Topical Questions 2021-03-18
2021-03-18
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The FA cup final between Hebburn Town and Consett AFC has been rescheduled to take place behind closed doors.
Will the Secretary of State work with the FA to make the final a pilot event for allowing the safe return of spectators to such sporting events?
I share the hon. Lady's desire to get sports fans back in stadiums as quickly as we can, as has been highlighted by my colleagues on the Government Benches. We have already set out a road map, and I think it is important to people that we stick to that road map, which would see fans returning socially distanced from 17 May.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to make the FA cup final a pilot event for spectator return
We Have Already Set Out A Road Map
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Communities such as Broughton are still waiting for mobile phone operators to deliver promised decent service.
What more can the Government do to push the mobile phone companies to make sure that we get the service we are paying for up here?
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend about the need for speed. As he will know, the shared rural network will see the Government and industry jointly investing over £1 billion to increase 4G coverage throughout the UK. On 5G, over 200 towns and cities already have 5G, and our ambition is for the vast majority to have it by 2027.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
There has been an outpouring of grief over the death of Sarah Everard, highlighting issues of online abuse.
Does he accept that the continuing delay has left women and girls at risk for too long, and does he commit to measures to protect them online when he finally publishes the Bill?
May I begin by welcoming the hon. Lady back to her rightful place in the Chamber? She is absolutely right to highlight the issue of online abuse of women. That is why our internet safety Bill will bring forward measures to help protect women online, including measures to enable them to better report abuse, and will also ensure that they should get appropriate responses from platforms.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific timeline for publishing the internet safety bill
We Will Bring Forward The Draft Legislation At The Beginning Of The New Parliamentary Session
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP criticizes recent legislation that provides longer sentences for damaging statues than for raping women.
What input his Department had into the Government's legislation this week that provides for longer sentences for hitting statues than those that have been given for raping women?
I really wish that Members in this House would take a more temperate approach towards this. The hon. Lady knows full well that the most serious violent and sexual offences, including grievous bodily harm with intent to rape, already carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific departmental input into statue protection legislation
The Purpose Of What We Are Introducing In Respect Of Statues Is To Help Protect Statues That Have Tremendous Emotional Value
Response accuracy
Q5
Direct Answer
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Context
Support for towns with large hospitality and tourism economies.
What steps is my right hon. Friend's Department taking to support the recovery of towns with large hospitality and tourism economies from the effects of the covid-19 pandemic?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question; I know of his passionate concern about this. The Government have introduced a range of targeted measures to support hospitality and tourism through covid-19, including business rates relief and the new restart support grants, as well as the 5% VAT rate.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government announced a superfast broadband coverage of 97%, but in Jamie Stone's constituency, the coverage is only 78%. Paul Wheelhouse promised delivery by this year, but now it won't be achieved until 2026.
In my constituency, the superfast broadband coverage is 78% and yesterday Paul Wheelhouse announced that we would not achieve full coverage until 2026, having already promised delivery by this year. My plea is very simple: please will Her Majesty's Government step in and sort this out?
The UK Government have provided over £100 million to deliver broadband in Scotland, but it is disappointing that the Scottish National party failed to deliver 100% superfast coverage by 2021. We are investing £5 billion in Project Gigabit and there will be a stronger role for the UK Government in delivering this programme going forward.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask of stepping in to resolve broadband coverage was not directly addressed, focusing instead on past promises and current plans.
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
There are still blackspots in Laura Farris's constituency where superfast and gigabit broadband is not available, especially in the RG20 and RG17 postcodes.
Will my right hon. Friend consider asking Ofcom and Building Digital UK to reconsider their decision to exclude properties in the RG20 and RG17 postcodes from the gigabit batches?
We are on a national mission to transform our digital infrastructure, and our plans include many rural properties in the RG17 and RG20 postcodes. We are investing £5 billion in connecting hard-to-reach communities with Project Gigabit.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about reconsidering exclusion of certain postcodes was not directly addressed, focusing instead on broader infrastructure plans.
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
The new chair of the BBC is a multimillionaire Conservative party donor with ties to the Chancellor, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
What was it about the CV of Richard Sharp that first attracted the Government to appoint him as chair of the corporation? Do you consider his past association with a firm described by a Conservative MP as creating 'modern ghettos for the vulnerable' consistent with BBC values?
An excellent choice has been made in the choice of the new chair of the BBC. He is deeply committed to the BBC, but it would be better if slurs against him were refrained from being made.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about Richard Sharp's CV and its alignment with BBC values was not addressed, focusing instead on discouraging criticism of the appointee.
Response accuracy