13/09/2016 House of Commons


13/09/2016

Similar Content

Browse content similar to 13/09/2016. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!

Transcript


LineFromTo

Good morning and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the

:01:41.:01:47.

Commons. The main business today is the general debate on the Dhgital

:01:48.:01:50.

Economy Bill. Among other things, this includes powers to restrict

:01:51.:01:54.

access to online pornographx, protects intellectual property and

:01:55.:01:57.

gives you powers were public bodies to share data to combat public

:01:58.:02:02.

sector fraud. At three o'clock this afternoon, we will cross life to the

:02:03.:02:05.

Foreign Affairs Committee sdssion on the implications of leaving the

:02:06.:02:11.

European Union for the UK's global role, with evidence given bx the

:02:12.:02:14.

Secretary of State for exithng the EU. At that point, you can continue

:02:15.:02:18.

watching live Commons proceddings on our website. Or you can catch up

:02:19.:02:25.

overnight. Don't forget to join me for a round-up of the day in both

:02:26.:02:31.

houses of parliament at 11pl. In a moment, it is questions to the

:02:32.:02:36.

business and energy secretary and his ministry will -- ministdrial

:02:37.:02:43.

team. First, a Private bill for the Commons to deal with.

:02:44.:02:55.

Order, order! Clark will now proceed to read the title of the Prhvate

:02:56.:03:05.

Bill set down for this day. Haberdashers' Aske's Charitx Bill

:03:06.:03:08.

third reading. The bill will now be read a third time. I think the ayes

:03:09.:03:19.

habit. Order. I must inform the House that I have today recdived

:03:20.:03:24.

notification from the chair of the home affairs committee, the Right

:03:25.:03:28.

Honourable member for Leicester East, of his wish to resign from the

:03:29.:03:33.

chair. In accordance with standing order number 122 C, I therefore

:03:34.:03:37.

declare that the chair of the home affairs committee is vacant. I shall

:03:38.:03:43.

announce the arrangements for the election to this post alongside the

:03:44.:03:48.

elections for the vacant ch`irs of the culture, media and sport and

:03:49.:03:55.

science and technology commhttees, and any other new chairs to be

:03:56.:03:59.

created as a result of recent changes in the machinery of

:04:00.:04:03.

government. As soon as practicable. I hope that it will be posshble to

:04:04.:04:10.

hold those elections soon after the House returns in October. Order

:04:11.:04:17.

Questions to the Secretary of State for business, energy and industrial

:04:18.:04:21.

strategy. Question number one, Mr Speaker. Thank you very much indeed.

:04:22.:04:27.

With your permission, I'll `nswer this together with questions ten and

:04:28.:04:33.

13. Since I was appointed on the 14th of July, my colleagues and I

:04:34.:04:39.

have met with businesses, investors, workers and local leaders in all

:04:40.:04:43.

four home nations, as well `s travelling to India and Jap`n.

:04:44.:04:48.

Furthermore for the first thme, each local enterprise error and dach of

:04:49.:04:50.

the devolved administrations will have specific minister assigned to

:04:51.:04:59.

them in my department. -- local enterprise area. I think thd

:05:00.:05:04.

Secretary of State from his answer and also welcome the whole team to

:05:05.:05:09.

the new department as well. The aerospace industry is absolttely

:05:10.:05:12.

vital to the west of England economy. Not just for jobs, but also

:05:13.:05:17.

for growth as well. We'll bd Secretary of State work with me in

:05:18.:05:21.

order to ensure that the entire aerospace industry receives the

:05:22.:05:26.

support it requires and desdrves? Mr Speaker, I certainly will do that.

:05:27.:05:32.

One of the biggest privilegds of this job is to be reunited with

:05:33.:05:37.

aerospace, and I got to know the sector when I was science mhnister.

:05:38.:05:41.

My first ministerial meeting, visit, was with breakfast with the

:05:42.:05:46.

aerospace growth partnership at the Farnborough airshow, where H ran

:05:47.:05:51.

into my right honourable frhend The West of England was well represented

:05:52.:06:00.

there. This is a very important sector for the economy, and will

:06:01.:06:06.

have my wholehearted support. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I too would like to

:06:07.:06:11.

pass on my welcome to the ndw ministerial team. I've had ` number

:06:12.:06:17.

of correspondence from a few local businesses, predominantly slall who

:06:18.:06:20.

have been training with European partners over a long period of time

:06:21.:06:24.

but has recently seen supplx chain costs rise. Could he outlind his

:06:25.:06:29.

commitment to supporting our small businesses in our new relathonship

:06:30.:06:33.

with Europe, to ensure that local and regional economies conthnue to

:06:34.:06:40.

grow? I will indeed. What I will say, I know many small businesses in

:06:41.:06:47.

her constituency. We have m`de over ?3 billion available to smaller

:06:48.:06:52.

businesses. She will know that from April next year, the small business

:06:53.:06:57.

rate relief will double perlanently. That will benefit 60,000 sm`ll

:06:58.:07:03.

businesses. This is part of our continuing commitment to sm`ll

:07:04.:07:09.

business, which is the motor of the bigger businesses that generate so

:07:10.:07:12.

many jobs together with small businesses in our economy. Ly home

:07:13.:07:20.

constituency, long established, beautiful seaside destination with

:07:21.:07:24.

big future ambitions includhng 42017, a new hot air balloon

:07:25.:07:29.

Festival. Tourism is lifeblood to my town -- including 2017. I'm

:07:30.:07:37.

delighted to welcome the Eastbourne hospitality Association. Can the

:07:38.:07:40.

Minister tell me if he has had discussions with the tourisl

:07:41.:07:44.

industry around reducing thd level of VAT on tourism services to bring

:07:45.:07:49.

us into line with competitive destinations in the European Union

:07:50.:07:52.

and give our industry the competitive platform from which it

:07:53.:07:57.

can stimulate investment, create jobs, deliver growth and take full

:07:58.:08:00.

advantages of the opportunities in life after Brexit? My honourable

:08:01.:08:10.

friend is a big campaign in the tourism industry. I welcome her

:08:11.:08:14.

visitors here today. We havd one of the highest VAT threshold is in the

:08:15.:08:18.

European Union here in the TK so that many small businesses don't

:08:19.:08:24.

need to charge VAT. Of course, I will continue my discussions with

:08:25.:08:28.

her. The hot air balloon Festival sounds a very tempting excursion,

:08:29.:08:34.

perhaps for many members in this house. And I look forward to

:08:35.:08:39.

continuing these discussions of her and her colleagues. Does thd

:08:40.:08:47.

Secretary of State agree th`t British business people are fat and

:08:48.:08:52.

spent too much time on the golf course? And lazy? And lazy. Mr

:08:53.:09:02.

Speaker, I am yet to meet a lady businessperson, starting with my own

:09:03.:09:06.

father, who was up before d`wn every morning running his own small

:09:07.:09:09.

business. My friend is right in reminding us that across thd whole

:09:10.:09:13.

country, every business needs to work hard as it does every day of

:09:14.:09:18.

the week, that is the secret to our competitive success. That is the way

:09:19.:09:21.

we will continue to prosper as a nation. In light of comments made

:09:22.:09:26.

last week by the Japanese ambassador, the Secretary of State

:09:27.:09:32.

will be aware that Nissan, based in my constituency, contributes ?2 1

:09:33.:09:36.

billion to the UK balance of trade. And it exports 80% of all c`rs made

:09:37.:09:43.

at the plant in Sunderland. What opportunities to PC for automotive

:09:44.:09:49.

companies such as Nissan in a post-Brexit strategy and will he

:09:50.:09:52.

commit to meeting this Niss`n as soon as possible? I will not only

:09:53.:09:58.

make that commitment but tell her that I have already done so and have

:09:59.:10:02.

met the Japanese ambassador. The automotive sector and Nissan in

:10:03.:10:07.

particular is a hugely important and valued part, not only of thd

:10:08.:10:12.

Honourable Lady's constituency, but of the whole country. And it has our

:10:13.:10:18.

full hearted support. The albassador and I have met twice. I think it's

:10:19.:10:24.

very encouraging that the J`panese ambassador on behalf of the

:10:25.:10:28.

government shares with us their priorities for our negotiathon. That

:10:29.:10:31.

is exactly the sort of relationship that I hope and expect to h`ve our

:10:32.:10:35.

partners around the world. Will people be aware of the great anger

:10:36.:10:39.

felt by Britain's wealth crdators at the comments of his right honourable

:10:40.:10:44.

colleague. What conversations, not just to them, but to our reputation

:10:45.:10:49.

abroad, what conversations `s he had specifically with his right

:10:50.:10:52.

honourable friend and with the Prime Minister about liberating the

:10:53.:10:57.

damage? My right honourable friend has been vigorous during thd summer

:10:58.:11:01.

in going around the world, promoting the case for British business, as is

:11:02.:11:09.

his job. And members will h`ve the support of everyone in this House if

:11:10.:11:13.

they join the effort that wd are making to promote the great

:11:14.:11:17.

opportunities already in thhs country, and the further

:11:18.:11:21.

opportunities to come. Speaker, Secretary of State, can I ask you if

:11:22.:11:25.

you agree that free trade is at the heart of a prosperous econoly? And

:11:26.:11:29.

will you and your front bench colleagues be resisting any attempts

:11:30.:11:33.

to impose any form of protectionism when we come to negotiating future

:11:34.:11:40.

trade arrangements? The deb`te goes through the Channel. I'm not

:11:41.:11:44.

expressing any view, but I think I know what the Honourable gentleman

:11:45.:11:49.

had in mind. I think free trade courses through the veins of this

:11:50.:11:52.

country. It is one of the rdasons that we've been most successful Our

:11:53.:11:56.

surprise last week to hear ` commitment to free trade described

:11:57.:12:01.

as dogma. I think it is one of our strengths, and he has an absolute

:12:02.:12:04.

assurance that this will be very much at the four of our repttation

:12:05.:12:12.

in the future as well as past. Can I welcome the Business Secret`ry to

:12:13.:12:18.

his new post. He certainly has his work cut out. Australia says it s

:12:19.:12:21.

going to take at least thred years after Brexit to a trade deal can be

:12:22.:12:27.

in place of the UK, while the United States, Japan and China havd already

:12:28.:12:30.

expressed their views about the prospects of foreign investlent and

:12:31.:12:34.

trade with the UK. Can he tdll us what he is doing to get behhnd UK

:12:35.:12:40.

businesses and deal with thd concerns of our internation`l

:12:41.:12:43.

partners following the Brexht Fred? And can I say to him, that he could

:12:44.:12:49.

do better -- could not do bdtter than start telling his colldagues to

:12:50.:12:53.

get behind business and stop insulting them. I would be

:12:54.:12:57.

interested in the support of the party opposite for promoting British

:12:58.:13:01.

business around the world, `nd he will know from our previous work on

:13:02.:13:07.

local growers, he'll always have a willing ear and assistance from me

:13:08.:13:10.

in doing that. He was kind dnough to welcome me. Can I welcome the front

:13:11.:13:14.

bench team opposite that has been formed. I have to say, the

:13:15.:13:18.

Honourable gentleman who was my shadow in my DC LG role has followed

:13:19.:13:24.

me here. Perhaps not so much shadow as a stalker, but I regarded as

:13:25.:13:32.

flattery. I think it is important. Relationships are important.

:13:33.:13:40.

I think it's important you get to know our partners around thd world.

:13:41.:13:45.

I have done that and my colleagues have done that. I visited otr

:13:46.:13:51.

investors and manufacturers in Japan and India, and I will continue to do

:13:52.:13:59.

so. Cambridge is a net contributor to the Treasury. 20,000 bushnesses

:14:00.:14:03.

generating revenue of over ?30 billion. We have had cross-party

:14:04.:14:09.

meetings with business leaddrs about the application of breaks gdt for

:14:10.:14:14.

our local colony. -- implic`tions of Brexit. What the Minister mdet in my

:14:15.:14:19.

constituency to discuss these implications? I remain and hnfuse

:14:20.:14:25.

yesterday visited the Cambrhdge It is one of the important features of

:14:26.:14:30.

our industrial strategy is to have a clear recognition of the

:14:31.:14:34.

contribution of the local ldadership of different places bring. H have

:14:35.:14:41.

appointed minister as the lhaison with Cambridge, but I would be very

:14:42.:14:48.

happy to visit myself in future I welcome the Secretary of State and

:14:49.:14:52.

his team to their positions. There are challenges, one of which is the

:14:53.:15:00.

trade deficit increasing to ?2. billion. A problem unlikely to be

:15:01.:15:04.

resolved waive the withdraw`l from the single market. Scotland voted to

:15:05.:15:13.

remain, Scotland wishes to remain on -- unhindered in its access to the

:15:14.:15:17.

markets, this analysis support that or does he remain committed to feel

:15:18.:15:22.

English Brexit. Many members of the House wdre

:15:23.:15:28.

impressed by the Honourable member and's contribution to last weeks

:15:29.:15:32.

debate. I will work very hard to make sure our negotiating m`ndate

:15:33.:15:39.

reflects all parts of the United Kingdom. It was a United Kingdom

:15:40.:15:42.

decision to come out of the European Union, will make the most of it

:15:43.:15:47.

together. The Scottish Government analysis in

:15:48.:15:51.

terms of the UK withdrawal from the European Union is that it could cost

:15:52.:15:56.

the Scottish economy at best ?1 7 billion a year, and at worst ?1 .2

:15:57.:16:01.

billion. I repeat, will he lake the case from his department for

:16:02.:16:05.

continued membership of the European market humour I made clear hn my

:16:06.:16:12.

answer earlier that free tr`de is what we want to see.

:16:13.:16:17.

In further discussions, not only with the devolved administr`tions

:16:18.:16:21.

but with business investors around the world, we will make surd the

:16:22.:16:25.

negotiating mandate we have is ambitious and will ensure the

:16:26.:16:31.

brightest future for the whole United Kingdom.

:16:32.:16:39.

With your permission, Mr Spdaker, I will answer this question whth

:16:40.:16:44.

question four. I said on thd 28th of July the Government will consider

:16:45.:16:47.

all the component parts of the Hinkley Point C proposed project

:16:48.:16:54.

before coming to a decision. We will do just that, and the Prime Minister

:16:55.:17:01.

said this week, a decision will be research next month.

:17:02.:17:08.

My recent summer surgery to, a number of constituents raisdd

:17:09.:17:11.

concerns about the cost to the taxpayer of the Hinkley Point C

:17:12.:17:15.

development. Barclays estim`ted that even as EDF that delivers four years

:17:16.:17:21.

late, and 25% over budget, ht would still make a profit on the deal

:17:22.:17:27.

with the deficit being pickdd up over the next 35 years by ordinary

:17:28.:17:32.

people. Does the Minister think such a public subsidy provides v`lue for

:17:33.:17:35.

the taxpayer? As I said in my answer, we `re

:17:36.:17:40.

looking at all components of the deal and will make a decision before

:17:41.:17:44.

the end of the month. I do think it is a responsible act on the part of

:17:45.:17:48.

the Government to consider our energy supplies for the futtre in

:17:49.:17:54.

the long term. I know the Scottish Government has turned its f`ce

:17:55.:17:58.

against new nuclear. We reg`rd that as an important part of a dhverse

:17:59.:18:03.

energy mix that gives resilhence to UK consumers.

:18:04.:18:09.

Given that the Brexiter votd has thrown the energy sector further

:18:10.:18:15.

uncertainty, and given that we note that energy from renewable sources

:18:16.:18:18.

will be cheaper and new killer by the time Hinkley is completdd, is it

:18:19.:18:24.

not time for the UK to follow the Scottish Government's example and

:18:25.:18:29.

embrace cheaper, safer and lore plans for alternatives to ntke the?

:18:30.:18:36.

Winston Churchill said that in energy, diversity and the rdst is

:18:37.:18:41.

the foundation for security. I think those are wise words and we are wise

:18:42.:18:44.

to have a range of energy sources, now and in the future. Incltding

:18:45.:18:53.

renewables, of course. I strongly support the Primd

:18:54.:18:57.

Minister's decision on this, given that China insists on trying to hack

:18:58.:19:01.

not only state agencies as well as our commercial companies, pttting

:19:02.:19:05.

two fingers up to the arbitration Court in the Hague, these are people

:19:06.:19:13.

through with which we should stop with a long spoon, and I colmend the

:19:14.:19:19.

paper written by the intellhgence committee and is Malcolm Rifkind

:19:20.:19:23.

three years ago. I am grateful for these comlents. He

:19:24.:19:29.

will know the commits went we have made is to look at all components of

:19:30.:19:34.

the proposed deal and to make our decision very shortly. We whll

:19:35.:19:38.

report to the House when we have done that and reports on a decision

:19:39.:19:45.

at that point. The Government is very wise to take

:19:46.:19:48.

a deep breath before committing itself to the massive cost of

:19:49.:19:53.

Hinkley. Evidence is mounting all the time in terms of new technology.

:19:54.:19:58.

In particular, fusion rather than vision, battery storage and so on. I

:19:59.:20:06.

do commend the Government for considering this decision vdry

:20:07.:20:09.

slowly. I am grateful to my right honourable

:20:10.:20:14.

friend. I think it is important for such an important decision to make

:20:15.:20:18.

sure a new Government looks at all the components. Looking to the

:20:19.:20:23.

future for energy supply, I think it is important and we benefit from the

:20:24.:20:28.

full range of technologies, including some of the ones he

:20:29.:20:37.

mentioned. This came in on question ond, I

:20:38.:20:41.

haven't forgotten it, even hf he has. We'll say that full eight-hour!

:20:42.:20:52.

There is a company based in my constituency that is the prdferred

:20:53.:20:59.

supplier for reinforced stedl to build Hinkley Point C. My concern is

:21:00.:21:09.

being... What the Secretary of State please update the House on the

:21:10.:21:14.

timetable? The honourable lady is right that

:21:15.:21:18.

we, across all different forms of energy generation, need to tpgrade

:21:19.:21:24.

our capacity for energy gendration. Doing that will have import`nt

:21:25.:21:31.

advantages for other companhes, including steel suppliers, right

:21:32.:21:35.

across the United Kingdom. Hn terms of a decision on Hinkley, wd will

:21:36.:21:42.

take it before the end of the month. Can my right honourable fridnds

:21:43.:21:47.

confirm that, as well as thd proposed new killer power station at

:21:48.:21:50.

Hinkley Point C, the other part of that package, a new Chinese hyphens

:21:51.:21:56.

assigned station also remains on the table?

:21:57.:22:06.

The decision is on the parthcular contract difference at Hinkley Point

:22:07.:22:11.

C, that is what we are revidwing and we will take that decision when that

:22:12.:22:18.

review has been completed. I'd to welcome the front bench to

:22:19.:22:22.

their new positions, along with my stalker friend. After putting 2 ,000

:22:23.:22:32.

highly skilled jobs at risk, after jeopardising 500 much-needed stem

:22:33.:22:36.

apprenticeships, after offending the Chinese Government and riskhng

:22:37.:22:44.

billions of pounds of investment in the UK economy, after sheddhng shock

:22:45.:22:47.

waves to the investment comlunity who think the premise that now

:22:48.:22:50.

doesn't understand the meanhng of investment possession, does the

:22:51.:22:55.

Secretary of State agree with those in the industry who think that the

:22:56.:22:59.

Prime Minister's courses approach now looks like dithering?

:23:00.:23:05.

I prefer the Prime Minister's cautious approach to the approach of

:23:06.:23:09.

the honourable gentleman, which is completely inconsistent, as far as I

:23:10.:23:12.

can see. He criticises the Government for reviewing thhs

:23:13.:23:18.

important decision, but says at the same time we should take three

:23:19.:23:22.

months to seriously review the decision. There is a contradiction

:23:23.:23:28.

in his position. But it doesn't surprise me, because it is the

:23:29.:23:34.

complete absence of an energy policy during the 13 years of the previous

:23:35.:23:39.

Labour governments, that we knew new killer power station is werd going

:23:40.:23:43.

to come to the end of their life, this Government is making ddcisions

:23:44.:23:48.

proper, serious way, making up for the last time under the Labour

:23:49.:23:57.

years. I am delighted the Prime Minister

:23:58.:24:00.

has asked me to leap the historic task of leading a proper industrial

:24:01.:24:04.

strategy for this country. We have it once in a generation chance to

:24:05.:24:09.

embrace the new opportunitids of our global role and upgrade our economy

:24:10.:24:13.

to work for everyone. We will work with industry, local leaders,

:24:14.:24:17.

innovators, employees and consumers to create conditions for future

:24:18.:24:21.

success. May I also take the opportunity to

:24:22.:24:25.

congratulate the entire front bench teams on their appointment. The word

:24:26.:24:31.

industrial strategy often conjure up images of manufacturing and heavy

:24:32.:24:35.

industry. Can the Secretary of State confirm that...

:24:36.:24:47.

It seems to me that in projdcting forward how we are going to earn a

:24:48.:24:51.

living as a nation, we look to our strengths. It is correct th`t the

:24:52.:24:56.

service sector is one of our greatest drinks. We must crdate the

:24:57.:25:01.

conditions for that prosper in the future.

:25:02.:25:05.

Then I also welcome the secretary of state to what is a fantastic and

:25:06.:25:09.

ambitious, interesting and challenging brief. I wish hhm and is

:25:10.:25:15.

team all the best. Can the secretary of state state precisely ex`ctly how

:25:16.:25:21.

this new industrial strategx marks a change in Government approach to

:25:22.:25:24.

collaborate with business and intervention in the economy, or is

:25:25.:25:30.

it just a change to the old approach?

:25:31.:25:33.

It is certainly not that. I would welcome the involvement of the new

:25:34.:25:38.

Select Committee, which I think will be important, and making sure we

:25:39.:25:44.

capture everything we need to make a success of this. I don't thhnk it is

:25:45.:25:48.

brand-new in that we build on success. We talked with the

:25:49.:25:55.

Honourable gentleman's colldague on the automotive sector. We know that

:25:56.:25:59.

has been basic that the good source of strength. The environment we are

:26:00.:26:05.

created with firms in the sdctor, capacities and scientific

:26:06.:26:08.

institutions has been cruci`l to success. We will build on the strong

:26:09.:26:12.

foundations and expressed vdry clearly our path for the future

:26:13.:26:17.

As the Government formulates its industrial strategy, and urge my

:26:18.:26:23.

right honourable friend to look at the American research progr`mme

:26:24.:26:32.

which funds the stages after... Would he consider a UK equivalents?

:26:33.:26:36.

I'm grateful to my honourable friend is very well informed about the need

:26:37.:26:43.

to translate research success into small business success. I'm sure we

:26:44.:26:47.

can talk further about it. I work on the new team, but I'm sure

:26:48.:26:54.

even the secretary of state that this isn't going to be a full

:26:55.:26:58.

English Brexit, it's going to be a dog's Brexit. Thank you much, I m

:26:59.:27:05.

going to be here all week. On a doctoral strategy, one of the

:27:06.:27:09.

problems we face -- industrhal strategy, is that many parts of the

:27:10.:27:16.

UK are now post-industrial. Areas have one industry like tourhsm, iron

:27:17.:27:21.

and steel or shipbuilding. Will he make sure that we take this

:27:22.:27:26.

opportunity to invest in those areas to increase productivity and those

:27:27.:27:30.

forgotten areas? They're not forgotten. The right

:27:31.:27:36.

honourable gentleman is good at the one-liners, and the creativd

:27:37.:27:40.

industries are a great source of strength, including comedians. I

:27:41.:27:46.

would say, if you look around the world at some of the most stccessful

:27:47.:27:50.

blazers, successful cities hn particular, they have developed in a

:27:51.:27:57.

way that they have resilience through different industries, even

:27:58.:28:00.

where the was the single, dominant industry. That is precisely we want

:28:01.:28:06.

to work with local leaders to make sure we strengthen the resilience of

:28:07.:28:07.

our regional centres. And the Minister for consumdr

:28:08.:28:20.

affairs, who is a brilliant retweet, particularly of my interview today.

:28:21.:28:25.

As part of my strategy, I hope my right honourable friend will

:28:26.:28:29.

recognise the importance of science and innovation. In my consthtuency,

:28:30.:28:34.

we are a microcosm in the ftture of Britain, and I hope that it will

:28:35.:28:37.

feature strongly in his str`tegy. It certainly will. The strength of

:28:38.:28:44.

science, not least in Oxfordshire, is one of our national strengths. It

:28:45.:28:48.

will absolutely be in the hdart of our strategy. Secretary of State,

:28:49.:28:56.

how will he ensure that futtre industrial strategy is mindful of

:28:57.:29:00.

Northern Ireland's particul`r reliance on EU support and `ccess to

:29:01.:29:06.

the common market? As I said earlier, we will make sure that we

:29:07.:29:10.

work with our colleagues across the United Kingdom. I had a productive

:29:11.:29:13.

meeting with Simon Hamilton during the summer to make sure that we

:29:14.:29:18.

coordinate our efforts with those of policymakers in Northern Irdland. It

:29:19.:29:22.

needs to be joined up, it whll be, and will make sure that our

:29:23.:29:25.

negotiating mandate reflects contributions from across the UK. Mr

:29:26.:29:31.

Speaker, I join others in wdlcoming the front bench. The countrx is very

:29:32.:29:37.

badly on balance at the momdnt, and we will support any realisthc

:29:38.:29:42.

thoroughgoing industrial strategy that is developed. We now h`ve a

:29:43.:29:46.

strategy's gone over the sulmer BHS has gone bust, 11,000 jobs gone

:29:47.:29:51.

Sports Direct playing less than minimum wage. -- paying less than.

:29:52.:30:02.

Meanwhile, the companies ard being called fat and lazy. There hs still

:30:03.:30:07.

no clear and unambiguous progress on the steel industry. It has been over

:30:08.:30:13.

two years since the consult`tion ended. When will he make cldar that

:30:14.:30:18.

the pensions of tens of thotsands of loyal, hard-working steelworkers

:30:19.:30:22.

will be properly protected? When it comes to the steel industry, it is

:30:23.:30:29.

very important industry in our country. I grew up in Teesshde,

:30:30.:30:35.

where it was particularly prominent. I've had some very productive

:30:36.:30:38.

discussions during the summdr, including visiting South Wales, to

:30:39.:30:41.

make sure that the government can give the right support to a

:30:42.:30:47.

sustainable future for the steel industry. They have been very

:30:48.:30:50.

constructive discussions and I'm very happy to make sure that he is

:30:51.:30:55.

aware of them. Number five, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

:30:56.:31:09.

Solar deployment has been a real UK success story, with almost 01

:31:10.:31:13.

gigawatts of capacity now installed. Of course, it is appropriatd to

:31:14.:31:17.

allow now for a period of stability following the changes made to

:31:18.:31:21.

protect consumer bills. The Secretary of State continues to keep

:31:22.:31:23.

the performance of the schele under review. The PricewaterhouseCoopers

:31:24.:31:32.

report in July showed almost 60 of companies are looking to diversify

:31:33.:31:36.

away from solar, and nearly four in ten considering leaving the solar

:31:37.:31:40.

market entirely as a result of your policy changes. What steps will the

:31:41.:31:45.

Minister take to avoid business confidence in this important sector

:31:46.:31:50.

dropping further? There is remarkably little sign that

:31:51.:31:53.

confidence is dropping in the sector. There is recognition that

:31:54.:31:56.

those changes had to be madd, and the sector has responded relarkably

:31:57.:32:00.

resilient knee to the changds made. Let us not forget that they have

:32:01.:32:05.

also been spreading expertise in solar internationally. Dodgd

:32:06.:32:10.

resiliently. This is a long,term success story. I welcome thd team to

:32:11.:32:18.

their new roles. A signific`nt employer in my constituency have

:32:19.:32:21.

contacted me regarding concdrns about the re-evaluations of business

:32:22.:32:27.

rates, rooftop solar. The rdsult is a six to eight fold increasd in

:32:28.:32:32.

rates. Would my friend agredd to meet with representatives from the

:32:33.:32:35.

company to see how these effects can be mitigated? I'm grateful for the

:32:36.:32:41.

question. I know the companx well, it has substantial operation in

:32:42.:32:47.

Herefordshire. Of course, it is right to acknowledge that v`luations

:32:48.:32:51.

in this area are made by thd independent evaluation office. The

:32:52.:32:54.

department liaising with thd industry and the office on this

:32:55.:32:59.

issue, but I certainly would be delighted to meet with the company

:33:00.:33:04.

and him to discuss it. Has the Minister done any analysis of the

:33:05.:33:09.

relationship of payback perhods for commercial and rooftop solar,

:33:10.:33:15.

particularly school solar, hn relation to that proposed hhke in

:33:16.:33:20.

business rates quiz back -- business rates? Does he intend to ch`nge

:33:21.:33:26.

tariffs if the valuation coles into place? I simply repeat that the

:33:27.:33:30.

matter is under review. We haven't seen what the agency proposds, and

:33:31.:33:33.

we will look at it closely when we see what they have done. Thd

:33:34.:33:39.

Minister talks about stabilhty, by which he is referring to a 83% drop

:33:40.:33:45.

in solar installations this year. After a 64% cut in subsidy to solar,

:33:46.:33:51.

and eight fold hike in the proposed business rates, it would appear that

:33:52.:33:55.

the next attack on solar renewables is already being planned. C`n the

:33:56.:34:00.

Minister confirmed whether ht is by incompetence or by calculathon that

:34:01.:34:05.

changes to charges put forw`rd by the regulator to end the unfair

:34:06.:34:09.

advantage to highly polluting diesel generators, will in fact negatively

:34:10.:34:13.

impact on small-scale renew`bles like solar? I think it is whdely

:34:14.:34:20.

understood, Mr Speaker, that the sector needed some changes to the

:34:21.:34:23.

feed in tariffs, because thd effect of them was to hit consumers very

:34:24.:34:31.

hard in the pocket. These charges are paid by consumers. Let's not

:34:32.:34:36.

forget that 99% of all solar panels installed have been installdd over

:34:37.:34:40.

the last six years. Number six, Mr Speaker. With permission, Mr

:34:41.:34:49.

Speaker, I will answer six with seven. This government supports

:34:50.:34:54.

innovation, soon to be part of UK research and innovation. It has

:34:55.:34:59.

invested over ?1.8 billion hn innovation since 2007. Innovators

:35:00.:35:02.

connecting businesses to local growth through its regional

:35:03.:35:08.

managers. There is also support through ?200 million of loc`l growth

:35:09.:35:14.

funding. As Channel and -- `s chairman, the space industrx has

:35:15.:35:19.

outgrown the economy by 10% or through the austerity years. The

:35:20.:35:25.

space industry is worried about the issues caused by Brexiteer dven

:35:26.:35:28.

though it is outside the European Union. Which he give us your

:35:29.:35:33.

reassurance that the industry will not be an overlooked? We recognise

:35:34.:35:40.

the value of space to our economy and are working closely with

:35:41.:35:43.

industry to understand their concerns. Also working closdly

:35:44.:35:47.

across government to understand the impact of the referendum and all the

:35:48.:35:50.

opportunities associated with it, and will continue to do this as we

:35:51.:35:54.

shape our future relationshhp with European Union. Thank you, Speaker.

:35:55.:35:59.

The success of our agriculttral industry is dependent on thd latest

:36:00.:36:02.

innovations in agricultural science and technology driven forward by

:36:03.:36:06.

world leading research centres like one on the outskirts of York. What

:36:07.:36:11.

assurances can the Minister give that agri- food research will

:36:12.:36:14.

continue to play an important role in the government's overall strategy

:36:15.:36:19.

so for supporting innovation and ultimately delivering food security?

:36:20.:36:24.

This government is investing ?1 0 million in agri- tech, incltding

:36:25.:36:27.

incentives for agricultural innovation to ensure that otr world

:36:28.:36:30.

leading science is improving productivity and farms. In `ddition,

:36:31.:36:41.

a week UK wide food innovathon network which is to be launched very

:36:42.:36:43.

shortly, will give businessds greater access to technologx and

:36:44.:36:45.

science. Will be Minister ensure that the devolved legislatures right

:36:46.:36:48.

across the United Kingdom, the relevant ministers there, are

:36:49.:36:52.

brought together to ensure the best practice in innovation right across

:36:53.:36:56.

the United Kingdom is not jtst replicated but brought forw`rd in

:36:57.:36:59.

each of the relevant sections across the UK? Mr Speaker, we are working

:37:00.:37:07.

closely with the devolved administrations as we put through

:37:08.:37:11.

the creation of UK research and innovation. Excellent science and

:37:12.:37:14.

innovation will be supported through this new body, and we look forward

:37:15.:37:19.

to continuing to fund excellence in science and innovation wherdver it

:37:20.:37:24.

is found in the United Kingdom. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Innovation is

:37:25.:37:29.

key to our regional economids, helping to create high skilled,

:37:30.:37:34.

well-paid jobs. Innovation needs investment and research and

:37:35.:37:36.

development, and small businesses to make a success of new ideas.

:37:37.:37:43.

European funding has helped grow our regional innovation infrastructure,

:37:44.:37:48.

the Northeast alone receives ?1 0 million in research funding from now

:37:49.:37:55.

until 2020. While 72% of EU funding to UK businesses goes to sm`ll and

:37:56.:37:59.

medium-sized businesses. Will the minister commit to matching the

:38:00.:38:03.

funding for innovation which currently comes from the European

:38:04.:38:10.

Union? Mr Speaker, we have been monitoring the impact, or any

:38:11.:38:14.

impact, on our research institutions and businesses since the referendum.

:38:15.:38:20.

The announcement on August the 3th by HM Treasury that it will

:38:21.:38:23.

underwrite the rifle of the project or competitively bid for EU research

:38:24.:38:27.

funding that is applied for performed a partner -- underwrite

:38:28.:38:36.

for the life of the project funding that is applied for before

:38:37.:38:48.

departure. Consumer product safety is a government priority. Wd have an

:38:49.:38:53.

effective system of product brief call and have established a steering

:38:54.:38:59.

group to consider recommend`tions in the 2016 product recall revhew. We

:39:00.:39:04.

will engage with the London Fire Brigade on their campaign as part of

:39:05.:39:10.

our regular dialogue with them. You'll be aware of the fire in

:39:11.:39:15.

Shepherd's Bush tower block last month caused by a defective towel

:39:16.:39:23.

dry. The woman could do nothing to stop the fire destroying her home

:39:24.:39:26.

and 25 others. Does the Minhster agree that such drivers can continue

:39:27.:39:33.

to be used if not unattended is irresponsible and dangerous, and

:39:34.:39:37.

will she get it changed -- such tumble dryers? I was shocked to hear

:39:38.:39:42.

about the serious fire in the Honourable member's constittency and

:39:43.:39:45.

understand his concerns abott the safety of tumble dryers. Thd advice

:39:46.:39:49.

being provided by the company is based on a full risk assesslent of

:39:50.:39:52.

the products that has been `greed with Peterborough City Council

:39:53.:39:58.

trading standards, who are the lead enforcement of authority for

:39:59.:40:01.

Whirpool. Trading standards will continue to monitor the sittation

:40:02.:40:05.

and to have powers to order further action if they consider it

:40:06.:40:10.

appropriate. Tumble dryer fhres each day in this country, almost 250

:40:11.:40:16.

since the start of 2012. Will the Minister ensure there are fhreproof

:40:17.:40:20.

labels on all tumble dryers with make, model, serial number, so that

:40:21.:40:24.

when fires do occur they can be traced to the manufacturer? I thank

:40:25.:40:32.

my honourable friend for his question. Although there have been

:40:33.:40:36.

the serious fires, they do `ctually represents less than 0.2% of the

:40:37.:40:41.

total numbers of tumble drydrs sold. So we have to keep these thhngs in

:40:42.:40:52.

perspective. The review that provides an overview of the current

:40:53.:40:56.

consumer product recall system. And the independent recall revidw group,

:40:57.:41:02.

comprised of industry safetx experts and the chief fire officers

:41:03.:41:05.

Association, will complete the work on these recommendations. Ntmber

:41:06.:41:13.

nine, please. Is a department, where absolutely committed to enstring

:41:14.:41:17.

only safe products are placdd on the market, including laser pens. Given

:41:18.:41:22.

the risks associated with mhsuse of these pens, we are reviewing what

:41:23.:41:26.

more we can do to protect consumers and aircraft. Thank you for that

:41:27.:41:33.

answer. Last year, there was over 1300 incidents where certain laser

:41:34.:41:40.

pens were used to target aircraft and infrastructure. Will he support

:41:41.:41:45.

the bill to regulate the sale of these pence, supported by the

:41:46.:41:49.

British airline pilots Association? Can congratulate my friend for his

:41:50.:41:52.

persistence and passion in pursuing this very important issue, because

:41:53.:41:57.

there are significant risks attached to misuse. I sure that the

:41:58.:42:00.

government is taking very sdriously and there is a cross Whiteh`ll group

:42:01.:42:05.

looking urgently now at our options, including the case for further

:42:06.:42:08.

legislation. By mixing me h`ppy in that context to meet him. Would the

:42:09.:42:15.

Minister help the leading manufacturer of laser pens hn my

:42:16.:42:19.

constituency, was a great stpporter of the northern Powerhouse, and will

:42:20.:42:23.

be attending Thursday's big conference in Yorkshire. On

:42:24.:42:28.

innovation and creativity in Yorkshire. What he wants to know is

:42:29.:42:33.

why Lord O'Neill was suddenly pulled as a speaker, no substitute offered,

:42:34.:42:37.

and we hear that the governlent will not have anything to do with elected

:42:38.:42:41.

mayors all northern powerhotse. What is the situation now? Can wd talk

:42:42.:42:53.

about laser pens, rather th`n the engagements of Lord O'Neill. Let me

:42:54.:42:59.

take this opportunity to refute absolutely any suggestion that the

:43:00.:43:02.

government has lost any comlitment to the northern powerhouse hn terms

:43:03.:43:08.

of engagements. If you'd like to speak to me, I will try and throw

:43:09.:43:09.

some light. The member is a exponent of this

:43:10.:43:21.

shoehorning technique. He could broadly write a book on the subject.

:43:22.:43:31.

I welcome the question from a colleague I have enjoyed watching at

:43:32.:43:37.

work, his incisive questionhng of a fellow minister. He is now directing

:43:38.:43:41.

that Quinn eschewing to me, unfortunately. -- questioning to me.

:43:42.:43:49.

The department has received a copy of the PwC reports, this has been a

:43:50.:43:55.

great success story over thd past year is. The goal now is to try and

:43:56.:44:03.

move the industry towards the capacity to deliver without subsidy.

:44:04.:44:09.

I thank the Minister for his generous comments, and also for

:44:10.:44:12.

chairing might Select Committee I wish them well in the new role. PwC

:44:13.:44:18.

suggests a bird of solar jobs have been lost and the last year, and

:44:19.:44:22.

many more copies expect to lose staff in the next 12 months. It has

:44:23.:44:27.

been suggested that rate ch`nges will affect the industry more. What

:44:28.:44:33.

the Government taken in to `ccount these gimlet Messers and do

:44:34.:44:35.

something positive for the hndustry? I share the concerns about job

:44:36.:44:41.

losses as a result of changds in the industry. I made some points about

:44:42.:44:47.

the way the industry has ch`nged, and your report picked out the

:44:48.:44:51.

resilience of the industry `nd its capacity to respond to change,

:44:52.:44:58.

including, potentially, to Brexit. It's noticeable that of manx schemes

:44:59.:45:01.

are already quite close to being a viable without subsidy in cdrtain

:45:02.:45:07.

circumstances. The key now hs to move further towards that. We will

:45:08.:45:12.

look very closely towards the issues highlighted today.

:45:13.:45:20.

With your permission, I will answer this question together with question

:45:21.:45:25.

15. The Government has made it clear where open for business and

:45:26.:45:28.

determined to make a success of leaving EU, including seizing the

:45:29.:45:32.

opportunity to negotiate our own trade agreements.

:45:33.:45:38.

I believe leaving the EU offers great opportunity for British

:45:39.:45:41.

business going forward. We lust be aware of certain threats. Mx

:45:42.:45:48.

constituency has a business which works with an explosion protection.

:45:49.:45:53.

It is very complex and has ` registration programme with the EU.

:45:54.:45:57.

He is concerned his business will be hampered. Will my honourabld friend

:45:58.:46:03.

the vigilant of issues like this, to make sure that we are able to

:46:04.:46:08.

counter threats as well as take advantage of opportunities?

:46:09.:46:12.

We want to make sure the new relationship with the EU works for

:46:13.:46:16.

British businesses, and his constituents raises an important

:46:17.:46:27.

issue. We need to have clarhty on certification and similar issues.

:46:28.:46:33.

I'm sure we can arrange a mdeting to discuss it.

:46:34.:46:39.

Does the Minister welcome the figures that predict our exports

:46:40.:46:46.

will go up after the referendum results? And Willie confirm who he

:46:47.:46:55.

has spoken to that are positive about our potential future?

:46:56.:47:01.

I voted remain mark and belheve that we should talk up our prospdcts are

:47:02.:47:09.

not up and down. The chairm`n iron spoken to have expressed sole

:47:10.:47:16.

bizarre for more certainty but were fundamentally optimistic about our

:47:17.:47:20.

prospects. There is a British jurisdiction that

:47:21.:47:22.

is entirely accessed by road, air and by sea through another Duropean

:47:23.:47:30.

Union member state, and that is the British Overseas Territory of

:47:31.:47:34.

Gibraltar. They are absolutdly of the opinion they need to retain

:47:35.:47:37.

access to the single Europe`n market. What discussions as a hat

:47:38.:47:43.

with Gibraltarian counterparts to ensure that happens? -- discussions

:47:44.:47:50.

has he had? We are engaged with a series of

:47:51.:47:54.

discussions with stakeholders and Gibraltar will be part of that.

:47:55.:47:59.

With the Minister or his te`m meet with the leader of the official

:48:00.:48:03.

opposition in Northern Irel`nd, where we have an excellent document

:48:04.:48:07.

on the vision of the future of Northern Ireland after Brexht?

:48:08.:48:13.

The short answer is yes, we are very keen to harvest all opinions and

:48:14.:48:18.

ideas on how we meet this fundamental and exciting ch`llenge

:48:19.:48:24.

of how we transition to a post-Brexit world that works for

:48:25.:48:27.

British business. Topical questions.

:48:28.:48:35.

The Department of business dnergy and a doctoral strategy was formed

:48:36.:48:41.

on the 14th of July, and it is my privilege to serve as the fhrst

:48:42.:48:49.

Secretary of State. We are creating a new focus on industrial strategy.

:48:50.:48:54.

This is a powerful departments, out of the task of promoting a

:48:55.:48:58.

competitor, low carbon economy. And an economy that works for everyone.

:48:59.:49:02.

As part of an excellent teal of ministers and officials, I will

:49:03.:49:06.

continue to work both locally and globally on the challenges `head.

:49:07.:49:14.

The Swansea Bay tidal ago, `long the Cardiff Bay, new port and Bridgwater

:49:15.:49:18.

Bay has the potential to crdate huge energy. Second largest rise and fall

:49:19.:49:26.

in the world's tides. When `re we going to get a result, we nded

:49:27.:49:30.

long-term funding for a project which will reach 8% of our dnergy?

:49:31.:49:37.

My understanding is that thd feasibility study is being

:49:38.:49:42.

undertaken. I haven't received it final conclusions yet. At that

:49:43.:49:46.

point, I will look with the same interest as my honourable friend.

:49:47.:49:53.

The European Commission says that Apple should cough up ?30 mhllion in

:49:54.:50:00.

taxes for revenues created `cross the EU, including the UK. Most

:50:01.:50:06.

businesses pay their fair share of taxes and expects all other

:50:07.:50:09.

businesses, large or small, to do the same. Can the Secretary of State

:50:10.:50:14.

confirm he is doing everythhng he can to make sure the very bhggest

:50:15.:50:18.

companies pay up, and also that we receive our share of the ?13 billion

:50:19.:50:24.

Apple tax pie? It is a reasonable point. The

:50:25.:50:29.

responsibilities that come with being in business in this country

:50:30.:50:32.

and paying taxes that contrhbute to public services that we enjoy as

:50:33.:50:36.

part of that. He does have my assurance that we

:50:37.:50:42.

will make sure that we purste the correct tax by all companies that

:50:43.:50:47.

locate here. On Thursday I'll be chairing a panel

:50:48.:50:52.

at the enterprise innovation and Northern Powerhouse conference. In

:50:53.:50:58.

developing an industrial strategy, does the Minister agree with me that

:50:59.:51:03.

we need to do to win more hdarts and minds and then North. More dxamples

:51:04.:51:09.

of regional procurement and more jobs in the North, particul`rly with

:51:10.:51:16.

HS2 perhaps starting from the North? The passion with which my honourable

:51:17.:51:20.

friend makes his point tests to the opportunities that are in otr

:51:21.:51:25.

industrial strategy to make sure that growth is across the United

:51:26.:51:28.

Kingdom, including Yorkshird. He will know I have taken great

:51:29.:51:33.

interest in this and my previous roles, he can be assured th`t

:51:34.:51:39.

interest will not be diminishing. The current review of network

:51:40.:51:44.

charging for small embedded generators will mean huge increases

:51:45.:51:49.

in the costs of these small generators. If the department just

:51:50.:51:54.

determined to make energy gdneration the preserve of big businesses?

:51:55.:52:00.

No, I categorically refute that What we have to do is strikd a

:52:01.:52:06.

balance between looking to drive down the costs of all sourcds of

:52:07.:52:09.

carbon generation, while delivering the best value for consumers and

:52:10.:52:14.

taxpayers. That includes reviews of terrace.

:52:15.:52:21.

Can the Minister ensure that breaks and financial services, and tourism

:52:22.:52:30.

sectors, as we approach European negotiations?

:52:31.:52:34.

I can assure the honourable member that we plan to put at the heart of

:52:35.:52:42.

industrial strategy science and innovation, financial services as

:52:43.:52:44.

part of the services sector will also play an important part of our

:52:45.:52:50.

strategy. Last week, the Government committed

:52:51.:52:53.

to ratifying the Paris clim`te agreement. Will commit to doing so

:52:54.:53:00.

for the next conference of parties in Morocco is the Government can

:53:01.:53:05.

play a full role in that sulmit We helped shape the Paris agreement,

:53:06.:53:13.

we said we will ratify as soon as possible, that remains our position.

:53:14.:53:20.

Britain is undoubtedly a world reader in scientific research. Will

:53:21.:53:24.

my right honourable friend detail what role science will pay to the

:53:25.:53:29.

macro play in the Government's strategy?

:53:30.:53:33.

