Topical Questions 2023-07-20
2023-07-20
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Last year, the number of European schoolchildren and students visiting the UK dropped by 83%, leading to a loss of 14,500 jobs and £875 million. The Prime Minister has made a commitment to increase the number of French students coming over.
What is the Government's plan to deal with that shocking decline in European schoolchildren and students visiting the UK?
I am pleased that the hon. Member mentioned the discussions that the Prime Minister has had with France. That bilateral arrangement will improve mobility to the UK. It is really important that those young groups come, and I can assure the hon. Member that I am looking at that issue more broadly.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific plan not detailed beyond general improvements
Looking At This
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
A trans woman has been selected to join the England women's shore angling squad, and a constituent of Duncan Baker's has concerns about this.
Will the Minister speak to the Angling Trust to request that it properly considers the Sports Council Equality Group's guidance on who is eligible for its women's team?
These are clearly sensitive issues, and they need careful consideration and respect for those involved. The Government support the Sports Council's guidance on transgender participation. When it comes to competitive sport, we believe that safety and fairness have to be the primary considerations. I encourage the Angling Trust to engage with the Sports Council's guidance as it develops its thinking in this area.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
The creative industries are concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on their work.
What is the Secretary of State doing to secure, protect and enhance this British success story in the digital age?
The shadow Minister is right to highlight AI, which presents potential opportunities as well as challenges, particularly in the domain of copyright and the creative industries. I am actively engaged with this issue and have held a number of meetings with the sector, including with the Creative Industries Council earlier this week, and with music, press and publishing stakeholders over recent weeks. This afternoon I will again meet with the Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, together with the Intellectual Property Office, to discuss this very issue.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The BBC licence fee is seen as outdated and regressive by many. A formal review of the BBC's funding model will take place in the autumn.
Surely abolishing the licence fee altogether has to be one of the options considered?
The Government have made it clear that the licence fee will remain in place for the remainder of this charter period, but my hon. Friend is right that there are challenges going forward. He may be aware that the number of people paying the licence fee has fallen by 1.9 million in the past five years, and it is therefore right that we look at possible alternative sources of funding for the BBC in the longer term. That will be the focus of the funding review.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific options not detailed beyond licence fee continuation
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The national team is in dispute with the Football Association over pay, following Karen Carney's review.
How soon do the Government expect to implement the recommendations of Karen Carney's review?
The hon. Lady is right to raise this important area. I am extremely grateful, as we all are in the Department, to Karen Carney for such an in-depth review of women's football. We are obviously looking at the recommendations she made in that report, and that will be a continuous agenda item in my regular discussions with the FA.
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Assessment & feedback
Timeline not provided beyond general discussion
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Response accuracy
Q6
Direct Answer
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Context
Staff have gone unpaid for months, and the club's future is uncertain.
Please will my right hon. Friend agree to meet the Shrimpers Trust, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (Sir James Duddridge) and me, urgently, to see what more can be done to save this vital community asset?
Can I praise my hon. Friend for the tremendous amount of work she has been doing on behalf of her constituents and the fans at Southend? I know how hard she is working. Of course, I would be more than happy to meet the fans group, as I have with those of other clubs, but I think this highlights the need for the independent football regulator.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy