Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 9 July 2020 · 8 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 7 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jason McCartney asked about reopening gyms and fitness centres, to which the Secretary of State responded with plans for a mid-July reopening.
  • Jo Stevens inquired about support for freelance workers in the cultural sector, receiving a response highlighting the furlough scheme and support for cultural institutions.
  • Patrick Grady questioned the long-term support for self-employed creators in the creative sector, prompting a response noting the 96 million package for Scotland under the Barnett consequentials.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jason McCartney Con Colne
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Physical exercise is important for both physical and mental health. The reopening of such facilities has been a matter of concern.

Question

With the importance of physical exercise in mind, when will the Secretary of State update guidance to allow the safe reopening of gyms and fitness centres?

Answer from Oliver Dowden (The Right Honourable) (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

I pay tribute to my hon. Friend who has campaigned on this issue and raised it with me frequently. I also commend the gyms which have engaged constructively to overcome hurdles. I hope to make an announcement imminently aiming for reopening by mid-July.

Answered
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Q2 Jo Stevens Lab Cardiff Central
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Freelancers represent a significant portion of the workforce in creative industries and have been largely excluded from government support schemes during the pandemic.

Question

With reference to the Chancellor's statement, will any of the cultural sector support announced by the Secretary of State on Monday go towards freelance workers? If so, when can they expect it?

Answer from Oliver Dowden (The Right Honourable) (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Freelancers are important. Besides the furlough scheme, self-employed individuals have been able to access the support announced by the Chancellor. The new package focuses on protecting cultural institutions so they can reopen in the future.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Details about direct financial aid for freelancers were not provided beyond mentioning general schemes available to self-employed individuals.

How: Redirecting Focus

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Q3 Jo Stevens Lab Cardiff Central
NHS Culture, Media & Sport
Context

There are concerns about the influence of online platforms in spreading misinformation, particularly regarding vaccines. Public health is at risk.

Question

Given that the Government's test, track and trace system has lost public trust, will the Secretary of State prioritise public safety over big tech profits by publishing the Online Harms Bill?

Answer from Oliver Dowden (The Right Honourable) (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Our Government was first to commit to online harms legislation. We have established a counter-disinformation unit and are working across departments to prepare for vaccine availability.

Answered
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Q4 Anthony Browne Con South Cambridgeshire
Science & Technology Business & Trade
Context

South Cambridgeshire is crucial for biotech and medical research, but suffers from poor mobile connectivity which hinders productivity.

Question

Will the Secretary of State work with me and mobile industry leaders to improve mobile coverage in South Cambridgeshire, supporting biomedical R&D efforts?

Answer from Oliver Dowden (The Right Honourable) (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

I am committed to ensuring no area is left behind regarding connectivity. We have struck a deal with mobile operators to create shared rural networks addressing patchy coverage issues.

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Q5 Mary Glindon Lab Sunderland Central
Employment Science & Technology Business & Trade
Context

Northumberland is to benefit from government funding to enhance digital connectivity, fostering job creation in the northern powerhouse.

Question

Does the Secretary of State have a plan or timeline for fibre-to-the-premises rollout to boost job creation in North Tyneside?

Answer from Oliver Dowden (The Right Honourable) (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Our manifesto aims to roll out full fibre by 2025. Numbers have doubled in the past year, and we are working hard towards this ambitious target.

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Q6 Rob Butler Constitutional Aylesbury
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Communities rely on local radio for information during the coronavirus crisis. Mix 96 in Aylesbury has a long-standing commitment to the town.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that when big media groups such as Bauer buy up small stations like Mix, it is important to balance commercial imperatives alongside a genuine commitment to serve communities with locally produced content, local news and jobs for local people?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden

I wholly agree with my hon. Friend. Reliable local news is an important way of tackling the rise of misinformation and disinformation.

Answered
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Q7 Patrick Grady SNP North Glasgow
Scotland Business & Trade
Context

The creative sector is crucial to Patrick Grady's constituency and support packages have been announced, but concerns remain about long-term support.

Question

The support packages are welcome and better late than never, but the Secretary of State is still not answering questions about how self-employed creators will be supported through this crisis in the long term. The creative sector is literally the life and soul of my constituency, so if this Government cannot guarantee the support that creators need, will he devolve the powers to the Scottish Parliament, so that Scotland can support its artists in all their different shapes and forms?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden

I say gently to the hon. Gentleman that this package gives £96 million to Scotland under the Barnett consequentials, so I trust that he will ensure that that goes to those industries, rather than to the other priorities of the Scottish Government.

Answered
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Q8 Mark Menzies Con Fylde
Business & Trade
Context

The UK is looking to recover its domestic hospitality and tourism sectors post-coronavirus.

Question

With the domestic hospitality and tourism sectors raring to rebound following the recent disruption, what is the Department doing to encourage the British public to support these efforts and visit our coastal tourist attractions and resorts, in particular the gem that is the Fylde coast?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden

I share my hon. Friend's love of the Fylde coast, and I used to enjoy taking a dip in the sea in October when we had party conferences in Blackpool. It is precisely for such reasons that we have announced a massive VAT cut to help restart the tourism sector.

Answered
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