Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 20 July 2023 · 6 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government plans to improve mobility to the UK for European schoolchildren and students.
  • Minister supports the Sports Council's guidance on transgender participation in competitive sport.
  • Government will not abolish the licence fee for the remainder of the current charter period.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Brexit
Context

Last year, the number of European schoolchildren and students visiting the UK dropped by 83%, leading to a loss of 14,500 jobs and £875 million. The Prime Minister has made a commitment to increase the number of French students coming over.

Question

What is the Government's plan to deal with that shocking decline in European schoolchildren and students visiting the UK?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

I am pleased that the hon. Member mentioned the discussions that the Prime Minister has had with France. That bilateral arrangement will improve mobility to the UK. It is really important that those young groups come, and I can assure the hon. Member that I am looking at that issue more broadly.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plan not detailed beyond general improvements

How: Looking At This

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Q2 Duncan Baker
Women & Equalities
Context

A trans woman has been selected to join the England women's shore angling squad, and a constituent of Duncan Baker's has concerns about this.

Question

Will the Minister speak to the Angling Trust to request that it properly considers the Sports Council Equality Group's guidance on who is eligible for its women's team?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

These are clearly sensitive issues, and they need careful consideration and respect for those involved. The Government support the Sports Council's guidance on transgender participation. When it comes to competitive sport, we believe that safety and fairness have to be the primary considerations. I encourage the Angling Trust to engage with the Sports Council's guidance as it develops its thinking in this area.

Answered
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Q3 Alex Davies-Jones Lab Pontypridd
Culture, Media & Sport Science & Technology
Context

The creative industries are concerned about the impact of artificial intelligence on their work.

Question

What is the Secretary of State doing to secure, protect and enhance this British success story in the digital age?

Answer from Lucy Frazer

The shadow Minister is right to highlight AI, which presents potential opportunities as well as challenges, particularly in the domain of copyright and the creative industries. I am actively engaged with this issue and have held a number of meetings with the sector, including with the Creative Industries Council earlier this week, and with music, press and publishing stakeholders over recent weeks. This afternoon I will again meet with the Minister for AI and Intellectual Property, together with the Intellectual Property Office, to discuss this very issue.

Answered
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Q4 Scott Benton
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The BBC licence fee is seen as outdated and regressive by many. A formal review of the BBC's funding model will take place in the autumn.

Question

Surely abolishing the licence fee altogether has to be one of the options considered?

Answer from John Whittingdale

The Government have made it clear that the licence fee will remain in place for the remainder of this charter period, but my hon. Friend is right that there are challenges going forward. He may be aware that the number of people paying the licence fee has fallen by 1.9 million in the past five years, and it is therefore right that we look at possible alternative sources of funding for the BBC in the longer term. That will be the focus of the funding review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific options not detailed beyond licence fee continuation

How: Under Review

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Q5 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Women & Equalities
Context

The national team is in dispute with the Football Association over pay, following Karen Carney's review.

Question

How soon do the Government expect to implement the recommendations of Karen Carney's review?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

The hon. Lady is right to raise this important area. I am extremely grateful, as we all are in the Department, to Karen Carney for such an in-depth review of women's football. We are obviously looking at the recommendations she made in that report, and that will be a continuous agenda item in my regular discussions with the FA.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Timeline not provided beyond general discussion

How: Looking At This

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Q6 Anna Firth
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Staff have gone unpaid for months, and the club's future is uncertain.

Question

Please will my right hon. Friend agree to meet the Shrimpers Trust, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (Sir James Duddridge) and me, urgently, to see what more can be done to save this vital community asset?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

Can I praise my hon. Friend for the tremendous amount of work she has been doing on behalf of her constituents and the fans at Southend? I know how hard she is working. Of course, I would be more than happy to meet the fans group, as I have with those of other clubs, but I think this highlights the need for the independent football regulator.

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