Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 replenish the Art Council England funds that have been diverted to the emergency covid-19 response.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
DCMS has worked closely with its arm’s-length bodies to deliver tailored support packages at speed, including the £160m Emergency Funding Package announced by Arts Council England (ACE) in March. In providing immediate support for this vital sector, it was necessary for ACE to make decisions on how existing budgets could be reprioritised, in light of the unprecedented challenges of Covid-19.
DCMS will continue to support ACE in its hugely important role in supporting and developing England’s arts and culture, including in its upcoming role in the delivery of the £1.57 billion of new funding announced on 5 July, to provide support for key organisations across the cultural, heritage and creative sectors.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has allocated funding to (a) hotel and (b) bed and breakfast owners to cover (i) costs incurred and (ii) loss of income as a result of an extended stay by a guest testing positive for covid-19 and being unable to return home.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
We have published guidance on how to open guest accommodation businesses safely whilst minimising the risks of COVID-19.
If a guest is displaying signs of COVID-19 while staying in overnight accommodation, they should inform the accommodation provider, immediately self-isolate where they are to minimise any risk of transmission, and request a test. If they are confirmed to have COVID-19, they should return home if they reasonably can. If a guest cannot reasonably return home, their circumstances should be discussed with an appropriate health care professional and, if necessary, the local authority.
Unless otherwise provided for in the contractual terms of the booking, the guest will be expected to pay the costs of an extended stay in all but exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances may include, but are not limited to, where the accommodation provider has failed to follow government guidance to create a COVID-secure environment.
The Government has developed a comprehensive support package to help businesses and workers deal with various COVID-related pressures, which hotel and bed and breakfast businesses can continue to access.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
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 an assessment of the potential merits of promoting the UK's visit economy by providing (a) financial and (b) other support to destination marketing organisations.
Answered by Michael Ellis
DCMS are sponsors of VisitBritain(VB) and VisitEngland(VE) who provide a wide range of support for Destination Marketing Organisations or Destination Management Organisations (DMO) across the UK.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for Women and Equalities on up-skirting photographs appearing in the media.
Answered by Margot James
Up-skirting is a violation of privacy and causes considerable distress for victims. There are laws on privacy that publishers and broadcasters must abide by. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for Women and Equalities on up-skirting photographs appearing in the media.
Answered by Margot James
Up-skirting is a violation of privacy and causes considerable distress for victims. There are laws on privacy that publishers and broadcasters must abide by. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues.