Topical Questions 2022-12-01
2022-12-01
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The Online Safety Bill is returning to the House of Commons. The question arises in light of recent changes made by the government.
Next week, the Online Safety Bill will return to the House. Can my right hon Friend update me on the progress?
The Government have made a number of changes to strengthen protections for children, offer a triple shield of protection for adults while safeguarding free speech and consumer choice. Next week, the Online Safety Bill will return to the House.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Northwood youth club in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner constituency requires investment. The Government launched the Youth Investment Fund to support local youth services.
Northwood youth club in my constituency has served generations of young people but now needs investment. Can my right hon Friend update me on the progress of distributing the youth investment fund?
The Government launched the national youth guarantee. The £368 million youth investment fund is to build or refurbish 300 youth facilities in levelling-up priority areas, with applications open from August and first awards expected early next year.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Multiple government bills, including the Online Safety Bill, have been delayed. This raises concerns about the government's ability to meet deadlines.
There is a running theme with delays in key government initiatives such as the fan-led review, gambling White Paper, data Bill, and others. Can the Secretary of State confirm whether these delays are impacting progress?
The media Bill was announced in the Queen's Speech for this Session. It has not been delayed but is part of the legislative process.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific details about delays and their impact were avoided
Not Actually Delayed
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government plan to delay the Online Safety Bill, which is causing concern about its ability to address harmful online content.
Will the Secretary of State confirm whether the abhorrent yet legal extreme content that led a man to shoot and kill five people in Plymouth would still be available to view and share freely online under the terms of the Bill?
The Bill is not changing any clause. It strengthens protections for children, illegal content continues to be taken down, and a triple shield of defence is introduced along with offences for promotion of self-harm and intimate image abuse.
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Assessment & feedback
Direct confirmation on the effectiveness against extreme legal content was avoided
Not Changing Any Clause
Response accuracy
Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
Four organisations in Hastings and Rye received funding to support social mobility through access to culture and heritage.
Social mobility is more important than income inequality, with access to culture playing a role. Four organisations in Hastings and Rye will receive nearly £2.5 million between 2023 and 2026. Will my right hon Friend join me in congratulating these organisations?
I entirely agree that social mobility is at the heart of what we want to do. I congratulate those four institutions, and if the Secretary of State or Minister will not come to Hastings and Rye, I certainly will.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
There is a lack of an independent appeals process for people dissatisfied with decisions made by the BBC's executive complaints unit.
Why is there no right to appeal against decisions made by the executive complaints unit in the BBC? Does the Minister agree that it would strengthen confidence in the BBC if there were an independent complaints process?
The issue is long-running. The BBC announced changes to its complaints process yesterday, but I appreciate that they are not strong enough. We will look into this in the course of our reviews of the organisation.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment on independent appeals was avoided
Long-Running Issue
Appreciate Concerns
Response accuracy
Q7
Direct Answer
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Context
Leeds United is converting an area to rail seating, raising questions about the potential for other clubs to adopt similar measures.
May I ask the Minister to meet me to discuss how rail seating could be extended to other clubs, which would financially viable and give supporters a better viewing experience?
Clubs may apply for licensed standing areas provided they meet stringent criteria set by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority. I welcome Leeds United's initiative and should be happy to meet my hon Friend later in the new year after meeting the SGSA to discuss this.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
Short-term holiday lets are contributing to the housing crisis and undermining hospitality sectors.
Will the Secretary of State support a private Member's Bill proposing licensing for short-term holiday lets?
We have received 4,000 responses to the call for evidence and are working with colleagues in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to sort it out. I recognise the issues involved.
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Assessment & feedback
Direct support or opposition on the bill was avoided
Working On The Issue
Recognise Issues
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Constituents worry about impact of expanding Ultra Low Emission Zone on London's tourism.
My constituents who work in London's tourism sector are extremely worried about footfall following the Mayor of London's decision to expand the ultra low emission zone. What discussions is the Department having with the sector to ensure that it is protected?
Tourists, like residents, want to breathe clean air in London, but they also want good public transport as an alternative to driving. When I was Minister for London, my main concern in relation to tourism was for those working in the industry, at the lower-paid end. We need to have a sensible discussion, and we need a Mayor who remains accountable for the results of the consultation that is on the table.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific commitment or timeline given for protecting tourism sector.
Sensible Discussion
Mayor'S Accountability
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
Open Democracy audit found think-tanks raised £14 million from mystery donors.
An audit conducted by Open Democracy found that think-tanks such as the TaxPayers' Alliance, the Institute of Economic Affairs and Policy Exchange—favourites of the Tory party—had raised more than £14 million from mystery donors in the past two years. What discussions has the Secretary of State had with the Charity Commission about ensuring that funding of this type is transparent and sourced from UK donors?
