Topical Questions 2022-02-10
2022-02-10
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
Musicians in Newport West have been campaigning alongside leaders of the Musicians' Union for a touring visa.
Musicians in Newport West and across the UK have been campaigning alongside leaders in the Musicians' Union, such as Councillor Sarah Williams, for a touring visa that will allow them to showcase British musical prowess. When will the Minister wake up and fight for the musicians' passport that people so desperately want and need?
I thank the hon. Member for raising the issue of touring. I have been doing a lot of work with officials and other Departments to ease some of the challenges that people have had since we left the EU, and I will continue to work on this issue.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline or commitment for addressing the issue of touring visas
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
Broadcast news has a long-standing duty of balance, which moderates public debate, tests opposing views and helps forge consensus across our country, but today's digital world means that more and more of us get our news through social media platforms, where individual filter bubbles can feed us more of one side without ever showing an alternative view, driving extremism, radicalisation and division instead. Is it now time to extend that duty of balance to include social media platforms?
My hon. Friend raises an important question, but we need to distinguish between broadcasters, or indeed newspapers, that are exercising editorial judgment, and social media platforms that are carrying content generated by other users. However, we will introduce shortly—in the coming weeks—an online safety Bill that will impose new duties on social media firms in connection with illegal content, content that is harmful to children and content, including disinformation, that is harmful to adults.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment regarding duty of balance extension
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Musicians and orchestras are facing a touring crisis.
I am afraid that the Minister's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport West (Ruth Jones) was far too vague. Musicians and orchestras are facing a touring crisis. We need an EU-wide cultural touring agreement that includes allowances for cabotage, carnets and customs rules. That needs to happen now, so what are Ministers doing to sort the problem as a matter of urgency?
We have been working closely across Government to deal with some of the cabotage issues. The issues around agreements with member states are being addressed on a bilateral basis. We have had great breakthroughs with Spain and are working closely with Greece, but most people can work in those countries for up to 90 days.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific EU-wide cultural touring agreement
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Swimming is important for health and safety, especially in an island nation.
Swimming is massively important not just for health reasons, but for safety in our island nation. Saltash swimming pool is an excellent facility. What more can the Government do to ensure the long-term future of such facilities?
I know that my hon. Friend is passionate about this issue, because we spoke about it when I visited her constituency last year. She is right that swimming is a vital life skill, as well as being very good for our physical and mental health. We have provided the sport sector with £1 billion of financial support through the pandemic, and launched the £100 million national leisure recovery fund precisely to try to ensure that swimming pools stay open.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific future investments or guarantees for Saltash pool
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government were reluctant to implement a ban on Huawei.
The Minister will remember that the Government were strangely reluctant to implement a ban on the Chinese firm Huawei to prevent it from participating in the United Kingdom's critical digital infrastructure because of the potential significant security risks. We now discover that the man who has just been appointed director of communications at No. 10 lobbied very hard against that ban. In the light of that information, will the Minister undertake to review the timeline for removing Huawei from our critical infrastructure, to ensure that Britain's security cannot be compromised by the interests of the Prime Minister's pals?
One of my first Acts as a Minister in DCMS was to take through the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021. We take these issues incredibly seriously, and I offer the hon. Gentleman reassurance that we have a whole package of work to ensure that our telecoms networks are secure.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific review or timeline update
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
Technology is changing the way in which listeners tune in to their favourite radio stations. Will the Minister set out her plans to secure future access for UK radio stations to smart speakers?
My hon. Friend raises an important point about social media platforms potentially becoming gatekeepers for radio stations. We are looking closely at this issue to ensure that radio stations can have their own data, protect their listenership and so on.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific plans or timeline
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The Big Step campaign highlights the harm caused by gambling advertising in football and its impact on children. The gambling Bill's delay raises concerns about immediate measures to address these issues.
This Sunday I shall be taking part in a walk with members of The Big Step to highlight the issue of gambling advertising in football. With a gambling Bill seemingly getting further and further away, are there any measures that will be in the final Act that could be implemented now? Will the Secretary of State meet me and other members of the all-party parliamentary group for gambling related harm to discuss the matter further?
I thank the hon. Member for his question and for the meetings we have had with the hon. Member for Swansea East (Carolyn Harris) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith). The review is getting very close now, and issues he is raising will be addressed. I am happy to meet him and other members of the APPG at any time if they get in touch.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific measures mentioned that can be implemented before the Bill's enactment
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
One street in the constituency has a stark disparity between broadband speeds, with one side at 8 megabits per second and the other at 1,000 megabits per second. This highlights urban notspot issues.
Good broadband connectivity is vital for working from home. One street in my constituency is divided by speed disparities—one with 8 megabits per second and the other with 1,000 megabits per second. How can we address these issues? Will the Minister meet me to discuss how we deal with urban notspots?
I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss these matters. We are trying to target public subsidy at areas not being covered, including individual premises. I will look into her particular case.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific measures or timeline mentioned for addressing broadband disparities
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Only 7.9% of board members in the sporting sector are from a black, Asian or ethnic minority background, despite their significant contributions.
Last year it was revealed that across the whole sporting sector, only 7.9% of board members were from a black, Asian or ethnic minority background. Representation matters for different perspectives and better decision-making. Does the Minister agree that now is the time for action to increase representation at board level? What action will he take to make that happen?
The hon. Lady makes very important points. Sport should be for all, on and off the pitch. Progress is being made—diversity and inclusivity are at the top of the agenda—but she is right that we need more action, not just warm words.
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Assessment & feedback
No specific actions or timeline mentioned to increase representation
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
Families federations of Navy, Army and RAF are concerned about internet access on bases.
I welcome greater efforts by the Government to improve internet access. I met families federations of the Navy, Army and the RAF who are concerned about access to the internet across the military estate. May I invite the Department to do a study on internet access on bases for our armed forces, and to report back to Parliament?
I thank my right hon. Friend for raising that issue; it has not been raised with me before. I would be happy to look into improving access to the internet for our military.
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Assessment & feedback
No commitment or timeline given for conducting a study and reporting back
Response accuracy