Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 27 April 2023 · 12 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Kevin Brennan asked about upcoming gambling regulations and the draft Media Bill; the Minister confirmed an oral statement on gambling regulations and noted recent reforms in broadcasting regulation with a draft Media Bill.
  • Kevin Brennan inquired about Home Office policies affecting European musicians entering the UK; the response indicated the Department's commitment to supporting the creative sector and dialogue with the Foreign Secretary.
  • Alex Davies-Jones asked about protecting original work from emerging tech challenges; the response stated roundtables with the music industry to develop a code of conduct for protecting original work.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kevin Brennan Lab
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Lucy Frazer is about to make an oral statement on gambling regulations and broadcasting reforms.

Question

I am concerned about the upcoming White Paper on gambling regulations and the draft Media Bill. Can you confirm these details?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

I will shortly be making an oral statement setting out details of a White Paper to bring our gambling regulations into the smartphone age. My Department has recently unveiled landmark reforms to our broadcasting regulation with a new draft Media Bill.

Answered
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Q2 Kevin Brennan Lab
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

There have been instances of musicians being turned away at borders despite having valid engagements.

Question

Musicians are facing difficulties in entering the UK due to Home Office policies. Can you urge the Home Office to provide better access for European musicians?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

The Department is committed to supporting the creative sector in adapting to touring requirements in the EU. We are looking closely at this issue, and my Department has spoken with the Foreign Secretary about it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment without specific timeline or concrete action

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Q3 Andrew Lewer Con
Context

The Advertising Standards Authority has considerable powers but there are concerns about its use for social engineering.

Question

Is the ASA's focus on social issues rather than factual accuracy a cause for concern?

Answer from Julia Lopez

The ASA is at its best when it focuses on ensuring legal, decent, honest and truthful adverts, rather than making value judgments on social issues.

Answered
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Q4 Alex Davies-Jones Lab Pontypridd
Culture, Media & Sport Science & Technology
Context

There are concerns about the impact of AI on music copyright.

Question

What action is being taken to protect original work from emerging tech challenges?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

We are holding roundtables with the music industry to discuss this issue and aim to put together a code of conduct working closely with industry to protect original work produced by them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment without specific measures outlined

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Q5 Peter Aldous Con
Business & Trade
Context

The National Piers Society launched a touring exhibition of seaside pier posters.

Question

What efforts are being made to promote non-London destinations to overseas visitors?

Answer from Julia Lopez

We have a GREAT-funded campaign focusing on the Pembrokeshire coast, Thorpe Bay beach and Brighton pier. We also welcomed international trade buyers for educational visits across Britain, including coastal communities.

Answered
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Q6 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields
Economy Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Community centres like Chuter Ede are facing closure due to high energy bills and local authority cuts.

Question

What support is being given to organisations struggling with the cost of living crisis?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

This Government have provided significant support to organisations up and down the country to help them deal with the cost of living issues. We are also putting more money into grassroots sport than has been put in probably decades.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Support for sports but not specific details on community centres or energy bills

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Q7 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Transport Energy
Context

There are concerns about the taxation regime disincentivising the use of sustainable fuels in British motorsport.

Question

Will you work with me and colleagues in the Treasury to incentivise the use of sustainable fuels?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

I agree about the importance of motorsport in this country. We already support sustainable and synthetic fuels under the renewable transport fuel obligation scheme, but tax policy is a matter for the Treasury.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to work on ideas without specific timeline or concrete action

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Q8 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

A loan deal made by Richard Sharp, the former BBC Chairman, with a previous Prime Minister has damaged the BBC's reputation. The question focuses on whether the current PM is hesitant to act due to his relationship with Sharp.

Question

The reputation of the BBC has been dragged through the mud by the grubby loan deal that Richard Sharp made with a former Prime Minister, which allegedly was to curry favour to become BBC Chairman. Does the Minister therefore think that the current Prime Minister's pally-pally relationship with Sharp is why he has not sacked him yet?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

As the hon. Member will know, the Commissioner for Public Appointments is looking into this matter, and it would not be appropriate to comment until it has published its full report.

Not addressed: The specific ask about PM's relationship with Sharp was not addressed.

How: Referred The Question To An Ongoing Investigation

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Q9 Damian Collins Con
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The Folkestone library at Grace Hill, an important heritage asset in the town that is currently closed for structural repairs, raises concerns about its future under the Arts Council's strategy.

Question

The Folkestone library at Grace Hill in the town was one of the early Carnegie libraries, an important cultural hub as well as a working building. It is currently closed because structural repairs are required. Does the Minister agree that the Arts Council strategy should recognise not only the need to support working library facilities, but that they are often important heritage assets that benefit the whole local community?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

Library facilities are very important, and I was pleased to visit a library facility recently. We have put more funding into libraries and into communities across the country.

Not addressed: The specific ask about Arts Council strategy recognition of heritage value was not addressed.

How: Broad Statement About Importance Of Libraries

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Q10 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Concern over BBC Radio York's local connection to the community, particularly during afternoon programming, amidst reforms that may lead to its reduction.

Question

BBC Radio York keeps North Yorkshire connected to the local community, but the reforms will remove that vital link. It would be such little cost to keep afternoon programming and “Drive Time” running. Will the Minister look at the real cost of running that programme and ensure that the BBC does not cull BBC local radio?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

As the Minister of State has already mentioned, decisions on BBC programming are a matter for the BBC; as she also mentioned, the BBC will have heard the points made today about how strongly Members of this House and people across the country feel about this issue.

Not addressed: The specific ask about assessing costs was not addressed.

How: Referred To Decisions Being A Matter For The Bbc

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Q11 Alicia Kearns Con Rutland and Stamford
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The Rutland-to-Melton CiCLE Classic, an international men's single-day race cycling competition in the UK, needs additional RSL licences for its local radio station to cover all three towns.

Question

Will the Minister join me in congratulating the Rutland-to-Melton CiCLE Classic—the only international men's single-day race cycling competition in the whole UK? It was best listened to on Rutland and Stamford Sound, Rutland's only radio station, but we need three RSL licences to cover all our three towns. Will the Minister please meet me to discuss those urgent needs?

Answer from Julia Lopez

Any day now I will be going on maternity leave, but I will be covered by my right hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Sir John Whittingdale), who is an absolutely passionate supporter of the radio industry and who as a Back Bencher spoke to me about radio issues. I am sure that he will be happy to look into the licensing issue that my hon. Friend highlights.

Not addressed: The specific ask about meeting was not addressed.

How: Redirected Responsibility To Colleague

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Q12 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Women & Equalities
Context

The Rugby Football Union has introduced inclusive policies on maternity, pregnant parent, and adoption leave to normalise motherhood in sport.

Question

The Rugby Football Union has announced groundbreaking policies on maternity, pregnant parent and adoption leave, which have been said to normalise motherhood in sport. Will the Minister encourage more sporting bodies to introduce similar inclusive policies?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

The hon. Lady is absolutely right to raise this. One of the key elements that we will be looking at in the sporting strategy is how we increase opportunities for women and girls in sport. I am pleased to say that we have made significant announcements about equal provision in our schools—but yes, we absolutely push the governing bodies to do all they can to increase opportunities in the way the hon. Lady suggests.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for encouraging other sports bodies was not directly addressed with concrete commitments.

How: Broad Commitment Without Specifics

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