audience changes. The BBC has confirmed that it is protecting local news bulletins throughout the day, and local live sport, and community programming across all 39 stations, and that there will be fully local programming between 6am and 2pm, with neighbouring or regional sharing in most of the remaining listening hours.
Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the BBC, is responsible for ensuring that the BBC continues to meet the public service obligations set out in the BBC Charter, Agreement, and Operating Licence. The Government understands that Ofcom is continuing to discuss the proposed changes to local radio output with the BBC.
Asked by: Stephen Morgan (Labour - Portsmouth South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, on how many occasions she has met the Communication Workers Union to help resolve ongoing industrial disputes related to (a) Royal Mail and (b) BT since taking office.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
The Secretary of State has not met the Communications Workers Union to discuss the ongoing industrial disputes related to Royal Mail or BT since taking office.