Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 10 February 2022 · 10 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 9 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ruth Jones asked about touring visas for musicians, and the Minister stated they are working to ease challenges since leaving the EU.
  • John Penrose questioned the balance of news on social media, and the Minister said they will introduce measures to address issues on social media platforms soon.
  • Jeff Smith criticized the Minister's response to Ruth Jones as too vague and asked for an EU-wide cultural touring agreement, to which the Minister replied that bilateral agreements with member states are being addressed.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ruth Jones Lab Newport West and Islwyn
Immigration
Context

Musicians in Newport West have been campaigning alongside leaders of the Musicians' Union for a touring visa.

Question

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?

Answer from Julia Lopez

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline or commitment for addressing the issue of touring visas

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Q2 John Penrose Con
Culture, Media & Sport

Question

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?

Answer from Chris Philp

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment regarding duty of balance extension

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Q3 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Musicians and orchestras are facing a touring crisis.

Question

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?

Answer from Julia Lopez

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific EU-wide cultural touring agreement

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Q4 Sheryll Murray Con
Context

Swimming is important for health and safety, especially in an island nation.

Question

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?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific future investments or guarantees for Saltash pool

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Q5 Peter Grant SNP
Science & Technology Standards & Ethics
Context

The Government were reluctant to implement a ban on Huawei.

Question

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?

Answer from Julia Lopez

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific review or timeline update

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Q6 Andy Carter
Culture, Media & Sport

Question

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?

Answer from Julia Lopez

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans or timeline

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Q7 Ronnie Cowan SNP
Culture, Media & Sport
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Chris Philp

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific measures mentioned that can be implemented before the Bill's enactment

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Q8 Mary Robinson Con
Science & Technology
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Julia Lopez

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific measures or timeline mentioned for addressing broadband disparities

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Q9 Marsha de Cordova Lab Battersea
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Only 7.9% of board members in the sporting sector are from a black, Asian or ethnic minority background, despite their significant contributions.

Question

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?

Answer from Nigel Huddleston

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.

Not addressed: No specific actions or timeline mentioned to increase representation

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Q10 Tobias Ellwood Con
Defence Science & Technology
Context

Families federations of Navy, Army and RAF are concerned about internet access on bases.

Question

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?

Answer from Julia Lopez

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment or timeline given for conducting a study and reporting back

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