We work closely with the Charity Commission, and of course all donors and charities have to work transparently. I shall be happy to meet the hon. Member for discuss this in detail.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific discussions or commitments mentioned.
Work Closely
Happy To Meet
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
More than half of Premier League clubs are now owned by foreign owners, with mixed views on success.
I join others in congratulating England on qualifying for the knockout stage of the World Cup, and, indeed, congratulating my hon. Friend the Sports Minister for his demonstration at the event. At home, however, more than half our Premier League clubs are now owned to foreign owners. In some cases that has been very successful, although I think that in Manchester there may be different views on either side of the city. What action can the Minister take to ensure that foreign owners are appropriate for this country?
I thank my hon. Friend for those kind words. Foreign investment and ownership have benefited football, from elite to grassroots level, and we must be careful not to exclude good investment from the game. However, it is absolutely right that good custodians be permitted to own football clubs, and that skilled and experienced directors run them. We will publish our White Paper on the reform of football club governance in the coming weeks; it will set out our approach to improving that governance, and the owners and directors test.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific action mentioned for immediate addressing foreign ownership issues.
Careful Not To Exclude
White Paper On Reform
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
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Context
Women in Sport reported that 1.3 million teenage girls are dropping out of sport.
The charity Women in Sport recently reported that 1.3 million teenage girls across the UK are dropping out of sport; 50% do not feel good enough to participate. What are the Government doing to smash those stereotypes and ensure that girls keep playing sport, as I did when I was a girl, and get stuck into it?
The hon. Lady is absolutely right to raise the issue. It is worrying that the progress made with women and girls has not gone back to pre-pandemic levels. This issue is a key priority for me; I will be working closely with the Department for Education on it. We are developing the sports strategy, which I hope will address many of the issues that she raised.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific actions or timeline given to address barriers.
Key Priority
Working Closely
Response accuracy
Q13
Direct Answer
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Context
The speaker was a teenage anorexic, concerned about current children affected by similar issues.
I was a teenage anorexic, and it is terrifying how many of our children are affected by anorexia today, so will the Secretary of State meet me to make sure that the Online Safety Bill protects children from content that glorifies all forms of self-harm, including anorexia, and that those measures are implemented swiftly?
I would be delighted to meet my right hon. Friend. The Bill will ensure that children do not see content that promotes self-harm or glorifies eating disorders. Of course, the Bill will now be strengthened by a provision ensuring that adults will no longer see content promoting self-harm. I will invite the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice, the right hon. Member for Charnwood (Edward Argar), who has responsibility for victims, to join that meeting, to explain the clauses that we have added.
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Assessment & feedback
null
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
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Context
Speakers felt it was disgraceful that FIFA stopped Harry Kane from wearing a solidary armband.
The Minister quite rightly wore the armband in Qatar. Does he agree that it is completely disgraceful that FIFA stopped Harry Kane and other captains from wearing the armband as a demonstration of solidarity? Will he encourage our Football Association to work with other, like-minded FAs to ensure that FIFA changes its approach to the awarding and running of World cups?
That was one of the reasons why I wore the armband. It was totally unacceptable that both the Welsh and English teams, at the 11th hour, were faced with an impossible decision. I thank those teams for wanting to wear the armband; it means a lot to all of us. I have already spoken to the FA about where we go from here. We cannot, at the end of this tournament, just let the matter come to an end. We need to talk about the future.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific actions or timeline for addressing FIFA's approach mentioned.
Impossible Decision
Talk About The Future
Response accuracy
Q15
Direct Answer
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Context
The speaker welcomed the Secretary of State's announcement on Cumbria's gigabit roll-out.
I welcome the Secretary of State's announcement on Cumbria's gigabit roll-out, and thank her for her visit to Workington yesterday; she was very welcome. Does she agree that the announcement is a game-changer for places such as Workington, and a demonstration of real levelling-up by this Government?
It is indeed a game-changer, and I thank my hon. Friend for all the lobbying that he has done on behalf of his constituents to ensure that Cumbria has better levels of connection. It is testament to his hard work that we have rolled out Building Digital UK's first regional contract in Cumbria.
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Assessment & feedback
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Q16
Partial Answer
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Context
The speaker wanted to know if there could be a new programme involving university graduates in school media skills.
Am I allowed to say, “Pinch, punch, first day of the month”? The Government should wake up to this opportunity; there are loads of young people coming out of university with media skills. We could put them in schools, and bring culture back to our school curriculum. Could we have a new programme now?
I met the Minister of State, Department for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon), who has responsibility for skills, just this week to talk about how we get more creative skills in the economy to fill all the wonderful jobs being created in areas such as the film and television industry. I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's enthusiasm.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific programme or timeline mentioned for media skills in schools.
Creative Skills
Wonderful Jobs
Response accuracy