Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions have taken place in negotiations on the UK leaving the EU on UK citizens and businesses paying mobile roaming charges in the EU after the UK has left the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Margot James
On 12 July the government published a White Paper on the future relationship between the UK and the EU. It provides a framework for wider negotiations. The White Paper states that: “To ensure that open trade between the UK and EU economies is not at the expense of consumers, and in the context of the future economic partnership, the UK proposes to commit to maintain reciprocal high levels of consumer protection”.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions the Government has had with the European Commission on ensuring that businesses can hold and transfer data and personal information to EU member states without interruption after the UK has left the EU.
Answered by Margot James
The government is committed to agreeing a UK-EU model for protecting and exchanging personal data that maintains the free unhindered flow of personal data between the UK and the EU post-exit; offers stability and confidence for EU and UK individuals and businesses, as well as public authorities; reassures EU and UK citizens that their data is subject to robust protection; and does not impose unnecessary additional costs to EU and UK businesses.
The government holds regular discussions with the EU on the future economic and security partnerships, covering a wide range of topics. In May 2018, UK government officials presented slides to the European Commission outlining a framework for a UK-EU future partnership on data protection. The slides are available on gov.uk. A further paper was presented by the UK government to the Commission in June 2018, which set out the benefits to the EU of a new data protection agreement. The paper is available on gov.uk.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he is able to intervene in circumstances in which Virgin Media fails to provide telecommunication services to a charitable organisation within a reasonable timeframe.
Answered by Margot James
Using the new powers in the Digital Economy Act 2017, Ofcom has introduced, amongst other actions, an Automatic Compensation Scheme that will benefit around 90% of landline and broadband customers in the UK from early 2019. As part of this scheme, if a provider promises a residential customer to start a new service on a particular date, but fails to do so, they will have to pay £5 for each calendar day of delay. For business customers, Ofcom is also introducing new rules to ensure all SMEs are given clearer, more detailed information upfront about what service quality to expect. This includes whether they can claim compensation when problems occur.
At present, if the charitable organisation has a customer relationship with Virgin Media, the complaint for failing to provide telecommunication services can be pursued with Virgin Media. If Virgin Media are unable to resolve the situation within eight weeks, or where the complaint reaches deadlock, the case can be referred for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to the Communications & Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS), providing it meets the scheme’s eligibility criteria. Further details about their service can be viewed at: https://www.cedr.com/consumer/cisas.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
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 Written Statement of 13 March 2018, Spring Statement, HCWS 540, if he will publish a list of where the £26.2 million in EU exit funding for his Department will be allocated.
Answered by Margot James
DCMS has been allocated £26.2m in 2018/19 to fund preparations for leaving the EU. This is designed to cover essential EU exit spending for staff working on the department’s critical areas.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will place minutes and notes of any meetings held between his Department and representatives of Facebook on the potential security breach of UK citizens’ data in the Library.
Answered by Margot James
We do not routinely publish minutes of private meetings to encourage full and frank dialogue within the meetings.