It will position the UK as ` leader for the 21st-century. The bho

:53:34.:53:43.

economy is worth billions, 36%. . The potential is there to grow, and

:53:44.:53:49.

will continue to invest strongly. The Secretary of State is a

:53:50.:53:54.

thoughtful man who, I believe, is serious about regional growth. Will

:53:55.:53:59.

he assured me I'm right in this understanding by cancelling his

:54:00.:54:04.

predecessor's decision to cdntralise department functions in London.

:54:05.:54:09.

Thereby maintaining and building upon its presence in Sheffidld?

:54:10.:54:15.

I would say that I am certahnly very attached to the work done in

:54:16.:54:18.

Sheffield, and the valued colleagues we have up there. The decishon has

:54:19.:54:24.

made some time ago, and manx changes had been made. We sort out the

:54:25.:54:29.

responsibilities of different parts of the departments, I'll look

:54:30.:54:33.

carefully at what Sheffield can provide.

:54:34.:54:42.

What can be done to make colmunity energy schemes are viable?

:54:43.:54:49.

As explained previously, thd Government is very committed to the

:54:50.:54:56.

deployment of renewable energy, and has had considerable success in that

:54:57.:55:01.

field. The expansion of Heathrow would

:55:02.:55:07.

create demand for 370,000 tonnes of steel, and secure 700 steel jobs. So

:55:08.:55:12.

it is not only in the interdst of the UK economy generally th`t we

:55:13.:55:16.

expand Heathrow, but specifhcally in the interest of the manufacturing

:55:17.:55:21.

sector. So why don't we just get on with it, had the vote in thd

:55:22.:55:24.

chamber, and get on with buhlding the third runway?

:55:25.:55:28.

I would say that across manx different forms of infrastrtcture,

:55:29.:55:33.

we do need an upgrade in thd infrastructure we have. That'll have

:55:34.:55:38.

many important benefit to the steel industry, including in Sheffield.

:55:39.:55:43.

It's hugely encouraging the Government is developing thhs

:55:44.:55:46.

compounds of industrial str`tegy, which I believe for great boost and

:55:47.:55:52.

confidence and our steel industry. Can the Minister update a House what

:55:53.:55:56.

discussions he has had about the role he will play?

:55:57.:56:02.

I have had extensive discussions with these steel industry. Ht is

:56:03.:56:08.

important we should have a hs a stable future for what is an

:56:09.:56:13.

important factor in our economy A shipping company has gone into

:56:14.:56:17.

receivership, leaving billions of goods at sea. The inability to dock

:56:18.:56:22.

has impacted on UK retail, critically juddering Christlas

:56:23.:56:28.

trading... We have a lot to get through.

:56:29.:56:36.

What action is seat taking to assist traders and our seafarers?

:56:37.:56:45.

Will that away. In terms of immediate impact, the Local

:56:46.:56:47.

Enterprise Partnership are dngaged with making sure the delays are

:56:48.:56:54.

going to be overcome. Many will commence at the Mhnister

:56:55.:57:00.

for putting science at the centre of a strategy, but I wonder of as he

:57:01.:57:07.

plans for the future of the life sciences industry if he will work

:57:08.:57:12.

with the Minister of health, because the health service will be critical

:57:13.:57:17.

to the growth of that industry? I was interested to read my

:57:18.:57:23.

honourable friend's article earlier this week making this point. In some

:57:24.:57:28.

point in the Government takds a collective approach on this, I've

:57:29.:57:32.

already had discussions with the Health Secretary and how we can make

:57:33.:57:38.

the most of the NHS. What the Government look ag`in at

:57:39.:57:42.

the unjust 50% Government claw back from the mine workerss' pension

:57:43.:57:49.

service? I will certainly take that `way and

:57:50.:57:53.

I'm happy to meet with the honourable leader issued like to

:57:54.:57:55.

inform you more about this outside the chamber.

:57:56.:58:03.

Does the Department intent to develop a single industrial strategy

:58:04.:58:09.

for the whole country, or h`ve different strategies differdnt parts

:58:10.:58:12.

of the country? My honourable friend makes a good point. It seems to me

:58:13.:58:15.

essential that of course we should have a strategy for the whole

:58:16.:58:19.

country, but place is incredibly important. The challenges of the

:58:20.:58:24.

places like greater Manchester are different from those of Cornwall. We

:58:25.:58:28.

should reflect the different strengths and opportunities more

:58:29.:58:32.

clearly in how we do business as a government. Does the Ministdr accept

:58:33.:58:39.

that changes to subsidy for the CHP biomass plants have been brought in

:58:40.:58:43.

to quickly and longer grace period before an implementation should have

:58:44.:58:49.

been granted? In my constittency, they are doing what the govdrnment

:58:50.:58:53.

want by investing in renewable technology but stand to losd 3

:58:54.:58:57.

million in support. Will he meet with me to discuss these ch`nges?

:58:58.:59:01.

All kindness and charity to the honourable gentleman that hd was at

:59:02.:59:04.

his best at the end of the first sentence. A blue pencil shotld

:59:05.:59:11.

therefore after have been applied. As a former treasurer of thd SNP, he

:59:12.:59:17.

knows a bit about the challdnges as cost control. He knows in the

:59:18.:59:23.

context of these changes, are overriding aim is to providd better

:59:24.:59:28.

value for the tax payer. Thdy will apply to new participants whth they

:59:29.:59:32.

fully qualify for the schemd. Those who fully qualified on or after the

:59:33.:59:36.

1st of August will be subject to the change. If it is a specific issue

:59:37.:59:40.

your wish is to raise with le I ll be happy to meet him. Brexit

:59:41.:59:48.

provides the UK with an opportunity to be the global leader in dnergy

:59:49.:59:55.

technology. Offshore wind, dnergy storage and carbon capture. Can the

:59:56.:59:59.

Minister confirm that the government will reset energy policy so that the

:00:00.:00:03.

country can take full advantage of this great opportunity? My

:00:04.:00:07.

honourable friend is absolutely right. One of the historic strengths

:00:08.:00:12.

of the United Kingdom is in areas such as marine engineering `nd power

:00:13.:00:15.

engineering, which is at thd heart of the opportunities around the

:00:16.:00:20.

world as many countries look to develop their capacity in rdnewable

:00:21.:00:26.

energy. This is a big opportunity, especially for his constitudncy Can

:00:27.:00:29.

the Secretary of State guar`ntee that all employment protecthon

:00:30.:00:32.

currently enjoyed by British workers will be maintained post Brexit and

:00:33.:00:36.

does he back my bill to do just that? We will certainly look

:00:37.:00:45.

carefully at the Honourable Lady's bill. Employment protections are an

:00:46.:00:48.

absolute priority for this government. The financial vhability

:00:49.:00:59.

of many low-carbon on-site heat and power technologies is under threat

:01:00.:01:04.

due to the reduction in the terror. Would his department considdr having

:01:05.:01:09.

a separate tariff rate for the new technologies rather than behng

:01:10.:01:12.

treated the same as other technologies? -- reduction hn the

:01:13.:01:18.

tariff. The government is rdviewing how the renewable heat incentive

:01:19.:01:24.

works and is being forced to make some changes to tariffs in order to

:01:25.:01:29.

provide better value for thd tax payer. I'm more than happy to sit

:01:30.:01:33.

down and talk with him about his suggestion. Welcome Secretary of

:01:34.:01:38.

State to his place as I do ly colleague. A new report frol a

:01:39.:01:43.

professor of Aberdeen University has found the re-engineering of the

:01:44.:01:48.

fiscal regime may be necess`ry before we reach the North Sda's

:01:49.:01:52.

potential. What further support will the government bring forward for the

:01:53.:01:55.

oil and gas sector in the Attumn Statement? Very productive set of

:01:56.:02:00.

discussions in Aberdeen durhng the summer with representatives of the

:02:01.:02:05.

oil and gas sector. The indtstry centred in Aberdeen but involving

:02:06.:02:08.

other places in the country is very important. We have made big changes

:02:09.:02:15.

for the fiscal regime but wd'll continue to have those disctssions.

:02:16.:02:22.

He earlier described his self as being on a historic task in writing

:02:23.:02:28.

industrial strategy. If he studies strategy, it is written prilarily by

:02:29.:02:31.

civil servants and ministers tend to fail. What steps will he take to

:02:32.:02:35.

engage businesses in Lancashire to make sure we have a successful

:02:36.:02:38.

strategy? I'm grateful for ly honourable friend's point. Ht is the

:02:39.:02:43.

case that an industrial str`tegy for the country should not be

:02:44.:02:47.

instructions from ministers or civil servants to businesses and the rest

:02:48.:02:52.

of the country. We are engaging with businesses all across the country

:02:53.:02:56.

and in every different sector to make sure they have the support they

:02:57.:03:00.

need. Does the Secretary of State believe it is conceivable this

:03:01.:03:02.

country can negotiate for mdmbership of the single market without

:03:03.:03:08.

accepting free movement? Mr Speaker, the Honourable gentleman entices me

:03:09.:03:15.

into making early decisions on what our negotiating mandate shotld be. I

:03:16.:03:21.

think it is the sensible stdp to be careful and to put together our

:03:22.:03:26.

negotiating brief and to do that in consultation with businesses and

:03:27.:03:30.

every part of the country. Speaker, I welcome the government's `nd

:03:31.:03:35.

genuine commitment to the Northern Powerhouse. Will the secret`ry of

:03:36.:03:40.

state meet with me and other leaders to maximise benefit? I'm always keen

:03:41.:03:48.

to meet the Honourable gentleman, despite the fact that I've loved

:03:49.:03:51.

from one department to another. I hope the invitation to fish and

:03:52.:04:00.

chips still stands! Is a joxous state has met with many bushnesses.

:04:01.:04:04.

Can he list which of those businesses support leaving the

:04:05.:04:09.

single market -- the Secret`ry of State has met. What I can s`y is

:04:10.:04:13.

that we are putting together the priorities we have for our

:04:14.:04:16.

negotiating in consultation with businesses in all parts of the

:04:17.:04:21.

country. She will have the chance through her party to contribute to

:04:22.:04:25.

the Scottish Government to contribute to that, and we'll

:04:26.:04:31.

publish that when we have fhnished. There are 50 air B in Newark and

:04:32.:04:36.

Cuba have cut the cost of a night out in Nottingham by almost 50%

:04:37.:04:42.

Will he support innovative disruptive technologies are not

:04:43.:04:45.

buried our heads in the sand. - and Uber have cut the cost. He

:04:46.:04:52.

highlights the importance of innovation in driving industrial

:04:53.:04:55.

growth and little undoubtably be in the centre of the industrial

:04:56.:04:59.

strategy as it is rolled out. Following the recommendation of the

:05:00.:05:03.

select committee to remove Paul Newby as adjudicator, new evidence

:05:04.:05:06.

has emerged that shows that he failed to properly declare his

:05:07.:05:12.

interests and also middle at the -- misled the select committee. Will he

:05:13.:05:16.

restore confidence in this post by now sacking him? My underst`nding is

:05:17.:05:21.

that the appointment followdd a proper process. That is what I

:05:22.:05:25.

understand to have taken pl`ce, but I will look at the suggestion is

:05:26.:05:29.

that the Honourable gentlem`n has just raised. And generally sorry to

:05:30.:05:37.

disappoint remaining colleagues I have extended the envelope rather

:05:38.:05:40.

substantially, but we must now move on. Point of Gardner -- point of

:05:41.:05:49.

honour. I haven't contacted by leading businessmen up and down the

:05:50.:05:52.

country regarding the effichency and effectiveness of members of this

:05:53.:05:59.

house. They have asked me if they could not be informal ratings of how

:06:00.:06:05.

hard members work. I wonderdd if you could investigate whether wd could

:06:06.:06:11.

look at which members here `re fat or lazy, which ones are hard-working

:06:12.:06:17.

and innovative. Isn't it about time we looked at members, some of them

:06:18.:06:20.

in the leafy suburbs and le`fy parts of Britain who don't have mtch work,

:06:21.:06:24.

they don't do very much. We know that those in the towns and cities

:06:25.:06:28.

work much harder. Could we have an evaluation, who works hard hn this

:06:29.:06:34.

house's then we can show th`t our constituents? I thank him for his

:06:35.:06:41.

suggestion. Through the devhce of a point of order. I ought to say that

:06:42.:06:44.

there is nothing wrong with being fat. At any rate, it is certainly

:06:45.:06:49.

not for the Chair to pass jtdgment on these matters, and I would get

:06:50.:06:52.

into hot water and very properly so if I were to start casting

:06:53.:06:58.

aspersions on body shape. Btt I will simply say, that I'm sure that the

:06:59.:07:03.

Honourable gentleman was in seeking my approbation as he has no need of

:07:04.:07:11.

it. That he himself is slim. If said US. -- deciduous and contintously

:07:12.:07:27.

energetic. The people of Huddersfield of the last 32nd he --

:07:28.:07:35.

37 years testify. He seems to enjoy their enthusiastic approval. We will

:07:36.:07:40.

leave it there for now. If there are no further points of order... We

:07:41.:07:46.

come now to the presentation of Bill.

:07:47.:07:54.

Laser pens regulation of sale, regulation and usage bill. The nd

:07:55.:08:08.

of December 20 16. We cannot have a ten minute motion. -- we cole now to

:08:09.:08:20.

the. The information Commissioner's office to take action against those

:08:21.:08:28.

who breach regulations relating to unsolicited marketing communications

:08:29.:08:32.

made by a company and for connected purposes. Since I was electdd last

:08:33.:08:36.

year, I have been campaigning to tackle the scourge of nuisance

:08:37.:08:40.

calls, which blight the livds of far too many of our constituents across

:08:41.:08:45.

the United Kingdom. I can vouch for the fact that this is a hugd problem

:08:46.:08:49.

faced by far too many of my constituents. And I know thdre's a

:08:50.:08:54.

similar picture across Scotland and the United Kingdom. It is thme that

:08:55.:08:59.

named company directors of those companies, who are responsible for

:09:00.:09:03.

nuisance calls, are held to account. Instead of fines for breachds in the

:09:04.:09:07.

law being imposed on companhes which then close down and are simply

:09:08.:09:11.

reopened under a different name thus allowing fines for bre`ches in

:09:12.:09:17.

the law to go unpaid. Being bombarded with nuisance calls and

:09:18.:09:21.

texts is not only an annoying interruption to people's lives, it

:09:22.:09:24.

can be deeply distressing to the hundreds of thousands who enjoy them

:09:25.:09:29.

on a daily basis. They are ` blight on the lives of too many melbers of

:09:30.:09:32.

our communities, and are particularly upsetting for those who

:09:33.:09:38.

are vulnerable. Research from Pelle which last year found that three

:09:39.:09:44.

quarters of people with a l`ndline and 58%, six out of ten people in

:09:45.:09:49.

the mobile phone. -- research from Which. Six out of ten peopld have

:09:50.:09:57.

indicated that cold calls h`ve actively discourage them from

:09:58.:09:59.

picking up their landline when it rings. 80% said they find cold calls

:10:00.:10:05.

annoying. One third of people receiving such calls admit to

:10:06.:10:09.

feeling intimidated by them. And around one third of people screen of

:10:10.:10:14.

their calls to minimise unsolicited calls on their landlines. Bdyond

:10:15.:10:18.

this, other things are worth remembering. 42% of people who

:10:19.:10:22.

receive a nuisance call recdived more than ten calls over fotr weeks,

:10:23.:10:27.

and 12% of people received lore than 20 calls over four weeks. 34% of

:10:28.:10:34.

these calls are marketing c`lls All of us are forced to simply tolerated

:10:35.:10:39.

the appalling nuisance of aggressive and persistent marketing calls.

:10:40.:10:45.

Ofcom has found disturbinglx that people aged over 55 and those who

:10:46.:10:49.

are unemployed tend to recehve a higher number than any other group

:10:50.:10:53.

of people. There has been a clear trend showing a marked incrdase in

:10:54.:10:58.

the number of calls received by the over 55s. Many of us can choose to

:10:59.:11:02.

simply ignore calls if we stspect a nuisance call has been made to us.

:11:03.:11:08.

But consider, if you are elderly, frail and dependent on your

:11:09.:11:13.

landline, you either answer your phone when it rings so as not to

:11:14.:11:21.

miss a call from relatives calling to check that all is well. Or you

:11:22.:11:24.

may ignore your phone when ht rings, to avoid nuisance calls. If you

:11:25.:11:26.

don't answer your phone, imlediately your relatives may think th`t

:11:27.:11:28.

something has happened to you. Perhaps that you have had a fall. So

:11:29.:11:33.

you need to answer your phone. The cost of doing so is having to

:11:34.:11:37.

tolerate numerous nuisance calls each day. People are being harassed

:11:38.:11:44.

and subject to real annoyance which causes anxiety and distress several

:11:45.:11:48.

times a day, every day. It hs simply not good enough. There are those who

:11:49.:11:53.

advise that if you're plagudd by nuisance calls to install a call

:11:54.:11:57.

blocker. These don't come as standard. On old phones. And in any

:11:58.:12:02.

case. If you have two by a call blocker, you have to go to the

:12:03.:12:07.

expense. The cheapest is ?40. Why should consumers be driven to this

:12:08.:12:11.

expense? Why is the owners `nd responsibility on the consuler and

:12:12.:12:13.

not accompany causing distrdss? I'm aware that the UK Government has

:12:14.:12:28.

taken measures to tackle thhs scourge by insisting on caller ID.

:12:29.:12:31.

This is a step forward, but it deals with the symptoms and not the root

:12:32.:12:34.

cause. I also understand th`t in April last year, the inform`tion

:12:35.:12:36.

Commissioner was given the power, the need for information to prove

:12:37.:12:41.

the company making unsolicited calls had caused distress. Again, this is

:12:42.:12:46.

a step forward. But more nedds to be done. I understand that the

:12:47.:12:52.

Department of culture, medi` and sport has made supportive noises

:12:53.:12:55.

around the change in the law, that I'm proposing. I hope that those

:12:56.:12:58.

positive noises prove true. The Scottish Government is tsing the

:12:59.:13:09.

powers it has under consumer protection, but there is more to do.

:13:10.:13:13.

Companies making unsolicited calls can be fined. If it is found they

:13:14.:13:20.

had not complied with the use of consumers' personal data. However

:13:21.:13:27.

action is taken against companies, rather than named directors. This

:13:28.:13:31.

means too many companies do not comply with the law as a bo`rd-level

:13:32.:13:37.

issue. Too many rogue directors avoid paying fines by closing one

:13:38.:13:40.

company and starting another with a new name, known as Phoenixing, and

:13:41.:13:51.

continuing their activity. The altogether too few fines have been

:13:52.:14:00.

paid in full, according to Which. Director should be held to `ccount

:14:01.:14:05.

where the company does not pay the fine, even if the company goes

:14:06.:14:11.

through the Phoenix process. The information Commissioner can only

:14:12.:14:16.

take action against a company rather than a named individual,. If we hold

:14:17.:14:26.

culpable senior executives `t board level, accountable for the company's

:14:27.:14:32.

practices, those individuals would need to ensure the company's

:14:33.:14:35.

practices were in line with the law or face personal action, whhch could

:14:36.:14:40.

lead to disqualification as a company director in some cases. The

:14:41.:14:47.

enforcement of regime under current regulation is the extension of the

:14:48.:14:50.

enforcement regime of the D`ta Protection Act. That acts already

:14:51.:14:57.

includes a role which allows for individual company officers to be

:14:58.:15:00.

held accountable for breachds, however this rule does not dxtend to

:15:01.:15:06.

breaches of the privacy and electronic unification is

:15:07.:15:15.

regulations. This amendment would allow the Government to takd action

:15:16.:15:19.

against named directors for such breaches. This means the information

:15:20.:15:25.

Commissioners office could take action directly against dirdctors,

:15:26.:15:29.

where they allow the companx to commit breaches or failed to play

:15:30.:15:35.

fines. And where the director is convicted of a criminal offdnce

:15:36.:15:38.

they could be subjected qualification. That's subject to

:15:39.:15:46.

disqualification. This would help us to tackle the blight and a citizen's

:15:47.:15:52.

lies in their own homes. Colpanies making nuisance calls can churn out

:15:53.:15:58.

automated calls at the rate of thousands per day. This Bill would

:15:59.:16:07.

improve lives. Rogue businesses undermine the entire relationship

:16:08.:16:09.

between legitimate business and consumers. There is a huge `mount of

:16:10.:16:13.

support for the alterations to the law this Bill would make. 78% of

:16:14.:16:20.

those surveys agreed that dhrectors of companies should be held

:16:21.:16:23.

personally accountable if the company makes these calls whthout

:16:24.:16:28.

necessary permission. This Bill would not incur any additional cost

:16:29.:16:33.

for the taxpayer, as no addhtional Government funding temperamdnt or

:16:34.:16:37.

enforce it would be needed. Given the scale of nuisance calls, and

:16:38.:16:42.

this Government's failure to attack surly macro tackle the issud at

:16:43.:16:47.

source, I commend this Bill to the House.

:16:48.:16:50.

As many as are of the opinion, say "aye". To the contrary, "no". The

:16:51.:16:57.

ayes have it. He will prepare and bring in the build?

:16:58.:17:04.

Kirsten Oswalt, Lisa Cameron, Roger Mullen, John Mickelson, Joanna

:17:05.:17:10.

Cherry, Alan Browne, Jonath`n Edwards, Liz Southall Roberts, and

:17:11.:17:15.

myself, sir. Unsolicited marketing

:17:16.:17:53.

communications. Second reading, what day?

:17:54.:17:58.

18th of November. Thank you. Order. The clerk will now

:17:59.:18:04.

proceed to read the orders of the day.

:18:05.:18:07.

Digital Economy Bill, Second Reading.

:18:08.:18:15.

The amendment has not been selected. To move their second reading of the

:18:16.:18:21.

Bill, I called the secretarx of state for media, culture and sport.

:18:22.:18:28.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I beg to move that the Bill now be read a second

:18:29.:18:37.

time. We live in a digital dconomy. Almost 600 billion pounds of online

:18:38.:18:43.

sales were made in the UK in 20 4. That is the largest per caphta sales

:18:44.:18:49.

in the world of all major economies, at just over ?1500 per head. To put

:18:50.:18:55.

that in context, that is more than 50% higher than those in thd United

:18:56.:18:58.

States, the next highest-valued market. The rate of jobs crdated in

:18:59.:19:04.

digital industries is more than three times as fast as the rest of

:19:05.:19:09.

the economy, 1.5 6,000,020 04 and growing. Supporting the dightal

:19:10.:19:18.

economy was caught our manifesto. This is a central plaque of the

:19:19.:19:21.

Government's lettuces soaked programme in this session. ,- letter

:19:22.:19:34.

to serve programme. Is the purpose of a part five to

:19:35.:19:39.

claim rights of ownership on all data? Because the definition of

:19:40.:19:45.

benefit in clause 26 is so broad that I can't think of a piece of

:19:46.:19:51.

information that would allude its definition. Can the secretary of

:19:52.:19:58.

state name a piece of inforlation that calls without that close?

:19:59.:20:02.

I think my right honourable friend has been making Arab aid to be on

:20:03.:20:07.

the Bill committee there. -, making a bid. Taking a great interdst in

:20:08.:20:14.

the Bill. Though as a former wet, one may wonder if that much interest

:20:15.:20:19.

qualifies anyone to be near a building committee. -- formdr wet. I

:20:20.:20:25.

assure him that is not the function of attention. In committee, when we

:20:26.:20:32.

do line by line scrutiny, mx honourable friend will be able to

:20:33.:20:37.

explore that further. Back to digital, are ?1.7 billion roll-out

:20:38.:20:43.

plan, means 95% of all homes and businesses will have access to

:20:44.:20:47.

superfast speeds by 2017. Wd have one of the fastest 4G roll-outs in

:20:48.:20:55.

Europe. 97% premises will h`ve G coverage by the end of 2017.

:20:56.:21:03.

I thank my right honourable friend forgiving way. This roll-out of

:21:04.:21:13.

superfast broadband is imprdssive. Dishes share my concern that too

:21:14.:21:15.

many new homes are being buhlt without this as standards, `nd will

:21:16.:21:19.

to work with colleagues across Government to make sure that

:21:20.:21:22.

situation changes? I thank my right honourable friend

:21:23.:21:28.

for the intervention. As secretary of state, she was involved hn much

:21:29.:21:31.

of the work that put us in the situation we're in today. An

:21:32.:21:35.

extremely good position, but there is more to do. She makes an

:21:36.:21:42.

important point about new btilds, and one I assure her I am dhscussing

:21:43.:21:46.

with my friends and colleagtes in Cabinet. I give way.

:21:47.:21:51.

Can I congratulate the Secrdtary of State on her new post. I pax tribute

:21:52.:21:56.

to her predecessor and also the digital economy Minister who did

:21:57.:22:04.

work on this. The secretary of state mentioned 95% coverage by 2017 and

:22:05.:22:09.

went it was mobile coverage, but many of those errors of 5% don't

:22:10.:22:13.

have 4G or 3G either. What should tell the House when this pl`nned

:22:14.:22:18.

roll-out for universal broadband is done that she will consider that and

:22:19.:22:22.

get areas like my own, which could be a pilot scheme for this, it's is

:22:23.:22:29.

senior points, -- serious point if you have neither broadband lobile,

:22:30.:22:32.

you do not have 21st-centurx communications.

:22:33.:22:36.

I have a similar constituency, and well know what it is like to be in

:22:37.:22:42.

that last 5%. This is all about the connected and joined up dightal -

:22:43.:22:48.

making sure we get access to the digital economy to everybodx,

:22:49.:22:52.

whether they are in that final % or in the 95% that is already hn the

:22:53.:22:58.

plans. I will come further shortly to...

:22:59.:23:05.

I welcome her commitment to shaping the digital world to make stre no

:23:06.:23:09.

one's left hind. Is she aware that those who are deaf or have ` hearing

:23:10.:23:14.

loss are being excluded by the lack of subtitling. It is requirdd by

:23:15.:23:20.

many television, are not provided on the vast majority of on dem`nd

:23:21.:23:24.

services. Is it possible shd could look at that exclusion as a huge

:23:25.:23:28.

opportunity to amend this Bhll. Would she think again about

:23:29.:23:32.

extending the key mutations act to include deaf and hearing loss?

:23:33.:23:38.

This is a very good point. H am aware of the points, it has been

:23:39.:23:42.

raised with me. The digital minister and I are working on that to make

:23:43.:23:46.

sure we do improve. There h`s been progress, and I hope she wotld agree

:23:47.:23:50.

with that, but we always nedd to do more and I fully take the point If

:23:51.:23:55.

she will forget me, I will lake progress now, there are a lot of

:23:56.:23:59.

members who wish to contribtte to this debate. If we go back to

:24:00.:24:07.

digital and broadband cover`ge, we are ahead of our major European

:24:08.:24:11.

competitors. In 2015, the UK maintained its number one position

:24:12.:24:16.

for the widest access to superfast broadband, head of Germany, France,

:24:17.:24:20.

Italy and Spain. That commitment tries business. Edinburgh h`s a

:24:21.:24:28.

thriving financial tech sector, Cardiff and Swansea specialhse in

:24:29.:24:31.

cyber security. Belfast was strength in at developments,. The Government

:24:32.:24:42.

is supporting and enabling, through tech city and businesses.

:24:43.:24:46.

Fundamentally, we are ensurhng our citizens have the skills to keep the

:24:47.:24:51.

UK airhead. We were one of the first countries in the world can put

:24:52.:24:55.

computer coding in the national curriculum, and we're focushng on

:24:56.:24:58.

digital skills are adults, so no one is left behind. The House m`y be

:24:59.:25:03.

interested to note the most popular A-level last year was mathelatics,

:25:04.:25:08.

one I am leasing here is dohng well in the A-level stakes. Government is

:25:09.:25:14.

also digitally transforming. A Government digital service lade us

:25:15.:25:18.

one of the first digital by default countries, a model being copied

:25:19.:25:22.

around the globe. Where aggressively modernising the way Governmdnt

:25:23.:25:25.

interacts with citizens. Managing information brings benefits, such as

:25:26.:25:31.

allowing drivers to share the licensing information with hnsurers

:25:32.:25:34.

and car hire companies, makhng transactions faster. I will complete

:25:35.:25:43.

this sentence first. And eldctoral rolls tally to stamp out fr`ud, and

:25:44.:25:48.

fuel discounts for honourable pensioners.

:25:49.:25:53.

In terms of sharing information does she agree with me that

:25:54.:25:57.

technologies such as block chain also challenge how we share

:25:58.:26:01.

information, critically in chains of financial sector and how quhckly we

:26:02.:26:07.

get rid of the middleman? He makes an important point - where

:26:08.:26:15.

RD trialling this. The more we can do to use data and digital to enable

:26:16.:26:19.

people to transact more quickly the better. We have challenges of data

:26:20.:26:26.

protection and making sure peoples data is protected. There is the

:26:27.:26:32.

tension there that we are aware of and working on. Well we can be proud

:26:33.:26:36.

of successes, the Government's ambitions are greater. Whild 19 and

:26:37.:26:45.

20 premises will be able to access broadband, one in 21 not. For those,

:26:46.:26:53.

this Bill brings good news. The broadband obligation will rdquire

:26:54.:26:56.

the designated communications provider to connect customers on

:26:57.:27:01.

demand at an affordable price. Eventually, technological

:27:02.:27:04.

developments will allow everyone to have a superfast connection. Until

:27:05.:27:08.

then, the Bill will provide a safety net, so that by 2020, a minhmum

:27:09.:27:14.

broadband speed of 10 megabhts per second should be available. That is

:27:15.:27:24.

the absolute minimum safety net I can never resist ten! She

:27:25.:27:31.

virtually begged me to stand up I hear all this are congratul`tions,

:27:32.:27:35.

and as much as I admire the former minister, the truth of the latter

:27:36.:27:38.

was that the original target was to get all this superfast Bury

:27:39.:27:45.

superfast and by May 20 15. It will now be May 20 15. You're talking

:27:46.:27:49.

about a superfast speed that will not be recognised as superf`st

:27:50.:27:52.

anywhere else in Europe. It is simple enough to deliver thhs

:27:53.:27:53.

country. He is simply misrepresenting the

:27:54.:28:05.

position. It is he saying hd is opposed to this position? Is he

:28:06.:28:09.

saying he is opposed to this Bill? Is he saying he is opposed to the

:28:10.:28:13.

measures in this bill to make sure that we have maximum alert so that

:28:14.:28:18.

everyone has access to broadband? You're asking me questions now,

:28:19.:28:25.

usually at the other way around I think we should be far more

:28:26.:28:28.

ambitious. I think we should be making sure that 4G is available to

:28:29.:28:32.

everyone, and not 70% of people in rural areas not getting any 4G at

:28:33.:28:38.

all. And we should have 15 legabits per second universal servicds

:28:39.:28:43.

obligation. I think that thd honourable gentleman should listen

:28:44.:28:47.

to the rest of my speech and then support measures this government is

:28:48.:28:50.

bringing forward. We want to make sure that we do deliver, th`t we do

:28:51.:28:55.

make sure that there is accdss to broadband and 4G, and that dverybody

:28:56.:29:01.

is connected. Would you agrde with me. Notwithstanding the comlents

:29:02.:29:06.

from the honourable member. There are no infrastructure and fhnance in

:29:07.:29:11.

place, and substantial progress is made of the last two years to get on

:29:12.:29:15.

with the job? My honourable friend hits the nail on the head, `s he

:29:16.:29:19.

always does. He's absolutelx right. I want to make it clear that

:29:20.:29:24.

government will not allow pdople to be left behind. Whether it hs

:29:25.:29:28.

running a business, staying in touch with distant family, watching

:29:29.:29:31.

catch-up television or helphng children with homework. Everyone

:29:32.:29:35.

should have a right to decent connectivity. I Will make some

:29:36.:29:41.

progress, if you'll forgive me. Judicially engage citizens, we need

:29:42.:29:43.

the Michael Carrick unification services to work for them. ,- to

:29:44.:29:52.

engage citizens digitally. We need the digital services to work. We

:29:53.:29:58.

need to make sure they don't suffer has learned disruption and dnd up

:29:59.:30:02.

disconnected and out of pocket. In recent surveys, less than h`lf of

:30:03.:30:07.

respondents trusted their communications provider and

:30:08.:30:14.

customers at a section in the sector is low. The future of our economy

:30:15.:30:18.

depends on connectivity, and this Bill relate dress that had on.

:30:19.:30:28.

Consumers need information. Over the summer, the Competition and Markets

:30:29.:30:33.

Authority argued that in guhding customers to choose banking

:30:34.:30:38.

services, apps need to be provided to guide customers through the

:30:39.:30:41.

plethora. These technologies to empower consumers and drive the

:30:42.:30:46.

economy. The communications sector is no different. The Bill provides

:30:47.:30:50.

the necessary powers to enstre that we can deliver this change.

:30:51.:30:54.

Informing consumers, helping them switch providers and compensating

:30:55.:30:58.

them if things go wrong. Underlying this support for consumers, we need

:30:59.:31:03.

a strong and effective regulator, able to tackle market failures and

:31:04.:31:09.

keep the system in balance. Ofcom needs to make important dechsions,

:31:10.:31:12.

not just on implementing consumers switching regimes, but on how core

:31:13.:31:19.

infrastructure accessed and shared. How radio spectrum is licensed and

:31:20.:31:24.

managed and how we grow connectivity and capacity. Migrating frol

:31:25.:31:29.

yesterday's copper to Tamar`'s technologies and beyond. I will do

:31:30.:31:34.

two quick interventions -- tomorrow's technologies.

:31:35.:31:42.

two quick interventions -- tomorrow's technologies We `re in

:31:43.:31:45.

danger of falling behind other countries in future. Should not the

:31:46.:31:50.

regulator be confident in looking at Monopoly and breaking it whdn

:31:51.:31:54.

necessary to in Courage invdstment and competition? Is not the monopoly

:31:55.:31:57.

that BT has with open reach something that needs attenthon?

:31:58.:32:05.

Intervention was too long. @ lot of people wish to speak. That hs very

:32:06.:32:09.

selfish behaviour. I will address both. What comfort can she offer my

:32:10.:32:18.

constituents without fibre connectivity are trying to dngage

:32:19.:32:24.

with BT open reach and are getting a response, even as we meet? Hf I can

:32:25.:32:28.

suggest that the honourable gentleman contacts me, and H will

:32:29.:32:32.

make sure that those points are raised. In response to my rhght

:32:33.:32:36.

honourable friend, I have bden clear that we will not stop, we whll not

:32:37.:32:40.

cease to get the right result. If that means structural separ`tion of

:32:41.:32:48.

BT and Open Reach, we will look at that. Ofcom has made

:32:49.:32:52.

recommendations, we are looking at them carefully and consulting on

:32:53.:32:55.

them. We need to make sure that we get this right and we get this to

:32:56.:33:00.

deliver. Nothing is off the table. The Bill will ensure that Ofcom is

:33:01.:33:05.

held to account, but not at the expense of delay and intransigence.

:33:06.:33:09.

As well as holding industry to account, we must be supportdd. The

:33:10.:33:13.

Bill brings billions of pounds of benefits to the industry. The new

:33:14.:33:18.

code recognises that digital connectivity is as important, as is

:33:19.:33:25.

connection to water or electricity supplies. Providing new rights to

:33:26.:33:28.

install communications infrastructure will herald `

:33:29.:33:32.

revolution in rural connecthvity, bringing the Digital economx to all

:33:33.:33:38.

parts of our nation. I'd be very grateful if you could outline how

:33:39.:33:43.

these reforms to prevent, for example, abuse of the systel will

:33:44.:33:47.

reduce the costs providing infrastructure to places like my

:33:48.:33:52.

constituency can get full access to fast fibre broadband. I will come

:33:53.:34:02.

unto that later. As well as reforming land rights, the

:34:03.:34:05.

government is reforming the planning system, which is I think thd point

:34:06.:34:09.

my friend made. My honourable friend will shortly make regulation to ease

:34:10.:34:14.

the installation of vital m`sts to fill not spots. It ensures that the

:34:15.:34:20.

bill introduced in 2013 for polls and cabinets can be made permanent.

:34:21.:34:29.

It will be better managed to ensure we maximise capacity and avoid

:34:30.:34:33.

interference. And that the TK is ready for the arrival of five G We

:34:34.:34:39.

will lead the world can thanks to this government's investment in the

:34:40.:34:45.

innovation Centre at the Unhversity of Surrey. As well as access and

:34:46.:34:50.

infrastructure, the bill will also tackle online harm. A manifdsto

:34:51.:34:54.

pledged to protect children from online pornography. Children now

:34:55.:35:00.

spend more time online than watching television, and one in five children

:35:01.:35:05.

regionally survey it had encountered pornographic images that have upset

:35:06.:35:12.

them. -- recently survey had. I support the intent to protect

:35:13.:35:15.

children from inappropriate content, but does the Secretary of State

:35:16.:35:19.

agree that that is central to protecting children must also be

:35:20.:35:22.

compulsory age related to sdx and relationship education in otr

:35:23.:35:30.

schools? I think the right honourable gentleman makes `n

:35:31.:35:34.

important point about having age-appropriate and good qu`lity sex

:35:35.:35:42.

education in schools. Something that in my previous job in the Home

:35:43.:35:46.

Office I very much advocated. But I think we need to be clear hdre. We

:35:47.:35:54.

have an incredible problem of pornographic images being available

:35:55.:35:58.

to children. The NSPCC report that children as young as seven `re being

:35:59.:36:01.

treated for addiction to pornography. This is not solething

:36:02.:36:06.

that can be addressed through one measure alone. The measures in this

:36:07.:36:10.

bill will help. This is not a silver bullet. There has to be a joint up

:36:11.:36:15.

approach across the whole of government. I hope you will agree,

:36:16.:36:21.

we age classify films. We rdstrict age-appropriate broadcaster after

:36:22.:36:24.

the watershed. We put age-appropriate magazines on the top

:36:25.:36:28.

shelf and we keep children out of sex shops. Equivalent and

:36:29.:36:31.

proportionate measures are needed online. The government has `lready

:36:32.:36:36.

made good progress on the stbject. Since 2013, public Wi-Fi is

:36:37.:36:39.

automatically filtered and pornography blocked in many places

:36:40.:36:43.

where children regularly visit. Following agreement with thd

:36:44.:36:47.

government, the four largest Internet service providers offer

:36:48.:36:50.

their customers a family frhendly filters. And since last year, these

:36:51.:36:56.

are now turned on by default. The Bill now goes further. Pornographic

:36:57.:37:01.

websites will be required to have adequate age verification,

:37:02.:37:04.

equivalent to what the gambling industry already implements. The

:37:05.:37:08.

regulator will pass on detahls of the noncompliant to credit card

:37:09.:37:11.

companies and other service providers to enable them to withdraw

:37:12.:37:15.

business support. And we will drive cultural change in the sector, to

:37:16.:37:21.

ensure that children are protected. Secondly, we will protect consumers

:37:22.:37:25.

from nuisance calls. The government has already taken steps on this

:37:26.:37:29.

matter, too. In May, requirhng direct marketeers to no longer

:37:30.:37:34.

withhold their caller ID information so that consumers can see the number

:37:35.:37:39.

ringing. We seek to enforce the law and will help her further, placing

:37:40.:37:44.

that code on a statutory footing is that penalties stick. We will help

:37:45.:37:49.

protect businesses from att`cks on their intellectual property.

:37:50.:37:51.

Burglars can be sentenced for ten years in prison. The gangs

:37:52.:37:58.

exploiting the online creathons of others only face a two year

:37:59.:38:04.

sentence. We will increase this to ten. Criminals who profited by

:38:05.:38:10.

almost ?300,000 and cost millions by facilitating access to illegal films

:38:11.:38:14.

on the Internet need to be sent a clear message. We need to ensure

:38:15.:38:17.

that enforcement agencies and their partners have the right set of tools

:38:18.:38:23.

to tackle all types of priv`cy. -- piracy. That is why this cl`use is

:38:24.:38:27.

so important. We make it easier to register designs, cutting the cost

:38:28.:38:31.

of our creative industries while increasing protections. As we build

:38:32.:38:36.

our digital economy, investhng in infrastructure and empowering

:38:37.:38:39.

citizens, government must also transform itself and become more

:38:40.:38:43.

digital. Government wants to use and manage the vast amounts of

:38:44.:38:49.

information it better. Let le be clear, this is not to develop some

:38:50.:38:54.

Big Brother state that sees and knows everything. We want to manage

:38:55.:38:57.

information better for the same reason that shopkeepers farlers

:38:58.:39:04.

educators or anyone in our dconomy has ambition wants to managd

:39:05.:39:08.

information. Quite simply, we want to deliver better services, to

:39:09.:39:13.

create, to improve and to ddliver in the public interest for the

:39:14.:39:17.

citizens' benefit. The bill will allow public services to be targeted

:39:18.:39:22.

and delivered better. If ond arm of the public sector knows he needs a

:39:23.:39:25.

service and the other is trxing to deliver a service, the two need to

:39:26.:39:30.

be brought together, working for the public benefit. -- knows who needs a

:39:31.:39:36.

service. In many places, we do this already, but often only aftdr

:39:37.:39:39.

legislating to enable specific data-sharing arrangements, which

:39:40.:39:43.

takes time. That is time we don t have and time we can now save

:39:44.:39:47.

because of this Bill. As a private sector knows well, informathon is a

:39:48.:39:51.

minor bull commodity, from which value can be extracted. That value

:39:52.:39:59.

will come in better decisions based on quality research and statistics.

:40:00.:40:02.

It will allow us to spot problems and grasp opportunity for the value

:40:03.:40:08.

of everyone. We will be publishing the draft BBC charter for the next

:40:09.:40:12.

11 years. My right honourable friend to let one of the largest and most

:40:13.:40:16.

open consultations ever conducted, and the new charter will provide

:40:17.:40:23.

foundations were stronger, lore distinctive BBC that will inform,

:40:24.:40:27.

educate and entertain for m`ny years to come. I'm about to concltde and I

:40:28.:40:30.

know there are many men wishing to speak. The Bill -- I know there are

:40:31.:40:38.

many wishing. It will allow the BBC to manage TV licensing for

:40:39.:40:41.

pensioners. The Digital economy Bill is good news for all. Good for

:40:42.:40:46.

people wanting to get onlind, good for telecommunications comp`nies

:40:47.:40:50.

wanting to grow their sector and build consumer confidence. Good for

:40:51.:40:54.

creative industries, wanting to protect their property and `n

:40:55.:40:57.

economy descent into -- sell into. But for families wanting to help

:40:58.:41:02.

their children do their homdwork on the Internet without stumblhng cross

:41:03.:41:09.

harmful content. Good for pdople who want to transact with government

:41:10.:41:13.

efficiently without burdens and bureaucracy. We will grow the

:41:14.:41:16.

economy, and we will grasp the future. I commend the Bill to the

:41:17.:41:21.

house some sign of the question is that the Bill now be read a second

:41:22.:41:29.

time. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I think we can all agree with the Sdcretary

:41:30.:41:34.

of State that we are living in a digital economy. Indeed, ond of the

:41:35.:41:39.

relatively few subjects which can unite the House now is the

:41:40.:41:43.

importance of the Digital economy. And it gives me great pleastre to

:41:44.:41:50.

respond for the opposition on the subject, particularly as a chartered

:41:51.:41:55.

Electrical engineer. And th`t is both a declaration of interdst, Mr

:41:56.:42:02.

Speaker, and pride. The smallest of British businesses can now have

:42:03.:42:07.

global reach through e-commdrce Artisan craft makers can tr`de

:42:08.:42:13.

online with low transaction costs. Even the most niche products can be

:42:14.:42:18.

sold around the world to thdir fan bases. You may not be aware that

:42:19.:42:25.

there is a T-shirt dedicated to you called Fear The Speaker, whhch is

:42:26.:42:31.

available on the Internet for your fan base. All markets are c`tered

:42:32.:42:47.

for, or can be catered for. And all sizes. So, we know that the

:42:48.:42:53.

international trade Secretary believes our businesses are lazy.

:42:54.:42:57.

But I know that there are m`ny, many who are cutting a swathe through the

:42:58.:43:03.

Internet, as opposed to the golf course. Greater connectivitx can

:43:04.:43:07.

help businesses do their work on the move, or news new work spacds

:43:08.:43:12.

instead of traditional ones. We are seeing new types of work. -, or use

:43:13.:43:19.

new work spaces. Digital tools help current businesses to be more

:43:20.:43:23.

effective. Whether it is farmers relying on GPS to guide thehr

:43:24.:43:29.

tractors, or start-ups using block chain to address financial

:43:30.:43:33.

inclusion. Digital infrastrtcture, tools, skills and platforms are the

:43:34.:43:36.

building blocks of the Brithsh economy.

:43:37.:43:42.

The good news is that we ard a great digital economy, Europe's ldading

:43:43.:43:50.

digital economy, and we're only at the start of the digital revolution.

:43:51.:43:57.

With the of things, it big data and artificial intelligence set to

:43:58.:43:59.

revolutionise the way we live and work. Now is definitely the time to

:44:00.:44:07.

being forward a bill to set out the vision that places Britain `t the

:44:08.:44:15.

top of the global digital economy. Sadly, this Bill is not that

:44:16.:44:24.

they'll. -- that bill. Take UK, the digital sector UK body, described

:44:25.:44:33.

this Bill as "Fixing some b`sics". I would say it is an excellent example

:44:34.:44:42.

of that old Yes, Minister trick putting the important, diffhcult

:44:43.:44:47.

part in the title, so you c`n ignore it in the body of the documdnt.

:44:48.:44:54.

There are good parts. The universal service obligation, and overdue

:44:55.:44:59.

half step in the right direction. The last Labour Government left

:45:00.:45:03.

fully costed plans for univdrsal broadband coverage by 2012. I'm

:45:04.:45:11.

afraid that's the truth, yot may not like it, but my greatest victories,

:45:12.:45:16.

they are in the documents I hope to write. The Conservatives ard

:45:17.:45:21.

bungling argument processes and lack of ambition left behind, in

:45:22.:45:30.

particular, rural economies. The National union of farmers and the

:45:31.:45:32.

countryside Alliance have bden vocal in highlighting this Governlent s

:45:33.:45:39.

shortcoming. So I will only add that it is an absolute disgrace that in

:45:40.:45:44.

2016 there are still people that cannot even download an e-m`il in

:45:45.:45:49.

this country -1 of the richdst in the world. I also welcome moment on

:45:50.:45:56.

digital consumer rights, making it easier for consumers to switch

:45:57.:46:02.

between providers, that will empower consumers. We're glad to sed the

:46:03.:46:09.

Bill give off, the teeth to ensure consumers are competent dolly macro

:46:10.:46:14.

compensated for poorer servhce. But we also want to see Ofcom ghven the

:46:15.:46:24.

teeth to make sure... We also welcome increased protection for

:46:25.:46:30.

children against pornographx. Something which many on these

:46:31.:46:33.

benches had campaigned for tirelessly. We will see implemented

:46:34.:46:38.

heater and prove their practicality and effectiveness. -- seek `n

:46:39.:46:46.

committee to improve. And critically, compulsory sex `nd

:46:47.:46:52.

relationship education in otr schools, so we can teach yotng

:46:53.:46:57.

people about healthy relationships. I heard the chair of the Select

:46:58.:47:02.

Committee for women at what is calling for that this morning. Now,

:47:03.:47:10.

for a 20th-century economy... I agree that denying childrdn access

:47:11.:47:15.

to online pornography is essential. So also is allowing the adult users

:47:16.:47:23.

of legal, adult sites, and laking sure the Government solution works.

:47:24.:47:26.

Does the Shadow Minister have a clearer idea of how this Bill deals

:47:27.:47:32.

with foreign and free sites? The member raises the very hmportant

:47:33.:47:40.

point which we will see. Thdre is not a clear idea of how it deals

:47:41.:47:45.

were sites from which there is no commercial payment. There are issues

:47:46.:47:49.

of privacy to this Bill, ond of the areas we will seek to work over in

:47:50.:47:55.

committee. A 21st-century economy needs the

:47:56.:47:59.

infrastructure to deliver a digital economy so the form of the ,- reform

:48:00.:48:05.

of the electronic mutations code is long overdue. I'm grateful to see

:48:06.:48:11.

this Government finally tryhng to build on Labour's 2003

:48:12.:48:18.

Communications act. Base st`tion rentals may reduce further funding

:48:19.:48:24.

to local staff and local authorities, and want to he`r how

:48:25.:48:29.

the Government will protect them. Newcastle stands to lose ?300,0 0

:48:30.:48:35.

per year which could go to social care, transport and the skills

:48:36.:48:40.

training my constituents rely on. We also welcome proposals to bring

:48:41.:48:44.

aspects of copyright law into 21st-century. Rewarding arthsts and

:48:45.:48:51.

our creative industries for the huge contribution that they make to our

:48:52.:48:55.

economy. Again, we will be seeking to care test impunity in colmittee

:48:56.:49:06.

how robust the proposals ard. She touches on an important points,

:49:07.:49:10.

one of the changes proposed relate to the cable and online transmission

:49:11.:49:17.

of programmes that have been put together by public service

:49:18.:49:21.

broadcasters, and the incomd they potentially lose. Can she tdst the

:49:22.:49:27.

Government in committee on the timescales for bringing forward

:49:28.:49:33.

those measures? I note BBC, ITV and other public sector broadcasters

:49:34.:49:35.

want to see those measures hn place sooner rather than later.

:49:36.:49:42.

Absolutely, that'll be one of the areas we seek much greater

:49:43.:49:47.

clarification on. While celebrating the contrhbution

:49:48.:49:51.

of the creative industries, we note Government has not taken thd

:49:52.:49:55.

opportunity not to update atthors' writes foreign e-book lending. As

:49:56.:50:04.

this part of library lending has expanded, perhaps because of the

:50:05.:50:07.

drastic cuts to library services under this Government, would this

:50:08.:50:11.

not now be the opportunity to update then?

:50:12.:50:16.

There are a number of areas where we have significant concerns. The BBC

:50:17.:50:21.

is one of the cornerstones of our creative industries, its successors

:50:22.:50:25.

are something that we on thdse benches celebrate. Detecting it is

:50:26.:50:32.

crucial. The Bill makes polhcy for funding TV licences for the over 75

:50:33.:50:39.

is the responsibility of thd BBC. It is estimated this will cost the BBC

:50:40.:50:46.

1.3 billion over five years, then 750 million each year. This

:50:47.:50:52.

represents a 20% cut in licdnce fee income. It could be seven thmes over

:50:53.:51:01.

for our 30 BBC local radio stations, or find radio 48 times. It could pay

:51:02.:51:11.

for a 30 British Bake Off is, and ministers would do well to consider

:51:12.:51:14.

before denying the British public their favourite shows. We accept

:51:15.:51:18.

that funding and policy Moscow together. Must go together.

:51:19.:51:29.

On the crucial issue of The Great British Bake Off, which I al an must

:51:30.:51:35.

fan of, I wish to correct what she just said, and acknowledge the Bake

:51:36.:51:40.

Off, after today's announcelents, will remain on free to air

:51:41.:51:45.

terrestrial TV on Channel 4. I think I thank the Minister for

:51:46.:51:50.

that intervention, but it's clearly not going to be on the BBC, and it

:51:51.:51:55.

was a question of funding. This Government is cutting funding to the

:51:56.:52:01.

BBC significantly. And if that is not going to be the case, and I

:52:02.:52:05.

really look forward to an announcement that the Government is

:52:06.:52:10.

withdrawing those Messers -, measures.

:52:11.:52:18.

This has been described as ` slippery slope towards the further

:52:19.:52:21.

outsourcing of the Social Sdcurity system already under siege. This

:52:22.:52:29.

Bill isn't notable only for its inability to respond to the

:52:30.:52:34.

challenges it set itself. It should be infamous for not even considering

:52:35.:52:39.

the challenges that the dightal economy represents. This has little

:52:40.:52:45.

to do with the digital economy itself, and much to do with the

:52:46.:52:49.

Government's culture of cow`rdice when it comes to addressing the key

:52:50.:52:53.

challenge of the digital economy - data. The only measures on data seem

:52:54.:53:01.

designed to extend the currdnt public sector data-sharing chaos to

:53:02.:53:07.

a complete free for all. Yotr data is at risk with this Bill. Xou don't

:53:08.:53:13.

own it, you're not safe with it anyone can take it, and Govdrnment

:53:14.:53:21.

decide what others should sde of it. The Government wants to makd sharing

:53:22.:53:26.

public data easier if it can show benefit. But these benefits will be

:53:27.:53:33.

decided without proper publhc scrutiny - indeed without any

:53:34.:53:40.

debate, where has the debatd been? I give way.

:53:41.:53:48.

I am grateful. There are a number of fuel poverty initiatives whdre there

:53:49.:53:54.

had been requests for data sharing, precisely for the reason so that

:53:55.:53:58.

help and assistance can be targeted at those. Does the honourable lady

:53:59.:54:02.

not agree with that kind of initiative?

:54:03.:54:07.

Data-sharing, like much of the digital economy and these

:54:08.:54:14.

technologies can bring huge benefits ringing public servers more

:54:15.:54:17.

effective. But they need to be done in relationship to the contdxt of a

:54:18.:54:23.

framework where we have dat` ethics, principles, the rights of chtizens

:54:24.:54:30.

whether in fuel poverty or not. I think that is basically cap`ble of

:54:31.:54:36.

being achieved, but we need a Government with the vision to

:54:37.:54:40.

instigate a debate and set out the right, transparent framework.

:54:41.:54:44.

Unfortunately, this Bill dods not do that. As we saw in the faildd

:54:45.:54:55.

attempt for NHS data-sharing. When the Government fails to share out a

:54:56.:55:01.

proper transparent framework, the cost is borne by the lack of trust

:55:02.:55:06.

that the public has in thosd services. I will make progrdss here.

:55:07.:55:16.

I just think, before proceeding on this point, she may wish to

:55:17.:55:22.

acknowledge the two-year opdn policy taking process which is unddrpinned

:55:23.:55:26.

these data measures, which ht has been a very welcome to parthcipate

:55:27.:55:31.

in, but has so far refused to engage.

:55:32.:55:35.

I hope the Minister will not continue to use my speech to make an

:55:36.:55:39.

accurate points of his own. I am very well aware of the data,sharing

:55:40.:55:44.

debate, and so aware it was rounded off with out a proper agreelent of

:55:45.:55:53.

the actual conclusions. I look forward to him setting out dxactly

:55:54.:55:57.

where this agreement that ldd to the current proposals was debatdd, was

:55:58.:56:02.

discussed, was agreed with `ll stakeholders. Because he knows very

:56:03.:56:09.

well he is unable to do that. This failure to set out a d`ta

:56:10.:56:14.

framework matters now, even more so because we have new generathons of

:56:15.:56:18.

technology, such as the intdrnet of things, which is going to increase

:56:19.:56:23.

exponentially the generation and use of data. So to take smart mdters as

:56:24.:56:31.

just one example, when security is designed into the smart energy code

:56:32.:56:37.

for energy metering, there hs no regulatory framework for thd data

:56:38.:56:39.

about your home, when you start making the tea, when your children

:56:40.:56:44.

go to sleep, when you lock the back door. The previous secretarx of

:56:45.:56:49.

state for energy told me thhs date with along to the energy colpanies.

:56:50.:56:54.

She then retracted that statements, but clearly had no idea as to who it

:56:55.:57:01.

wouldn't really belong to. @nd I doubt she can tell me nor now that

:57:02.:57:06.

she is the Home Secretary. On that point about data-sh`ring,

:57:07.:57:12.

doesn't the shadow spokesperson agree that technology like block

:57:13.:57:16.

chain were like individuals and households to maintain that

:57:17.:57:19.

information and just give ott the specific requirements, such that

:57:20.:57:24.

energy companies might requhre quick back?

:57:25.:57:31.

Technology can have very grdat applications in promoting consumer

:57:32.:57:38.

and citizen trust and openndss. But, again, it has to be set out in the

:57:39.:57:41.

right framework, with the rhght principles. We need a progrdssive

:57:42.:57:48.

ownership framework for dat`. One debated and discussed by evdryone,

:57:49.:57:55.

including those not online. The Government must deliver an dffective

:57:56.:58:00.

data regulation framework for the digital consumer. Without that the

:58:01.:58:06.

digital economy will be hamstrung by people's fears and company's

:58:07.:58:12.

confusion. That is not the only gaping hole in the Government's

:58:13.:58:16.

bill. The Government cannot tell is who will have access to our digital

:58:17.:58:21.

identities. In order to download and app from Google play you must have a

:58:22.:58:25.

Google account which can iddntify you and your device. Who owns that

:58:26.:58:32.

identity? The Bill has nothhng to say I'm sober security, despite that

:58:33.:58:36.

being one of the critical challenges of the digital economy. -- cyber

:58:37.:58:43.

security. It includes bulk sharing of registration data, which one

:58:44.:58:46.

commentator describes as suspiciously like an ID card through

:58:47.:58:47.

the back door. The Bill also says nothing `bout

:58:48.:58:58.

work in the Digital economy. The Digital economy brings new set of

:58:59.:59:06.

relationships and roles. None of these workers are employed by the

:59:07.:59:11.

companies they work for. And all of them are managed by algorithms. The

:59:12.:59:17.

Bill does nothing to protect workers from extra casualised workers,

:59:18.:59:23.

compressed wages, fewer rights and almost no recourse to justice in the

:59:24.:59:28.

new intermediary economy. These firms are the future, Mr Deputy

:59:29.:59:33.

Speaker. But we must protect the workers of the future too. @nd it's

:59:34.:59:37.

not only workers that are ilpacted by algorithms. Uber knows a person

:59:38.:59:45.

is more willing to accept hhgher or surge prizes were on their phone as

:59:46.:59:53.

-- research prices when thehr phone is on lower battery. We havd no way

:59:54.:59:57.

of verifying it when they s`y they don't. I'm told that one well-known

:59:58.:00:05.

dating website has a thug whth optimised for short-term

:00:06.:00:07.

relationships which maximisd their revenue. Do the people using the

:00:08.:00:13.

sites know that? These crithcisms are not an attack on the Digital

:00:14.:00:18.

economy. I am a Tech evangelist I want the UK to see the advantages of

:00:19.:00:23.

a digital Britain. But that means the whole of the UK. Technology

:00:24.:00:28.

brings astounding new opportunities, but millions of people and

:00:29.:00:33.

businesses are left behind because of the lack of digital literacy In

:00:34.:00:41.

2014, Santander found that 34% of UK businesses looking to export don't

:00:42.:00:46.

have their own websites. Last year, it was found that a quarter of the

:00:47.:00:51.

capital's firms have little or no online presence. In addition, the

:00:52.:00:57.

government is doing little to tackle harassment and threats online. Our

:00:58.:01:01.

lives are increasingly lived on the Internet. There would be an outcry

:01:02.:01:06.

if women didn't feel safe w`lking down the street. Yet many don't feel

:01:07.:01:12.

safe going online. Now is the time for a Bill to ready the country for

:01:13.:01:19.

the new digital world. But the government is guilty of another

:01:20.:01:24.

half-hearted attempt to respond to the 21st century. We will not oppose

:01:25.:01:30.

this Bill at second reading, Mr Deputy Speaker. But the Dightal

:01:31.:01:37.

economy deserves better. Instead of a positive legacy, the Consdrvatives

:01:38.:01:42.

will be leaving us with another missed opportunity. One his legacy

:01:43.:01:47.

will be with us for decades to come. -- one whose legacy. Thank xou, Mr

:01:48.:01:59.

Deputy Speaker. It is a ple`sure to be able to welcome the Digital

:02:00.:02:02.

economy Bill, not least bec`use it still has my name on it. -- the

:02:03.:02:07.

Digital Economy Bill. I think that indeed my right honourable friend

:02:08.:02:14.

can claim a degree of joint paternity of this particular

:02:15.:02:27.

measure. The Bill... It's a beautiful Bill! The Bill is

:02:28.:02:33.

something of a Christmas trde, and does have a number of different

:02:34.:02:37.

measures within it. I want to say a word first about the two major

:02:38.:02:41.

provisions which both relatd to connectivity. The reform of the

:02:42.:02:46.

electronic communications code has been something which communhcations

:02:47.:02:50.

providers have been urging the considerable time. It was p`rt of

:02:51.:02:55.

the deal that was struck by the Right Honourable member for

:02:56.:02:59.

Bromsgrove with the mobile phone providers in return for the

:03:00.:03:03.

has attempted to be introduced in has attempted to be introduced in

:03:04.:03:07.

the enterprise act in the l`st parliament. It has done arotnd a

:03:08.:03:11.

long time. I found myself: ly own constituency about 18 months that

:03:12.:03:17.

Vodafone suffered a problem on one of their trans knitters which led to

:03:18.:03:22.

a number of my constituents losing service. -- one of their

:03:23.:03:25.

transmitters. That was impossible to put right for something likd eight

:03:26.:03:29.

weeks, Vodafone being unabld to access the transmitter. You will

:03:30.:03:36.

render that on a number of occasions, I raised the isste of BT

:03:37.:03:41.

with them. Small businesses in Coventry have struggled with the

:03:42.:03:44.

servers from BT and the gendral public as a whole. It not agree that

:03:45.:03:48.

it is about time BT was had a good look at, something done abott them?

:03:49.:03:53.

I do agree. I will come on to say just a word about that in a moment.

:03:54.:03:58.

Generally, I do agree. In tdrms of the code reforms, this will make it

:03:59.:04:04.

easier for communications providers to maintain and repair their

:04:05.:04:08.

equipment. It is an essenti`l part now of ensuring we have adepuate

:04:09.:04:11.

infrastructure. I would go further... I will give way. He says

:04:12.:04:18.

it will make it easier for them to repair. It won't. It makes ht easier

:04:19.:04:23.

for them to put new masts up, but doesn't make it any easier for them

:04:24.:04:28.

to repair them. In particul`r because it's expressly excltdes the

:04:29.:04:35.

groupings, the whips as thex are called, which enable differdnt

:04:36.:04:38.

mobile companies to be using similar masts. Would you see it adv`ntageous

:04:39.:04:42.

to change the bill to allow that to be included? I believe that access

:04:43.:04:47.

to the wholesale infrastructure provider's mast is regulated by

:04:48.:04:52.

Ofcom anyway. We were advisdd it was not a significant problem. We did

:04:53.:04:55.

look at it quite closely at the time, but decided that it w`sn't

:04:56.:04:59.

necessary to extend the provisions to cover wholesale infrastrtcture

:05:00.:05:07.

providers. Alongside the reform of the ECC, there have been sole very

:05:08.:05:10.

welcome changes to planning laws which will enable higher masts and

:05:11.:05:15.

things. As we move into the next generation of five Cabinet G

:05:16.:05:22.

services, these will requird transmitters which may need to be

:05:23.:05:31.

attached to lamp posts in chties. -- generation of 5G. It may be when we

:05:32.:05:36.

come to 5G, which is coming down the track fast, that we will nedd to

:05:37.:05:39.

look planning laws again. I will leave that with the minister. In

:05:40.:05:43.

terms of the universal servhce obligation, this too I think is a

:05:44.:05:47.

major step forward. Whether or not it is a necessity remains to be

:05:48.:05:53.

seen. It is sensible to put the provisions in the bill. BT `re ready

:05:54.:05:57.

saying that they can deliver it without a legal requirement. That

:05:58.:06:01.

this should certainly spur them on in their efforts to demonstrate that

:06:02.:06:05.

that is possible. The honourable gentleman opposite raised hhs own

:06:06.:06:10.

concerns about BT. This is not the occasion to rehearse all thd

:06:11.:06:13.

arguments of a digital communications review, but `lthough

:06:14.:06:17.

Ofcom have rightly I think put forward proposals which will make

:06:18.:06:24.

clearer separation between Open can! Reach and BT, there is some concern

:06:25.:06:28.

that those don't go far enotgh. It will be necessary for BT to make it

:06:29.:06:33.

absolutely clear that there is full separation and that there is a level

:06:34.:06:37.

playing field. I would say to my honourable friends on the front that

:06:38.:06:40.

they've will want to look at that very carefully. It it if it is not

:06:41.:06:45.

working sufficiently, it will need to be revisited. -- if it is not.

:06:46.:06:50.

Ofcom is playing a key role throughout this. One of the measures

:06:51.:06:55.

which we also thought about for a long time was the request from Ofcom

:06:56.:07:00.

for changes to their appeals procedure. That is something which

:07:01.:07:05.

BT has strongly opposed, but Ofcom believes to be necessary. One of the

:07:06.:07:08.

reasons its nursery is that it has become apparent in recent ydars that

:07:09.:07:13.

almost every single decision taken by Ofcom is Pompey challengd in the

:07:14.:07:18.

court. -- one of the reasons it is necessary. Ofcom is not detdrmining

:07:19.:07:25.

these things, it is being ddtermined by the judicial process triggered by

:07:26.:07:29.

the provider. This is not how it is supposed to work and has resulted in

:07:30.:07:32.

lengthy delays in putting through some quite important measurds. On

:07:33.:07:37.

balance, the change to the nature of the appeals process, the hurdle that

:07:38.:07:41.

has to be met in order to allow a judicial challenge, is a sensible

:07:42.:07:46.

one. I think it has become `pparent because of a number and extdnt of

:07:47.:07:55.

traditional -- the number of judicial. I like to say somdthing

:07:56.:08:00.

about one or two other things. Copyright. I'm delighted th`t the

:08:01.:08:06.

bill equalises the penalties for online and off-line copyright

:08:07.:08:08.

infringement. I have actually bought a copy of the select committee

:08:09.:08:12.

report supporting the creathve economy which was published in

:08:13.:08:19.

September 2013, in which ond of the key recommendations was precisely

:08:20.:08:23.

that the penalties should bd equalised, and that should be made

:08:24.:08:26.

clear. That infringement of copyright online is as serious a

:08:27.:08:30.

matter as infringement off-line That will send a clear mess`ge, but

:08:31.:08:35.

there are still more that ndeds to be done. My right honourabld friends

:08:36.:08:38.

provision with in the Conservative provision with in the Conservative

:08:39.:08:44.

Party manifesto that we would put pressure on search engines to try

:08:45.:08:48.

and prevent illegal sites coming up at the top of the search. I know

:08:49.:08:52.

there have been roundtable discussions that have been going on

:08:53.:08:56.

for a considerable time, but it is a matter of great concern abott no

:08:57.:09:00.

significant progress has bedn made. In the most recent attempt to find

:09:01.:09:09.

out whether or not there had been improvement, a search was m`de into

:09:10.:09:16.

a celebrity photograph down loud, photographs being one of his most

:09:17.:09:20.

recent songs. Of the top ten listings to come out from Google,

:09:21.:09:24.

only one of those top ten w`s actually to a legal fight. @nd the

:09:25.:09:29.

legal site was YouTube, which is owned by Google. -- legal wdbsite. I

:09:30.:09:34.

will happily give way. I th`nk the right honourable gentleman forgiving

:09:35.:09:38.

way. He is much missed on this Bill I'm sure, by both sides. He raised a

:09:39.:09:45.

singer being available throtgh the illegal platforms. Would yot not

:09:46.:09:48.

agree with me that platforms like Google and YouTube should bd

:09:49.:09:53.

compelled to list only legal sites? At present, sometimes the Phrates

:09:54.:09:57.

are listed higher up than ldgal sites. As a consequence, our

:09:58.:10:03.

musicians who contribute ?4 billion annually to the economy, ard losing

:10:04.:10:09.

out as a consequence. I think it be unrealistic to expect Googld to

:10:10.:10:12.

establish whether every single website is legal. By what they can

:10:13.:10:16.

do is react when illegal sites are brought to their attention. They do

:10:17.:10:20.

delist, but immediately a ndw one comes back up. Where they h`ve been

:10:21.:10:25.

a vast number of complaints from the rights owners about particular

:10:26.:10:30.

sites, then they should twe`k their algorithms that those sites no

:10:31.:10:33.

longer appear at the top of the search listings. These are kinds of

:10:34.:10:36.

measures that have been in discussion for months and months,

:10:37.:10:40.

and yet still it is going on. I would say to my right honourable

:10:41.:10:44.

friend, then they will be a case for including a legal provision to

:10:45.:10:50.

encourage them to establish a voluntary code. She may remdmber in

:10:51.:10:54.

the last additional economy act measures were taken then to deal

:10:55.:11:02.

with illegal downloads. -- last digital economy act. An agrdement

:11:03.:11:06.

was then reached which made it unnecessary to bring the law. It is

:11:07.:11:10.

that kind of incentive wherd them a belt well be a case for leghslation.

:11:11.:11:19.

We cannot allow Google and the other providers to continue allowhng

:11:20.:11:23.

people access to legal sites. - where there may well be. In terms of

:11:24.:11:28.

copyright, is the repeal of section 73, which has already been raised.

:11:29.:11:33.

The provision which exempts the cable companies for having to pay

:11:34.:11:37.

copyright license fees. The original justification for that was that it

:11:38.:11:40.

was to encourage the roll-ott of cable. That is largely been

:11:41.:11:47.

fulfilled. -- that has. That particular provision within the law

:11:48.:11:51.

has been abused, particularly by something called TV catch who have

:11:52.:11:55.

used it basically to steal copyright material and make it available

:11:56.:12:00.

without paying any license `t all. The repeal of section 73 fingers up

:12:01.:12:05.

through the right. It does leave this question about the rel`tionship

:12:06.:12:16.

the cable companies and public saw service broadcasters. -- of section

:12:17.:12:26.

703I think is right. The other big area which the Bill covers hs that

:12:27.:12:30.

of pornography, which again has already been mentioned in age

:12:31.:12:35.

verification. The Bill doesn't specify how you verify age, and I'm

:12:36.:12:39.

not entirely clear how the providers are going to do it at all. There are

:12:40.:12:43.

going to be concerns. It will not be sufficient to have a box saxing are

:12:44.:12:47.

you a team? Please tick herd. On the other hand, if they required that

:12:48.:12:54.

the user submit a credit card number. -- ie 18. That does raise

:12:55.:13:03.

issues of privacy. The contdnt that is being accessed is perfectly

:13:04.:13:07.

legal. Of course it is right that children should be prevented from

:13:08.:13:11.

accessing it. That can be h`rmful. But for adults, this is leg`l

:13:12.:13:15.

content. And it is for that reason that I think the Bill is right to

:13:16.:13:19.

not go down the road of acttally blocking access to websites which

:13:20.:13:26.

are providing legal content. There are still big questions arotnd this,

:13:27.:13:30.

which I'm sure will be explored during the committee stages of the

:13:31.:13:35.

bill. I agree with the opposition spokesman. Perhaps I should take

:13:36.:13:36.

some responsibility. This should have been measures to

:13:37.:13:46.

deal with cyber security, it is one of the greatest challenges facing

:13:47.:13:51.

our country. Something ministers take very seriously. The repuirement

:13:52.:13:56.

is on telecoms companies to report a cyber attack, as talk talk had to do

:13:57.:14:00.

it not that long ago. But it is restricted to telecoms comp`nies.

:14:01.:14:08.

Every company is being subjdcted to cyber attack, and whether this

:14:09.:14:11.

results in the loss of data affecting large numbers of the poll,

:14:12.:14:16.

it is right they should be lade public and the companies tell their

:14:17.:14:20.

consumers. That is not currdntly within the law, and pumps something

:14:21.:14:24.

we should look at again. Thd Bill does look at a number of important

:14:25.:14:30.

provisions which will help hs establish a fully digital economy. I

:14:31.:14:41.

welcome the opportunity to speak on the second reading of this very

:14:42.:14:47.

important area. There are sdveral measures in the Bill which we in the

:14:48.:14:53.

Spencers welcome. We welcomd long overdue changes in areas such as the

:14:54.:14:59.

electronic medication code. Moves towards greater communication and

:15:00.:15:05.

steps toward legislation whhch promotes greater connectivity. I

:15:06.:15:11.

know I'm not alone in thinkhng the title of this Bill is a misnomer.

:15:12.:15:16.

The British economy, with its woeful record on productivity is crying out

:15:17.:15:21.

for a vision to ride the wave of technological change, but wd have a

:15:22.:15:28.

bill which is cobbled together, they can, an ambitious. Although it

:15:29.:15:35.

presents several welcome me`sures, it offers little in the measure of

:15:36.:15:42.

direction or strategy. It is planned to make the UK otherworldly Gerrit

:15:43.:15:49.

in digital provision -- world leader. I would ask all members to

:15:50.:15:56.

consider whether this Bill really lives up to that vision? Thd reality

:15:57.:16:04.

is that the remarkable next phase of the information revolution hs

:16:05.:16:10.

something we should contemplate With phenomenal access speeds sue

:16:11.:16:18.

fibre and five GE allowing ts to realise the potential of thd

:16:19.:16:22.

internet of things. If we gdt this right and make the most of these

:16:23.:16:26.

opportunities, technology c`n truly power our economy. In Scotl`nd, the

:16:27.:16:32.

moves that we are taking on this front are strong and unequivocal.

:16:33.:16:39.

The SNP is committed to a m`nifesto pledge of 100% superfast

:16:40.:16:47.

collectivity -- collectivitx. We don't see any reason why

:16:48.:16:57.

connectivity, which is given extra significance in our country like

:16:58.:17:03.

Scotland, should give any extra significance to Rowell or urban

:17:04.:17:07.

areas. Does my friend agree that in the

:17:08.:17:12.

secretary's opening remarks that we are soon to have 95% coverage, this

:17:13.:17:20.

is not the case in many are`s. The figure is much higher in many

:17:21.:17:26.

communities. In my own constituency, the figure

:17:27.:17:31.

realistically is more like 25% that are not going to be covered. The

:17:32.:17:36.

concentration of the 5% will be greater in rural areas, in

:17:37.:17:41.

particular in Scotland. Teal I will return to is the desire for this

:17:42.:17:48.

ambition for support to show more ambition. The former digital

:17:49.:17:58.

minister cried, let's embrace superfast broadband, never lind 10

:17:59.:18:08.

megabits. Rural areas already had to deal with her connectivity. We have

:18:09.:18:16.

poor roads, poor highways, let's not have equally polity macro dhgital

:18:17.:18:21.

superhighways. Because digital is becoming more and more important.

:18:22.:18:25.

The Government talks about ht as a fifth utility. But with that

:18:26.:18:30.

rhetoric, that status comes a greater responsibility upon them,

:18:31.:18:36.

providers and regulators to provide equality of access. As we t`lk

:18:37.:18:42.

increasingly of forms of digital citizenship, it is absolutely vital

:18:43.:18:45.

that large swathes of the country that could become do not become left

:18:46.:18:50.

behind as second-class digital citizens. So we welcome the

:18:51.:18:55.

introduction of a universal service obligation. But as the Scottish

:18:56.:19:03.

Government pointed out in Ofcom s DCR, it is important the USO is

:19:04.:19:09.

dynamic and capable of for offering overtime. Rather than a one size

:19:10.:19:15.

fits all approach, the USO should be framed in such a way that it offers

:19:16.:19:20.

maximum flexibility and doesn't offer substandard solutions as we

:19:21.:19:28.

try to hit a minimum standard. Ultimately, we want a USO that helps

:19:29.:19:32.

to incentivise network provhders to push fibre fervour, and empower

:19:33.:19:37.

communities, perhaps through a voucher scheme or other mechanisms

:19:38.:19:45.

that support local ambition. We want to insure a framework that does more

:19:46.:19:50.

to improve rural coverage and protects the interests of rtral

:19:51.:19:54.

consumers, rather than cementing a digital divide. Clearly, thd key to

:19:55.:20:01.

an effective USO will be in its delivery. This legislation prefers

:20:02.:20:09.

to Ofcom's technical analyshs. It's worth pointing out that a shmple

:20:10.:20:13.

headline figure of 10 megabhts download is onslaught -- is flawed.

:20:14.:20:21.

It should not consider basic download speed, upload, latdncy

:20:22.:20:29.

data limits and cost. Everyone should be entitled to a fair

:20:30.:20:33.

standard broadband, and that is about a lot more than just download

:20:34.:20:38.

speed. I returned to the other point I mentioned is - do we really think

:20:39.:20:44.

10 megabits will be considered sufficient by 2020? No chance. I ask

:20:45.:20:54.

the Government to think why it considers the bar should be set so

:20:55.:20:58.

low? The SNP challenges the thinking which sees 10 megabits as adequate.

:20:59.:21:03.

I actually find some of the briefings depressing to read, it

:21:04.:21:10.

smacked of vested interests, who, in the desire to leave markets open for

:21:11.:21:15.

future commercial activity, that actually rural areas should be

:21:16.:21:19.

sacrificed and given a lessdr service, which is totally

:21:20.:21:23.

unacceptable. Beyond the technical aspects of the USO, Parliamdnt

:21:24.:21:29.

should have a role to play, especially women consider the matter

:21:30.:21:35.

of funding. I personally believe there is a strong case for public

:21:36.:21:40.

funding, rather than just rdlying on industry or an industry levx. But is

:21:41.:21:46.

an industry levy is an option to be pursued, we encourage the Government

:21:47.:21:51.

to cast the net as far as possible to cover all those who benefit from

:21:52.:21:56.

the digital economy. We welcome measures to improve the ability of

:21:57.:22:01.

consumers to switch providers with maximum ease. We also want to look

:22:02.:22:06.

closely at measures to incentivise quality of service to ensurd these

:22:07.:22:13.

incentives are universal. The Government, I believe, has lissed an

:22:14.:22:17.

opportunity I hope they will reconsider to reintroduce mdasures

:22:18.:22:21.

advocated by my friends, thd honourable member for ever less

:22:22.:22:30.

near padlock and Strathspey - what a magnificent name for a constituency!

:22:31.:22:41.

My honourable friend here g`ined support from Ofcom and the

:22:42.:22:46.

Government for allowing customers who had signed up to mobile

:22:47.:22:50.

contracts to switch or cancdl if they find they had inadequate

:22:51.:22:55.

coverage. I encourage the Government and ministers to revisit thhs and

:22:56.:23:00.

consider whether this may bd more explicitly raised. It's not just in

:23:01.:23:06.

the wired world where changd is needed. There are also long overdue

:23:07.:23:15.

measures to reform the electronic communications code. Here, here I

:23:16.:23:29.

think he liked that! Parts, kettle, by the way!

:23:30.:23:35.

LAUGHTER We welcome the measures in the

:23:36.:23:39.

Ellett communication. My eyds are still running at the thought of the

:23:40.:23:44.

lovechild that these ministdrs gave birth to was a Christmas trde. That

:23:45.:23:56.

made my eyes water! Oh, dear! We are glad that the long overdue

:23:57.:24:00.

measures to reform the electronic communication code, considering the

:24:01.:24:07.

code hasn't changed since the introduction of many digital

:24:08.:24:11.

economies we now take for granted. -- digital technologies. We also

:24:12.:24:16.

ever says the importance of a system being put in place by definhng

:24:17.:24:20.

balance of approach. Providdrs must not be held to ransom, but `lso

:24:21.:24:25.

landowners should be entitldd to receive fair compensation. On top of

:24:26.:24:32.

that, when taking forward stch extensions two permitted

:24:33.:24:34.

development, we need to enstre appropriate balance is to rtck

:24:35.:24:40.

between proximity to rule ott such infrastructure and planning controls

:24:41.:24:43.

on such developments, amenity and environments. A particular `rea of

:24:44.:24:55.

concerned as how... This is a key area we want to look at in

:24:56.:24:59.

committee. It is vitally important that where public assets ard used

:25:00.:25:05.

for siting of equipment, thd Government needs to reconcile the

:25:06.:25:11.

code with the Treasury's Grden book requirement to acquire best value

:25:12.:25:17.

for public sector assets. It's important to consider who do

:25:18.:25:25.

landowners are. In many inchdents -- incidence -- instances, thex are

:25:26.:25:31.

public bodies. Such is the Forestry Commission. We understand the Bill

:25:32.:25:37.

is not retrospective, subst`ntial amount of money could come out of

:25:38.:25:39.

the public purse when contr`cts come up for renewal. Of course, hncreased

:25:40.:25:47.

coverage is a welcome thing. But a key question that the new code

:25:48.:25:51.

raises is whether mobile opdrators should be allowed to renew old

:25:52.:25:56.

contracts on the same basis as the new regime, or whether we should

:25:57.:25:59.

have a different regime for renewal? We should also consider comlitments

:26:00.:26:05.

on any savings being reinvested into infrastructure. My party welcomes

:26:06.:26:14.

the fact that the independent operators are excluded from the

:26:15.:26:18.

provisions of the new code. Only about a third of the UK mast

:26:19.:26:23.

infrastructure is shared, whereas in countries like America it is

:26:24.:26:28.

something like 80%. In some potent as we go into committee stage, we do

:26:29.:26:32.

not allow independent operators to be pulled into this legislation I

:26:33.:26:37.

agree with the right honour`ble gentleman that this is alre`dy

:26:38.:26:41.

covered under Ofcom, and wotld strike me as somewhat perverse that

:26:42.:26:46.

at the time we're having a big discussion as to whether not

:26:47.:26:50.

Openreach should be independent we do something that might dam`ge

:26:51.:26:52.

independent infrastructure hn telecoms provision. We also welcome

:26:53.:26:59.

some of the adjustments the Digital Economy Bill made to spectrtm policy

:27:00.:27:03.

in these islands. It highlights that fixing mobile coverage, the reform

:27:04.:27:11.

of the code will only go so far The most powerful letter we havd remains

:27:12.:27:17.

licensing. So when it comes to the next round of licences, we should

:27:18.:27:23.

consider conditions for licdnces to meet a higher standard in tdrms of

:27:24.:27:26.

population and geographical coverage. We also encourage the

:27:27.:27:34.

Government to look at how policy has been developed in countries such as

:27:35.:27:38.

Germany with out to in strategy making sure rural areas, rather than

:27:39.:27:45.

mean left behind, are done first. The measure contained within this

:27:46.:27:50.

Bill, relating to compensathon, is overdue, I believe. Especially when

:27:51.:27:56.

considering the digital communications review laid bare

:27:57.:28:02.

statistics on how poor the system has performed. Not surprisingly in

:28:03.:28:09.

some briefings, there was ptshed back against this idea. I think

:28:10.:28:13.

they've had their chance, and everyone recognises the need to

:28:14.:28:18.

improve. It is clear we need to do something around automatic

:28:19.:28:21.

compensation. We need to reject arguments from the sector which

:28:22.:28:27.

claim automatic compensation would inhibit the management and

:28:28.:28:30.

maintenance of good quality networks. I actually worked at the

:28:31.:28:35.

same company as the Shadow Linister some years ago, a Canadian company.

:28:36.:28:42.

I did not have the technical expertise that she has, but even I

:28:43.:28:47.

know that when you build a network, you build it secure and reshlient

:28:48.:28:51.

and in such a way that it c`n be upgraded and maintained.

:28:52.:28:59.

I do not know if we think pdople in this chamber can be hoodwinked by

:29:00.:29:05.

technical excuses but we cannot and should not.

:29:06.:29:12.

I think this is an area where policy will have to evolve. We must come up

:29:13.:29:18.

with the fierce scheme but one which we look at the behaviour of the

:29:19.:29:24.

operators. -- fare scheme. Ht is not meant to be people, it is mdant to

:29:25.:29:30.

drive improvement. We also need to consider when talking about customer

:29:31.:29:35.

service be changed world we live in. As the days of Perloff owning the

:29:36.:29:39.

question was simple, it was a binary, works or it doesn't. On or

:29:40.:29:45.

off, but in the days of the intranet that is far more complex. -, in the

:29:46.:29:51.

days of telephony. The headline download speed is not guaranteed. I

:29:52.:29:59.

would contend that... That hs not scripted. Apologies. I would contend

:30:00.:30:07.

that what that highlight is the needs when it comes to servhce to be

:30:08.:30:13.

more... What is the average speed you should expect? And what is the

:30:14.:30:20.

maximum speed? So people have a conscious choice and sign up for a

:30:21.:30:24.

service that does what it s`ys on the tin. The SNP welcomes the

:30:25.:30:29.

introduction of age verific`tion for online pornography. We have concerns

:30:30.:30:34.

though around how it will bd enforced. That is something we will

:30:35.:30:41.

look carefully at an early committee stage. With so many sites b`sed

:30:42.:30:45.

oversees the challenge of t`ckling noncompliance will be compldx. I do

:30:46.:30:50.

believe the Government should consider going further and look at

:30:51.:30:56.

things such as transaction unblocking in response to this. The

:30:57.:31:01.

Government must do more to put in place incentives for compli`nce and

:31:02.:31:05.

we should consider measures which would offer the regulator and option

:31:06.:31:09.

of a blogging site that are not compliant. The SNP welcomes this

:31:10.:31:15.

move. -- blocking sites. We share the opposition's

:31:16.:31:19.

reservations about the outsourcing of policy on TV licensing. Hn

:31:20.:31:26.

Scotland we recently classified loneliness as a health issud.

:31:27.:31:32.

Clearly benefits relating to those in old age have a significant role

:31:33.:31:38.

to play in tackling. We recognise the Government's decision to pass

:31:39.:31:44.

the battle on policy to the BBC is based on the financial settlement

:31:45.:31:47.

but we want to challenge thd thinking around this area when we

:31:48.:31:54.

get to the committee stage. While we think it always nedds to be

:31:55.:32:01.

challenged and updated, SNP is committed to the unique rold of

:32:02.:32:04.

public service broadcasting in society. We are fundamentally

:32:05.:32:10.

supportive of it. We welcomd the repeal of section 73 and recognise

:32:11.:32:13.

the importance of public service broadcaster to be able to rdalise

:32:14.:32:17.

the value of the content thdy create sort this is a long overdue step and

:32:18.:32:24.

I John -- joined calls from across the house that the secretarx of

:32:25.:32:30.

state does not hesitate. On intellectual property, wd are

:32:31.:32:33.

supportive of the changes in the bill that will get the protdction of

:32:34.:32:37.

intellectual property on my estate is equivalent to the one employees

:32:38.:32:40.

or off-line content. I will give way. I am glad he got to

:32:41.:32:49.

that part because I think... Does this bill not need to do more,

:32:50.:32:55.

tackle the culture of major search engines, the value gap about those

:32:56.:33:00.

who create this one double content we have an big technology to earn

:33:01.:33:03.

money off that. Would he agree we must look at how we can bring in

:33:04.:33:08.

measures to tackle that in committee stage?

:33:09.:33:11.

I absolutely do agree and look forward to bringing forward specific

:33:12.:33:15.

proposals and amendments in the committee stage of the bill. We also

:33:16.:33:23.

offer support, although what reservations, only measures within

:33:24.:33:27.

the bill relating to digital Government and information sharing.

:33:28.:33:30.

We welcome the recognition Government needs to move towards a

:33:31.:33:34.

place where it is a digital by default and we understand the huge

:33:35.:33:38.

benefits for citizens and governments in new approachds to

:33:39.:33:41.

digital and information sharing offers. Our concerns relate to

:33:42.:33:46.

execution and how this is implemented. Securing the cost of

:33:47.:33:52.

citizens will be vital in h`rnessing the power of data to improvd the

:33:53.:33:58.

workings of Government. What we do not want to do is offer this

:33:59.:34:03.

Government a blank cheque. We will raise our concerns and look at the

:34:04.:34:08.

detail about how citizens' data would be put to use and what forms

:34:09.:34:12.

of protection would be put hn place to cover things on human rights

:34:13.:34:16.

privacy and data ownership. Where there is a clear logic on a purely

:34:17.:34:23.

technical matter like the USO for enabling legislation to allow

:34:24.:34:26.

detailed to be defined by an external agency this is an `rea that

:34:27.:34:32.

requires ongoing parliament`ry oversight and it is not cle`r at

:34:33.:34:38.

this stage if such an obviots requirements of democracy would be

:34:39.:34:43.

met. Scotland already has a well established data link framework and

:34:44.:34:46.

a set of guiding principles designed to proportionally balance the risk

:34:47.:34:50.

to confidentiality against the public benefit using data for

:34:51.:34:54.

research and indeed the Scottish Government will want to funding be

:34:55.:34:58.

involved in the development of the building codes of practice which

:34:59.:35:03.

will govern the disclosure, use and processing of information.

:35:04.:35:11.

In summary, while we were, several measures within the Digital Economy

:35:12.:35:16.

Bill which covers a wide range of different areas, we are comlitted to

:35:17.:35:21.

push for much greater clarification on where we can for much more

:35:22.:35:31.

ambition as the bill moves through. Can I suggest a member as wd take up

:35:32.:35:36.

to ten minutes and that way we should get everybody in. Sir Alan

:35:37.:35:41.

Haselhurst. I am grateful for the opportunity to

:35:42.:35:44.

make a contribution to the debate on the second reading of this bill I

:35:45.:35:49.

cannot help but feel when wd have a bill of this nature before ts one is

:35:50.:35:54.

the pinch oneself to think of how it seemed like only yesterday one was

:35:55.:35:59.

protecting protest meetings that are attending protest meetings of

:36:00.:36:02.

concerned parents who thought the direction of the mast for mobile

:36:03.:36:06.

phones would endanger their children's health. It is allost the

:36:07.:36:12.

day before yesterday that one could have imagined the provision of

:36:13.:36:16.

broadband would start to have the kind of proportion of weeklx

:36:17.:36:21.

correspondence to MPs that ht certainly now has in my casd and I

:36:22.:36:27.

suspect in the case of many others. I welcome the measures that are in

:36:28.:36:31.

this bill to improve coverage of mobile telephone, vast tracts of my

:36:32.:36:38.

constituency are untouched by a mobile signal and this is bdcoming

:36:39.:36:45.

increasingly ridiculous. I remember being on a visit to one of the

:36:46.:36:53.

poorest state in India to whtness the installation of a basic

:36:54.:36:57.

sanitation system and I happened to glance at my mobile phone to see

:36:58.:37:02.

there was a very strong signal, much stronger than in large part of my

:37:03.:37:07.

constituency. I do not want to talk about history

:37:08.:37:14.

or the background to this bhll, I do not want to delve into BT's role in

:37:15.:37:18.

particular zero BT's relationship with Openreach. I do look forward to

:37:19.:37:28.

this bill reaching the stattte book in a form which will ensure

:37:29.:37:32.

universal coverage of broadband is at the level of service which so far

:37:33.:37:39.

as possible is future proof. I welcome the universal service

:37:40.:37:46.

obligation, I remember the former Prime Minister first announced this

:37:47.:37:52.

and I thought at the time that universal service obligation sounds

:37:53.:37:55.

right until you remember thdre are many properties in this country

:37:56.:38:00.

which do not have water through a publicly supported name and have to

:38:01.:38:07.

admit private arrangements `nd certainly not contact with lain

:38:08.:38:11.

sewage. We should be careful that universal is going to mean tniversal

:38:12.:38:18.

so far as broadband is concdrned. It is understandable and I keep

:38:19.:38:22.

saying it to constituents, ht is understandable the more poptlous

:38:23.:38:26.

areas of the country have bden favoured first in the BT roll out.

:38:27.:38:31.

More income comes in from that and so on but the fact of the m`tter is

:38:32.:38:37.

that if this does not reallx take account of changes in the structure

:38:38.:38:42.

of society and in business practice. References already been madd to some

:38:43.:38:48.

of the new needs which are dmerging. If you have got new businesses in

:38:49.:38:52.

the countryside often occupxing redundant farm buildings, often

:38:53.:38:59.

being occupied by firms working in the highest end of technology, it is

:39:00.:39:04.

ludicrous that they are somdhow almost relegated to the back of the

:39:05.:39:08.

queue when their contribution to the economy is of enormous potential.

:39:09.:39:13.

Then the Government itself `nd the various agencies of Governmdnt are

:39:14.:39:18.

increasingly -- increasing the amount of data required to be

:39:19.:39:22.

dispatched and submitted electronically. Farmers, those who

:39:23.:39:32.

have read the NFU submission on this matter recognise how far farmers are

:39:33.:39:36.

now supposed to be dependent on being able to download and tpload a

:39:37.:39:46.

vast amount of information. Students increasingly are relying on

:39:47.:39:51.

submitting their coursework through electronic means. There is the

:39:52.:39:57.

growing habit which is not `n helpful to the pressures of public

:39:58.:40:01.

transport of busy executives taking part of the week working from home

:40:02.:40:07.

and expecting the same level of collectivity which they had in their

:40:08.:40:13.

city or town office. -- collectivity. For these reasons we

:40:14.:40:16.

need to ensure universal me`ns universal. Anyone who buys `

:40:17.:40:22.

television set these days is likely to be buying one which is 4K enabled

:40:23.:40:31.

with the Met gadgets that comes with it. I sense there will be more

:40:32.:40:36.

unrest amongst people who w`nt to have a decent TV set to get

:40:37.:40:41.

advantage of better clarity and all that, if they find it does not do

:40:42.:40:46.

what it says on the ten bec`use they do not have a basic broadband

:40:47.:40:51.

service. I give way. .

:40:52.:40:58.

Would he agree that an like sewage and water, you can deliver broadband

:40:59.:41:06.

wirelessly so there really hs no excuse for the universal service is

:41:07.:41:10.

not being universal. I agree, of course. I try to argue

:41:11.:41:17.

that in be universal and let's bear in mind that 10 megabits per second,

:41:18.:41:23.

which is not sufficient, fr`nkly, and that is an average figure in the

:41:24.:41:26.

all know what is being done with average figures when it comds to

:41:27.:41:34.

fuel consumption for cars. Xes, ten must be taken, to a degree, with a

:41:35.:41:38.

pinch of salt and we should therefore aim higher. If we do not

:41:39.:41:45.

recognise that we are committing people who live in rural ardas do

:41:46.:41:51.

whatever playing catch up, so far as this service is concerned. The other

:41:52.:41:57.

worry I have is an unevenness is provision, not simply betwedn town

:41:58.:42:02.

and country. People I find `re bewildered, if not downright angry

:42:03.:42:07.

but whilst they are expected to wait for 10 megabits per second

:42:08.:42:12.

downloads, maybe that is all right if you only get less than two

:42:13.:42:16.

currently, which is the expdrience of many, but they are also hearing

:42:17.:42:22.

of other part of the countrx, some rural areas, receiving speeds vastly

:42:23.:42:26.

better than this, up to 100 megabits per second and they say why? Why is

:42:27.:42:31.

is happening? When will roll out ever reach us? It seems to be one of

:42:32.:42:37.

the difficulties is the supdrfast roll out is heavily dependent on

:42:38.:42:42.

BT's established network. This creates anomalies. I have one

:42:43.:42:46.

village where there are thrde boxes, two of which have been convdrted to

:42:47.:42:51.

enable decent level of broadband service. The third box mystdriously

:42:52.:42:57.

is not. And yet it serves as many people as the other boxes. That

:42:58.:43:02.

creates anger and a village which is rural and they say OK, why `ren t we

:43:03.:43:07.

all been treated the same? This is basically for historic reasons. We

:43:08.:43:14.

are seeing the growth in thd number of niche providers who are prepared

:43:15.:43:19.

to come now an offer real ddals to people in quite scattered areas I

:43:20.:43:27.

believe what is important is it they should be encouraged but I `m also

:43:28.:43:31.

hearing that embedded in thd roll out programme is if a company,

:43:32.:43:37.

commercial company, has said it will provide a service in a given area,

:43:38.:43:41.

nobody else can touch it and sold for a period of time that is almost

:43:42.:43:48.

inviolable. That cannot be right if we're talking about the urgdncy of

:43:49.:43:51.

rolling out broadband universe of it. I would like to see an dnd to

:43:52.:43:56.

the confusion and a greater degree of clarity introduced for pdople to

:43:57.:44:00.

understand what they can expect how they can go about it. I think it

:44:01.:44:05.

means more local initiatives to identify what the alternative ways

:44:06.:44:09.

of getting a superfast broadband actually are. I have got ex`mples

:44:10.:44:14.

and my constituency were concerned citizens are put together and formed

:44:15.:44:18.

a working group and started to see an opportunity to get broadband

:44:19.:44:21.

delivered. I think we should help them but that, not necessarhly with

:44:22.:44:25.

money but at the same time letting them know how to go about it without

:44:26.:44:30.

that is that the network of local authorities and so on. Not favouring

:44:31.:44:33.

one company over another silply saying these are the ways you may be

:44:34.:44:38.

able to get this faster than under the main roll-out scheme.

:44:39.:44:43.

I think it would help to dilinish the growing frustration and

:44:44.:44:48.

uncertainty and would help ts to enhance coverage if the increasing

:44:49.:44:55.

numbers of pathways to broadband was better advertised and better

:44:56.:44:58.

explained, and then I think the government would be helping people

:44:59.:45:04.

very much more than just silply the broad programme outlined. I think

:45:05.:45:09.

that everyone should feel truly part of our digital economy if that is

:45:10.:45:14.

the legislation we are putthng through under that name. Order to

:45:15.:45:21.

put it another way that we should be all in it together -- or to put it.

:45:22.:45:27.

As seems common with many business-related pieces of

:45:28.:45:32.

legislation these days, this bill has a number of unconnected

:45:33.:45:35.

disparate elements coming together purely for the purposes of providing

:45:36.:45:40.

and establishing primary legislative time. I think several of thdm can be

:45:41.:45:44.

positive, and several I think will prove problematic for the

:45:45.:45:49.

Government. The first part of the bill, bringing in a univers`l

:45:50.:45:52.

service obligation for broadband, will certainly be welcomed by my

:45:53.:45:57.

constituents, not just in rtral areas, the outlying villages to

:45:58.:46:02.

Hartlepool, like Elwick, but in the organ part of the constituency as

:46:03.:46:06.

well. I think the right honourable lady for Basingstoke made an

:46:07.:46:10.

important intervention earlx on in the debate who she said, many

:46:11.:46:15.

house-builders are not future proofing their stock. I havd

:46:16.:46:20.

buildings and houses being built in Hartlepool that are less th`n ten

:46:21.:46:24.

years old that have no broadband connection whatsoever. This seems

:46:25.:46:28.

ridiculous if we are trying to be a leading digital economy and I hope

:46:29.:46:35.

the USO provisions in the bhll help address this and I agree with what

:46:36.:46:39.

the committee said when it spoke about the "Compelling case for

:46:40.:46:45.

establishing a broadband" connection in the home. Also in underlxing

:46:46.:46:52.

online copyright infringement with off-line copyright infringelent is

:46:53.:46:56.

imported, I think. They shotld be no distinction. And the import`nce it

:46:57.:47:00.

gives to intellectual property, not just in the creative industries but

:47:01.:47:03.

actually is the real driver of economic prosperity in terms of

:47:04.:47:05.

having a comparative advant`ge through intellectual property is

:47:06.:47:11.

strong and I think that is important. I think particul`rly part

:47:12.:47:16.

five of the bill will be difficult for the Government to justify. I

:47:17.:47:20.

think in terms of sharing d`ta and using data as a means of drhving

:47:21.:47:24.

forward economic prosperity I think that is important, but I thhnk the

:47:25.:47:29.

Government has rather muddidd the waters on this patch when it comes

:47:30.:47:33.

to thinking about the NHS shared data from a couple of years ago and

:47:34.:47:37.

I think that is a concern. H do not think there is any real

:47:38.:47:43.

consideration in the bill about that future technology and I think block

:47:44.:47:47.

chain as a technology has bden mentioned before. I know thd

:47:48.:47:54.

Government is aware of this. There was a report produced recently about

:47:55.:48:03.

legislative beyond block ch`in and the member here wrote the foreword

:48:04.:48:06.

to that. The Government is thinking about that and it would be good to

:48:07.:48:10.

get some idea of what that thinking looks like and translated into

:48:11.:48:14.

legislation in this opportunity here. However, as I think that, it

:48:15.:48:18.

is not necessarily a question of what is in the bill, Mr Deptty

:48:19.:48:22.

Speaker, but what is not. The question has to be posed in terms

:48:23.:48:26.

of, digital policy and whether the provisions in this bill enh`nce

:48:27.:48:30.

Britain's comparative advantage in the global digital economy , does

:48:31.:48:37.

the bill have any gaps on potential supremacy, on holding it back, and

:48:38.:48:41.

does the provisions in the bill provide a clear strategic vhsion to

:48:42.:48:44.

ensure the UK remains the destination of choice for investment

:48:45.:48:47.

and attraction of talent and ideas. In many respects, we come to a

:48:48.:48:54.

position of strength to this. The business, innovation and skhlls

:48:55.:48:57.

committee carried out an inpuiry into the digital economy and we

:48:58.:49:00.

produced the report in July. We found the UK is one of the leading

:49:01.:49:06.

digital nations in the world. Our economy has the highest potdntial,

:49:07.:49:11.

sorry, percentage of GDP invested in the digital economy of all Duropean

:49:12.:49:17.

nations, and you digital firms are growing at 2.5 times the national

:49:18.:49:22.

average and have been since 200 . This is a source of pride and

:49:23.:49:25.

strength and something I hope the whole House can come togethdr on,

:49:26.:49:30.

but I do think the bill help address the challenges. Its first rdading

:49:31.:49:34.

was on the 6th of July, onlx a fortnight after the country voted to

:49:35.:49:37.

leave the European Union and one week before the right honourable

:49:38.:49:40.

lady for maiden had became Prime Minister. Although the proposals

:49:41.:49:47.

were -- for maiden head. Although the proposals were ready, and had

:49:48.:49:50.

the Secretary of State's nale on it, it seems the bill is at odds with

:49:51.:49:54.

the two preoccupations facing the Government. Exiting the European

:49:55.:49:59.

Union and producing a new industrial strategy. Mr Deputy Speaker,

:50:00.:50:03.

yesterday the minister attended as did I and indeed the honour`ble

:50:04.:50:07.

gentleman for Gloucestershire who is in his place, a roundtable on the

:50:08.:50:10.

challenges facing the tech hndustry in the light of Brexit. The minister

:50:11.:50:15.

heard a peck entrepreneur s`ying he is hoping to raise ?500,000 this

:50:16.:50:23.

year without aim to raise a further three to ?5 million next Jahdee says

:50:24.:50:26.

investors are questioning whether the current UK domestic market is

:50:27.:50:29.

large enough to justify funding here in the UK without sufficient access

:50:30.:50:36.

to the European market -- ndxt year. He says he is facing questions from

:50:37.:50:40.

investors on basing his bushness on the US. That uncertainty from tech

:50:41.:50:46.

skills employing digital skhlls EU migrants and full access to the

:50:47.:50:50.

market, it is causing disruption. There is a risk that other centres

:50:51.:50:54.

such as Berlin will take advantage of this uncertainty to the detriment

:50:55.:51:00.

of the growing situation with businesses and business moddls in

:51:01.:51:03.

this country. We could have led the EU in terms of the digital single

:51:04.:51:07.

market. It could be made in our image but unfortunately I do not

:51:08.:51:11.

think that will be an opportunity for us. I think there are rdal

:51:12.:51:14.

concerns about access to th`t single market and I hope the minister can

:51:15.:51:18.

provide as much clarity as possible and also on access to talent. There

:51:19.:51:23.

is also, Mr Deputy Speaker, a mismatch, or certainly a disconnect,

:51:24.:51:29.

between any sort of industrhal strategy and digital strategy.

:51:30.:51:31.

Business and entrepreneurs, and we heard it on the campus yestdrday,

:51:32.:51:34.

they want to see how the Prhme Minister's welcome rhetoric on

:51:35.:51:39.

digital strategy translates into proper coordination and how this

:51:40.:51:43.

will be aligned in a constrtctive way with the digital strategy which

:51:44.:51:46.

I think the Minister will rdadily concede has been hastily redrafted

:51:47.:51:50.

in the light of events from the 23rd of June. A proper industrial

:51:51.:51:55.

strategy will need to have the implications of digitisation,

:51:56.:51:57.

technology and innovation rtnning through all of its activitids and

:51:58.:52:02.

objectives. I appreciate it is not necessarily a statutory need for

:52:03.:52:04.

such a pledge, although I think it is clear firms want to see clarity

:52:05.:52:08.

and that strategic vision. That is what they call for in the dhgital

:52:09.:52:13.

space. This has already been touched upon in respect of what my

:52:14.:52:18.

honourable friend, the membdr for Newcastle Central, on the front

:52:19.:52:21.

bench, said. The bill also fails to address one of the biggest

:52:22.:52:24.

challenges facing a digital economy and the changing structures of the

:52:25.:52:28.

workforce and the nature of work. Technology provides massive

:52:29.:52:33.

opportunity for a more effective and efficient allocation of dem`nd and

:52:34.:52:38.

supply both of labour as well as products, services and customers.

:52:39.:52:43.

Such disruption can be a positive thing, increasing quality, choice

:52:44.:52:45.

and service for the consumer. I would like to see Britain bding the

:52:46.:52:49.

destination of choice for dhsruptive business models that help ilprove

:52:50.:52:53.

our prosperity, however somd platforms have shown that f`r from

:52:54.:52:57.

increasing competition, somd companies dominate markets `nd

:52:58.:53:03.

stifle or underlie competitors. Global in scale, these multhnational

:53:04.:53:07.

companies often avoid national tax requirements so that although they

:53:08.:53:11.

benefit from the social goods of public investment like educ`tion and

:53:12.:53:13.

infrastructure, they seek to minimise their payment towards the

:53:14.:53:17.

public purse for that good. Perhaps most concerning all, Mr Deptty

:53:18.:53:21.

Speaker, platform companies are facilitating the rise of thd gig

:53:22.:53:27.

economy in which workers ard reclassified as contractors and

:53:28.:53:29.

self-employed. This is not necessarily a bad thing as ht could

:53:30.:53:32.

provide greater Flex abilitx for workers but these workers do tend to

:53:33.:53:36.

have fewer rights to social benefits, face greater insecurity,

:53:37.:53:40.

have lower pay, receive less training and have good prospects for

:53:41.:53:42.

advancing in their career. Innovation should move people

:53:43.:53:47.

through the value chain, increasing their skills and wage levels --

:53:48.:53:54.

poorer prospects for advanchng. There is a rush to the bottom in

:53:55.:53:58.

terms of terms, conditions `nd pay. There is a need to retrain `nd

:53:59.:54:01.

improve skills throughout every worker's live and this is probably

:54:02.:54:07.

not the best and only place to consider this but the ability of

:54:08.:54:10.

Government to maintain an appropriate regime which is

:54:11.:54:14.

regulatory in the face of stch technological advances needs to be

:54:15.:54:17.

considered and then a stratdgic way. As does the impact of the ghg

:54:18.:54:21.

economy. I know the Minister has taken an interest in this btt I hope

:54:22.:54:24.

he will also look at how technology and the changing world of work needs

:54:25.:54:28.

to be addressed, so there are positive steps and provisions in

:54:29.:54:32.

this bill, but I do feel thhs is a bill that is rooted in the 20th

:54:33.:54:35.

century when we should be thinking more about what is required in the

:54:36.:54:41.

22nd century. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. There is much to wdlcome in

:54:42.:54:46.

this bill. The honourable mdmber for Hartlepool was mentioning the EU and

:54:47.:54:51.

we should perhaps not forget it was only in 2012 that this superfast

:54:52.:54:56.

government roll-out was stuck in state aid bureaucracy. One of my

:54:57.:55:00.

first meetings of Secretary of State was actually with the Brussdls

:55:01.:55:03.

officials who were deciding to stand in our way and I think you will

:55:04.:55:07.

recall it took quite a largd handbag to get that moving but the tenacity

:55:08.:55:12.

of the department and particularly in the cases then, it means we now

:55:13.:55:17.

have 90% having access to stperfast broadband and the measures hn the

:55:18.:55:21.

bill will give everyone the right to have fast broadband in the future

:55:22.:55:24.

and that deserves all of our support and I'm glad you're from thd front

:55:25.:55:27.

bench they will be doing th`t. At the heart of this bill, as the

:55:28.:55:30.

Secretary of State said when she opened, is the importance of shaping

:55:31.:55:34.

our digital world for the ftture. And the importance of a dightally

:55:35.:55:39.

engaged citizen. We cannot `llow this to be a missed opportunity if

:55:40.:55:43.

we are to have a healthy digital economy in the future, for that we

:55:44.:55:48.

need to tackle digital constmers' real concerns and those real

:55:49.:55:53.

concerns about online abuse. If we do not, then some people will choose

:55:54.:55:57.

2% of themselves from the online world and I do not believe that is

:55:58.:56:01.

right -- choose to advent themselves. -- absent. I believe

:56:02.:56:12.

this bill needs to include ` clear definition on the face of the bill

:56:13.:56:16.

about what constitutes online abuse. Criminal law is trying to t`ckle

:56:17.:56:21.

online abuse with a complex set of laws which are already in place that

:56:22.:56:25.

predate the digital age. Thd number of convictions under the first part

:56:26.:56:30.

of the Malicious Communicathons Act has increased tenfold over the past

:56:31.:56:34.

decade but we have required proof of an intention to cause distrdss and

:56:35.:56:41.

there was a -- that there w`s a cause of gross offensiveness before

:56:42.:56:44.

prosecutions can be successfully brought and therefore I think the

:56:45.:56:48.

current level of prosecutions probably very much underesthmated

:56:49.:56:52.

the real problem that is thdre. It is right we protect freedom of

:56:53.:56:55.

expression and I know that hs an argument that is made very strongly

:56:56.:57:01.

when it comes to legislating in this space. But there has never been an

:57:02.:57:06.

unfettered right to freedom of expression. With that comes

:57:07.:57:10.

responsibility and we need to recognise that in law. The CPS has

:57:11.:57:15.

used guidelines to help clarify the situation which probably indicates

:57:16.:57:19.

to us there are some causes for concern here. Because there is no

:57:20.:57:22.

substitute for making sure the statutory provisions are cldar.

:57:23.:57:26.

There is, as the Law Commission said, a clear public interest in

:57:27.:57:30.

tackling online abuse. That has to be done through clear predictable

:57:31.:57:35.

legal provisions. This bill provides an opportunity for such

:57:36.:57:38.

clarifications to tackle online abuse more effectively and H hope

:57:39.:57:42.

the Minister who is in his place now will be responding and that he will

:57:43.:57:44.

include in his remarks what the response of the Government will be

:57:45.:57:48.

on that. Secondly, Mr Deputx Speaker, I think there is an

:57:49.:57:52.

opportunity for better support for victims of online abuse as well I

:57:53.:57:59.

speak about the work of honourable member there today on victil support

:58:00.:58:01.

and others who have been tackling this and it is right that the

:58:02.:58:06.

Government has taken really, I think, a leading position on making

:58:07.:58:11.

illegal the posting of revenge pornography online, but we need to

:58:12.:58:17.

go further. We have seen more than 200 prosecutions regarding revenge

:58:18.:58:20.

pornography, but hundreds more are not coming forward because victims

:58:21.:58:28.

are fearful of doing it. Cases have been reported to the police in the

:58:29.:58:32.

last year but revenge pornography victims are three times mord likely

:58:33.:58:39.

to withdraw or withhold support from police action than victims of other

:58:40.:58:42.

crimes. This bill should be recognising online abuse and the

:58:43.:58:47.

appalling offence of revengd pornography is affording to victims

:58:48.:58:52.

the same right of anonymity as victims of other sexual offdnces.

:58:53.:58:55.

The third area which I am rdally pleased to see in this bill, which

:58:56.:59:00.

was obviously in the Conservative Party manifesto as well, a

:59:01.:59:04.

commitment to tackle access to underage pornography, is a welcome

:59:05.:59:07.

provision and I applaud the Government for the stand thdy are

:59:08.:59:08.

taking here. There is not planning to go into the

:59:09.:59:19.

details but I hope the Minister could carefully consider thd NSPCC's

:59:20.:59:25.

call for lower split-mac more robust sanctions in this space. We must --

:59:26.:59:32.

more robust sanctions. We mtst move beyond looking at just commdrcial

:59:33.:59:36.

sites to include peer to pedr and other communication products where

:59:37.:59:41.

pornography is routinely distributed. I realise therd are

:59:42.:59:46.

problems here with regard to those who are legally accessing these

:59:47.:59:50.

products but we must take account of the fact that now by the tile a

:59:51.:59:55.

child reaches the age of 12 more than one in four will have `lready

:59:56.:59:59.

accessed online pornography and this is not the sort of stuff th`t is

:00:00.:00:04.

maybe on the shelves of our local newsagents, it is what others would

:00:05.:00:10.

call hard-core pornography. This is an issue we have tackled in the

:00:11.:00:15.

woman and equality select committee and the report was published today

:00:16.:00:19.

on sexual harassment in schools where experts are citing increased

:00:20.:00:24.

access to pornography by chhldren fuelling an increase in sextal

:00:25.:00:28.

harassment and abuse in schools and this must be taken seriouslx.

:00:29.:00:33.

There is one other area I would hope to encourage the Minister to think

:00:34.:00:36.

about and that is the impact on the police. The police college chief

:00:37.:00:43.

Alex Marshall said social mddia complaints now make up half of all

:00:44.:00:49.

calls to the police. That is an extraordinary fact yet this bill

:00:50.:00:52.

makes the mention of how we might try and make those that are

:00:53.:00:56.

producing products that are eliciting that sort of illegal

:00:57.:01:01.

activity and concern from otr constituents, it makes the lention

:01:02.:01:05.

of how we can perhaps lay off some of the charges being incurrdd by the

:01:06.:01:09.

police onto those making a healthy profit out of their activithes.

:01:10.:01:16.

We have to look at the slush pile of action to put in place a levy to pay

:01:17.:01:27.

for additional police costs. The industry is healthy, online

:01:28.:01:33.

industry, but they need to be tackling these sorts of abuses if we

:01:34.:01:38.

are to move forward any healthy fashion in the future. We mtst be

:01:39.:01:43.

clear we will tolerate this sort of abuse that has become routine in the

:01:44.:01:48.

past. We need to make sure there is a co-ordinated approach to the

:01:49.:01:52.

reporting of abuse online, we need to make sure design of thesd

:01:53.:01:59.

products in the future so obvious can be designed out of them from the

:02:00.:02:07.

get go. There must be action to remove and sanction those committing

:02:08.:02:12.

online abuse and indeed perhaps a code of practice for the industry if

:02:13.:02:16.

it is not put in place of all apparently should be put in place

:02:17.:02:21.

with more force. My right honourable friend the secretary of state knows

:02:22.:02:25.

more than many other ministdrs about the back on victims of online abuse.

:02:26.:02:32.

She knows the impact partictlarly on domestic violence victims. We cannot

:02:33.:02:37.

let this bill be opportunitx to encourage more digitally engaged

:02:38.:02:41.

citizens but making sure we keep those citizens safe. And tackle the

:02:42.:02:47.

concerns and fears and sure many other MPs are finding are m`king a

:02:48.:02:54.

significant part of their postbag. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. It is

:02:55.:03:00.

a guide to follow the former secretary of state and she has shown

:03:01.:03:05.

by what was she has said thhs afternoon the level of expertise and

:03:06.:03:08.

interest she has two this area and it is always a delight to hdar from

:03:09.:03:14.

the right honourable friend for transport who, unusually, w`s around

:03:15.:03:20.

a peg in a round hole were `ppointed to the job. -- for Chelmsford. He

:03:21.:03:26.

got a little background as xear went on. Seriously, it is a delight. -- a

:03:27.:03:35.

little bit rounder. We all know as MPs we live in the Digital dconomy

:03:36.:03:40.

and because we have so many e-mails from constituents and others. I

:03:41.:03:48.

thought I might share this. Just what you and that other dull

:03:49.:03:51.

dishcloth of an MP on daily politics. PeopleSoft while Labour

:03:52.:03:55.

will never win an election `ny time soon. -- you bought some up. Career

:03:56.:04:01.

politicians with no substance or diorama plus. -- no substance or

:04:02.:04:17.

gravitas. Finally, are still on grndr because I quite fancy you

:04:18.:04:23.

Self praise is no praise. The creative industries are essdntial to

:04:24.:04:28.

this country. As two former secretaries acknowledged ?87.4

:04:29.:04:31.

billion to the UK economy l`st year and that is why... Creativity lies

:04:32.:04:37.

at the heart of it that is why I welcome the measures energy bill

:04:38.:04:41.

which relates to strengthenhng the IP law. 355 million music tracks

:04:42.:04:50.

were downloaded illegally bdtween March and May of this year, 24

:04:51.:04:57.

million films illegally downloaded. We do need to tackle this and we are

:04:58.:05:00.

to protect those who actually trigger value who are the

:05:01.:05:05.

imaginative heart, I would `rgue, of the country. -- those who create

:05:06.:05:12.

that value. I would argue if the definition in clause 26 is strong

:05:13.:05:16.

enough. We also need a strong independent BBC and this is one of

:05:17.:05:20.

my biggest disappointment about the bell and entering since 2014. The

:05:21.:05:26.

BBC is funded by the licencd fee may make, billion last year. Th`t sounds

:05:27.:05:33.

like a lot but it is worth bearing in mind sky in that same period had

:05:34.:05:39.

revenue of nearly ?12 billion, three times as much. And ?2 billion worth

:05:40.:05:45.

of profit. My anxiety as I think it was entirely wrong and I thhnk the

:05:46.:05:52.

Secretary of State in his hdart agrees, I think it was wrong to put

:05:53.:05:57.

the payment of the over 75s licence fee onto the BBC, all the

:05:58.:06:03.

inappropriate and even more importantly, I think the bit in this

:06:04.:06:08.

bill bleaches the fundament`l independence of the BBC bec`use it

:06:09.:06:12.

turned the BBC into an arm of the Department for Work and Pensions. --

:06:13.:06:17.

breaches the fundamental independence. I believe enthrely

:06:18.:06:20.

Government will regret this. There is an element of cowardice because

:06:21.:06:25.

if the Government wants to get bit of free TV licences they should do

:06:26.:06:29.

it themselves any manifesto commitment, but it's the BBC into

:06:30.:06:33.

the decision-making process as to who gives a concessionary lhcence

:06:34.:06:39.

are not at wrong. Incidentally, -- hallway wrong. The whole thhng going

:06:40.:06:46.

happen after a meeting betwden Rupert Murdoch and the formdr

:06:47.:06:52.

Chancellor. I asked the minhster, when is the draft charter going to

:06:53.:06:58.

come? Lord Ashton said in the house of Lords its publication wotld be in

:06:59.:07:03.

September. I hope the Government is intending -- is not intending to do

:07:04.:07:08.

that with the house is not sitting. We are meant to have a debate in

:07:09.:07:13.

October. The former secretary seems to say he will tell us. Maybe what

:07:14.:07:18.

the member gets a chance he will tell us later. -- when a melber If

:07:19.:07:25.

you want to go down the list carry on and I can ensure it will happen.

:07:26.:07:33.

Mr Bryant. It is good to sed him do abject, isn't it?

:07:34.:07:39.

The digital economy is important beyond just the creative industries.

:07:40.:07:44.

We have the highest rate of contribution to our GDP of `ny

:07:45.:07:48.

European country, 11% of jobs in the UK are related to the digit`l

:07:49.:07:52.

economy and part of the economy has grown 2.5 times faster than any

:07:53.:07:57.

other area. It plays to our national strengths and herbs of the Dnglish

:07:58.:08:04.

language, music, drama sport and gaming,. The Government alw`ys wants

:08:05.:08:08.

to wrap itself on the back hn relation to this and it is `

:08:09.:08:12.

constantly striving difficulty to ensure everyone can participate

:08:13.:08:17.

There are still people with just 2 megabits per second and people

:08:18.:08:22.

whether they have 10 megabits what have issues making it very difficult

:08:23.:08:26.

for them even to use the I play effectively so I hope the

:08:27.:08:29.

ministerial team will not w`nt to keep congratulating themselves. --

:08:30.:08:38.

BBC and I player. In my constituency 70% have no access to four the

:08:39.:08:46.

former Prime Minister, his obsession was never much but success. ... As

:08:47.:08:54.

far as I can see, other song wants to correctly, the mobile

:08:55.:08:56.

infrastructure project was ` waste of money. ?2 million better mast and

:08:57.:09:07.

that is if all of them were built. It would be nice to know wh`t

:09:08.:09:12.

happened to that. I agree whth the pornography measures and wanted to

:09:13.:09:17.

make sure young people are `ble to be protected from images th`t would

:09:18.:09:21.

be inappropriate for them btt I too, like the former secretary of state,

:09:22.:09:26.

think it is unclear how this would be achieved. If you just ask, argue

:09:27.:09:31.

over 18, it is like going to the USA and asking have you ever bedn a

:09:32.:09:36.

member of the latter party of Germany between 19 3319 45. I do not

:09:37.:09:47.

many people say yes. Honourable lady is right about

:09:48.:09:52.

online abuse and I commend her work through committee work and

:09:53.:09:56.

elsewhere. Many women in particular art finds the internet is not a safe

:09:57.:10:02.

and happy place to be. It is far from happy. She is right thdre is no

:10:03.:10:08.

clear definition of online `buse. I think the definition, the gtidelines

:10:09.:10:13.

from the CPS are inadequate and preventing police investigating many

:10:14.:10:15.

instances where they should take action. One study earlier this year

:10:16.:10:21.

showed in just three weeks 6500 will then called shuts or Politics Europe

:10:22.:10:36.

just on Twitter. Teachers report receiving abuse from

:10:37.:10:46.

pupils. Many Jewish members in this house have had absolutely hhdeous

:10:47.:10:52.

abuse, the kind of abuse yot would thought ended in 1945 what seems to

:10:53.:10:58.

be around as part of a supposedly acceptable discourse. I reported one

:10:59.:11:02.

instance relating to somebody making threats to me and my office but more

:11:03.:11:07.

importantly what wanting to put antifreeze and how I'll meet in

:11:08.:11:15.

Sainsbury's in halal meet. Because the person was based in Gerlany the

:11:16.:11:20.

German police refused to act because this was just a British polhtician

:11:21.:11:24.

attacked by a British national who happened to be in Berlin. I hope the

:11:25.:11:27.

Government will look at the jurisdiction issues. Technology

:11:28.:11:32.

companies are far too slow incorporating the police and I

:11:33.:11:35.

believe what counts as eviddnce of evidence of ownership of thd site is

:11:36.:11:39.

far too indistinct. The intdrnet can be an echo chamber, turning a wild

:11:40.:11:45.

-- mild annoyance into claustrophobic fury and unddr the

:11:46.:11:48.

cloak of anonymity people bdlieve they can get away with anything and

:11:49.:11:56.

we must put a stop to that. I am grateful you only showdd me a

:11:57.:12:00.

yellow card and not a red c`rd. I will remember that. May I also say

:12:01.:12:06.

what a pleasure it is to rise to speak in what I gather is a

:12:07.:12:20.

corporate territory Bill -- co-paternity. I should point out

:12:21.:12:25.

this is also a vengeful child because five of the nine ministers

:12:26.:12:29.

who were present in the delhvery room are now on the backbenches Or

:12:30.:12:35.

have left Parliament. I hopd the bill is kinder to it adopted

:12:36.:12:40.

parents. Let me speak briefly about the most

:12:41.:12:46.

important issue, the introdtction of the universal service oblig`tion and

:12:47.:12:50.

let me say, what a pleasure it is to get members from all sides praised

:12:51.:12:54.

the minister's successful rtral broadband programme roll out which

:12:55.:12:59.

has brought and is bringing superfast broadband is to 18 out of

:13:00.:13:07.

20 homes across the UK. Thex are right to praise it because ht is the

:13:08.:13:13.

most successful government-sponsored broadband programme anywherd in the

:13:14.:13:16.

world and the Minister should take credit for that achievement.

:13:17.:13:23.

I received an unsolicited e,mail, a real thing, -- Rayer thing from the

:13:24.:13:32.

directory broadband programle in Oxfordshire. -- rare thing. He said

:13:33.:13:37.

we are at 93% in Oxfordshird with the demand is still to go, ?5

:13:38.:13:43.

million already came back to the county council from Governmdnt

:13:44.:13:45.

funding and 2.8 million further to come. And it's million up of an

:13:46.:13:52.

investment of 40 million and he thinks we may well get it all back.

:13:53.:13:59.

-- 14 million. I cannot think of any large-scale public sector contract,

:14:00.:14:03.

in his wants, but delivered on paper under cost. Very good contr`ct work

:14:04.:14:05.

with in protecting the publhc purse. I don't have a main sewer and I

:14:06.:14:24.

recall the comments from thd honourable gentleman earlier. You do

:14:25.:14:29.

not just flick a flick a swhtch and deliver broadband. You have to open

:14:30.:14:36.

roads and do engineering and I think the programme director in p`rticular

:14:37.:14:38.

Bill Murphy deserves a huge amount of praise for what has been

:14:39.:14:42.

achieved. For those people who want to break up BT and Openreach I

:14:43.:14:52.

confess I am absolutely confused. Why would you adopt the campaign of

:14:53.:14:57.

BT's competitors and wish to break up a highly successful Brithsh

:14:58.:15:01.

company post Brexit when we need all the champions we can get? Why would

:15:02.:15:05.

you break up a company that has delivered such a successful

:15:06.:15:10.

programme? In the words of the chief executive of virgin media, `nd able

:15:11.:15:15.

competitor to company Matt, if you want better broadband, pick up a

:15:16.:15:22.

spade. That is my message to Vodafone, TalkTalk and Scivdr for

:15:23.:15:26.

their own reasons all seek to break up the great British companx. Can I

:15:27.:15:32.

say two things? In terms of the USA I firmly believe they can ddliver

:15:33.:15:36.

it, but they will need help with achieving it. I also hope BT UK will

:15:37.:15:43.

continue its excellent work and become at task force becausd a lot

:15:44.:15:48.

of the 5% that still has to be reached is in inner-city ardas and

:15:49.:15:51.

there are enormous bureaucr`tic obstacles stopping the roll,out of

:15:52.:15:54.

broadband that have nothing to do with technical challenges or

:15:55.:16:00.

whatever, and a good and effective BT UK helping roll-out in chties

:16:01.:16:04.

will be hugely helpful. I also echo the cause with frustrations around

:16:05.:16:10.

new builds. I remember dealhng with Linden Homes in my constitudncy who

:16:11.:16:13.

could have delivered broadb`nd to all their customers in ?1 mhllion

:16:14.:16:18.

development. The point blank refused to do so. The shocking attitude of

:16:19.:16:23.

too many developers, and thd Government refused to changd the

:16:24.:16:27.

planning was when I was a mhnister, and maybe we should look at that

:16:28.:16:31.

again. There are reforms to the electronic communications code which

:16:32.:16:37.

are long overdue. We took f`r too long to bring them forward. They

:16:38.:16:42.

apply just as much to mobild as well. I recall mobile operators

:16:43.:16:47.

telling me when they wish to upgrade the 3G mast to a 4G mast, when they

:16:48.:16:52.

wish that advice site in an airport, it went up to ?250 million. We have

:16:53.:17:01.

to reduce the cost of rolling out broadband with a mobile and we

:17:02.:17:06.

cannot have our cake and eat it I recall the honourable lady from

:17:07.:17:09.

Newcastle speaking about thd loss to the public sector, the ?300,000

:17:10.:17:13.

Newcastle City Council might lose, but the game for Newcastle City

:17:14.:17:16.

Council in easing planning restrictions will be better coverage

:17:17.:17:21.

in Newcastle for her constituents and importantly for local btsinesses

:17:22.:17:25.

who create jobs and wealth hn Newcastle. So we cannot allow the

:17:26.:17:30.

landowners to ride roughshod over this bill perhaps in the other

:17:31.:17:38.

place. We must reduce the cost of infrastructure roll-out and we need

:17:39.:17:41.

to look at planning reform, particularly as mentioned e`rlier by

:17:42.:17:45.

my right honourable friend, with the roll-out of five G. I thank the

:17:46.:17:55.

Minister for giving way and it is good to hear a Conservative Member

:17:56.:17:59.

of Parliament taking on the landed vested interests, as it werd, but

:18:00.:18:04.

will he see how this bill whll ensure the benefits of reduced

:18:05.:18:09.

rentals will actually accrud to the users of mobile phones and not

:18:10.:18:16.

simply to the mobile operators? It will improve coverage. The

:18:17.:18:24.

honourable member mocked thd infrastructure roll-out plan, the

:18:25.:18:30.

honourable member for Rhond`, and he got it wrong, I am afraid. But

:18:31.:18:35.

anything we can do to reducd the huge cost of this cost and roll out

:18:36.:18:39.

has to help the consumables in terms of coverage and hopefully in terms

:18:40.:18:43.

of cost. I fully support thd measures in the bill on age

:18:44.:18:47.

verification and the upgradhng of the offence for copyright

:18:48.:18:52.

infringement. It is interesting listening to speeches from

:18:53.:18:55.

honourable members from all sides about a general debate about

:18:56.:18:58.

Internet regulation because that is really what it is and this will come

:18:59.:19:02.

more and more to the fore and I echo the comments of my right honourable

:19:03.:19:08.

friend, the member for Basingstoke, and others. It is... Dealing with

:19:09.:19:14.

the social media companies, they are almost like giant children. Suddenly

:19:15.:19:19.

they have 1.2 billion users and are having as it were to make it as they

:19:20.:19:23.

go along some of the regulation The recent controversy with Facdbook

:19:24.:19:27.

banning the iconic photograph of the Child in Vietnam. The Government

:19:28.:19:30.

does need to work and work puickly with these organisations, btt even

:19:31.:19:35.

bringing that to the table cause some difficulty. I fully support the

:19:36.:19:39.

measures on data sharing. This is a huge prize. Whilst we must recognise

:19:40.:19:43.

the concern of consumers in having their private data used, thhs is

:19:44.:19:47.

about using anonymous data `nd breaking down the barriers between

:19:48.:19:51.

that which can only benefit citizens. Let me just echo one or

:19:52.:19:57.

two brief concerns. I actually did have a huge amount of sympathy with

:19:58.:20:01.

what the honourable member was speaking about in terms of the free

:20:02.:20:05.

TV licences being imposed on the BBC. It has nothing to do, by the

:20:06.:20:09.

way, with Rupert Murdoch and everything to do with saving money

:20:10.:20:13.

on the welfare bill. But I do think it is wrong with leaving -- wrong

:20:14.:20:17.

that they are leaving the ddcision on free television licences for the

:20:18.:20:21.

BBC. It should be the Government. There are plenty of ways of updating

:20:22.:20:25.

how the television licence currently works and refining that without

:20:26.:20:28.

actually getting rid of it, and I think the Government should now take

:20:29.:20:34.

back not the cost of the frde TV licences, but certainly

:20:35.:20:37.

responsibility for the policy. I also have some concerns that if of

:20:38.:20:44.

complex on the regulation of BBC websites we will see press

:20:45.:20:48.

regulation by the back door, because the press has been very asshduous in

:20:49.:20:54.

keeping website away from bdcoming quasi broadcasting sites and

:20:55.:20:57.

therefore regulated by Ofcol and we must be cautious that we don't

:20:58.:21:02.

inadvertently bring in statttory regulation of the press which I

:21:03.:21:06.

would oppose, Mr Deputy Spe`ker Thank you, Mr Deputy speaker. I rise

:21:07.:21:11.

to speak English and the thhrd part of this bill but I would also like

:21:12.:21:14.

to put on record my support of the recommendation made by the Right

:21:15.:21:17.

honourable member from Basingstoke. We need to use this bill is an

:21:18.:21:22.

opportunity to look at all online abuse, because whilst it is said by

:21:23.:21:26.

the Government that the polhce can go through existing legislation the

:21:27.:21:34.

reality is that the police `re not doing that, and I think to have it

:21:35.:21:38.

on the face of a bill would be a very powerful statement and it is

:21:39.:21:40.

something which is really eroding a lot of people's lives at thd moment.

:21:41.:21:43.

For me, a key role of this House must be to prevent harm and tackle

:21:44.:21:46.

the threat to children both on and off-line. The scale of online abuse

:21:47.:21:56.

and exploitation, the proliferator of violence on it. This offdrs an

:21:57.:22:02.

opportunity for protection to all children and I urge this Hotse to

:22:03.:22:05.

take that. Children are at risk every day from predatory abtsers who

:22:06.:22:08.

seem to manipulate and exploit their vulnerability. According to the

:22:09.:22:14.

Internet Watch Foundation in 20 5 over 60 thousand URLs were confirmed

:22:15.:22:20.

as cans containing child abtse material. We have to recognhse that

:22:21.:22:25.

child abuse and exploitation perpetrated by adults is only one

:22:26.:22:29.

aspect of the many threats faced by children online. Children ctrrently

:22:30.:22:34.

make up a third of Internet users. They have never had better `ccess to

:22:35.:22:40.

the Internet. 65% of 12 to 15-year-olds own smartphones and

:22:41.:22:44.

their access is often unfettered and unrestricted. A study from the NSPCC

:22:45.:22:47.

and the children's Commissioner for England found that of the thousand

:22:48.:22:52.

children aged 11 to 18 question over half had access to pornography, with

:22:53.:22:57.

94% doing it by the age of 04. Those children were not necessarily

:22:58.:23:00.

seeking out pornography onlhne. Their access was often inadvertent

:23:01.:23:03.

through a pop-up whilst searching for other content. The growhng body

:23:04.:23:09.

of evidence proves to us wh`t we already know- pornography ilpacts on

:23:10.:23:13.

the development of children, particularly their understanding of

:23:14.:23:16.

what constitutes healthy relationships, consent and sex. The

:23:17.:23:21.

NSPCC and children's Commissioner 's study found over half the boys

:23:22.:23:26.

questioned believed the porn they had seen was realistic. In ` girl

:23:27.:23:33.

guide's -- guides attitude study 71% of girls questioned agreed that

:23:34.:23:36.

pornography makes a violent and aggressive behaviour towards women

:23:37.:23:39.

seem normal. The content of this material is reflected back `s

:23:40.:23:44.

reality of life. Violence against girls start at an early age. The

:23:45.:23:48.

Home Office 2010 This Is Abtse campaign found that sexual violence

:23:49.:23:52.

has happened to one in thred girls and one in six boys. Through

:23:53.:23:57.

exposure to online pornography from an increasingly young age, `nd

:23:58.:24:00.

message is conveyed in the ledia. Children grow up believing violence

:24:01.:24:04.

and nonconsensual sex is not just normal but to be

:24:05.:24:15.

expected. It is to be commended this Government recognises the Internet

:24:16.:24:20.

needs regulation to protect children. Just as children `re

:24:21.:24:24.

protected off-line through restrictions from accessing sex

:24:25.:24:27.

shops, for example, the provisions in this bill are an important first

:24:28.:24:31.

step in creating a world in which children are also protected online.

:24:32.:24:36.

They are however only first step. Parity of protection for chhldren

:24:37.:24:39.

between the on and off-line worlds can be better achieved if the

:24:40.:24:42.

Government strengthens thesd conditions at committee stage. I

:24:43.:24:50.

thank the honourable lady for giving way. Does she agree a key element

:24:51.:24:54.

missing is that we must makd companies responsible for the

:24:55.:24:57.

content of that they host, `nd that that is the route to protecting

:24:58.:25:01.

children and others from online abuse? My honourable friend makes a

:25:02.:25:06.

very good point. Absolutely, and I do not believe that this bill goes

:25:07.:25:11.

far enough but it has the potential to. As it is currently set out in

:25:12.:25:16.

the bill, the age of regulation only covers commercial pornographic

:25:17.:25:20.

sites. This is not typical of the week children access or share

:25:21.:25:23.

pornographic, sexualised and other age inappropriate content. Will the

:25:24.:25:26.

Minister commit to look to dxtend the role of the regulator, so it

:25:27.:25:33.

also covers user generated sites and peer-to-peer services such `s live

:25:34.:25:38.

streaming and video chat site and avoid any unnecessary loopholes that

:25:39.:25:42.

team the legislation invalid? The powers of the regulator set out by

:25:43.:25:46.

the bill are extremely limited. They only provide legal cover for payment

:25:47.:25:50.

service providers to break their contract with the noncompli`nt

:25:51.:25:55.

commercial pornographic sitd. Will the Minister look to expand the role

:25:56.:25:59.

of age regulator to ensure they have power to ensure finds, enforcement

:26:00.:26:02.

notices and enforce the withdrawal payment services -- fines. Online

:26:03.:26:09.

abuse is a problem all over the world and the Internet does not

:26:10.:26:14.

respect this. Will the power be given to block site outside of the

:26:15.:26:18.

UK's legal jurisdiction who do not comply with UK regulations? Part of

:26:19.:26:21.

the solution, Mr Deputy Spe`ker must also be to support pardnts to

:26:22.:26:25.

feel confident in understanding the dangers posed by the Interndt.

:26:26.:26:30.

Barnardo 's report half of xoung people living at home report their

:26:31.:26:33.

parents only know some of what their parents know about them onlhne. Will

:26:34.:26:36.

the minister consider provisions in this bill to provide up-to-date

:26:37.:26:40.

information for parents abott parental controls and other ways of

:26:41.:26:50.

restricting children's access to potentially harmful content and

:26:51.:26:51.

supporting parents in recognising the dangers faced by their children

:26:52.:26:53.

online? Finally, preventing access to pornography and indecent material

:26:54.:26:56.

is vital but it is also necdssary to give children the resiliencd to

:26:57.:26:58.

challenge and contextualise what they see online. It is my vhew and

:26:59.:27:02.

that of all the major children's charities that the best way to do

:27:03.:27:09.

this and provide all childrdn age inappropriate -- age-appropriate and

:27:10.:27:12.

resilience lessons at a school age which would then allow children to

:27:13.:27:16.

see pornography as it is, a fantasy that predominantly subjugatd and

:27:17.:27:20.

abuses women. Girls and boys must not grow up believing violence and

:27:21.:27:25.

nonconsensual sex is normal or to be expected. Sadly, though, th`t is

:27:26.:27:28.

exactly what the young people I speak to believe, and this hs echoed

:27:29.:27:32.

in what the women's inequalhty Select Committee report on sexual

:27:33.:27:36.

harassment in schools released today echoes. My final question is for the

:27:37.:27:41.

Minister to look at provisions to strengthen the content of the

:27:42.:27:48.

e-curriculum taught in schools at all stages, which should include

:27:49.:27:52.

mitigating risks and using the Internet safely and responshbly

:27:53.:27:56.

giving children the knowledge and tools to contextualise pornographic

:27:57.:27:59.

content and challenge abusive behaviour being the best wax to

:28:00.:28:03.

empower and protect them. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. On all shdes of

:28:04.:28:11.

the House, the creative economy in the UK, it's fast-paced dyn`mic is

:28:12.:28:15.

world leaving, it is agreed. Britain leads the world in many are`s of

:28:16.:28:20.

online retail. Tech businesses and hubs can be part of the regdneration

:28:21.:28:24.

of many of our cities and London has become an established itself as one

:28:25.:28:28.

of the most pre-eminent cithes for technology and the Digital dconomy

:28:29.:28:31.

in the world. We are rightlx world leading and should be proud of that,

:28:32.:28:35.

but it has been set as well that this is an incredibly fast-paced

:28:36.:28:38.

part of the global economy. We cannot afford to stand still and not

:28:39.:28:42.

respond to the challenges of the growing digital economy and the need

:28:43.:28:46.

for increasing better infrastructure to support businesses and homes

:28:47.:28:47.

right up and down the UK. Welcomed the measure in the build to

:28:48.:28:58.

bring the infringement of copyrights off-line and online into and

:28:59.:29:02.

strengthen the penalty and ` ten year sentence for online

:29:03.:29:08.

infringement of copyright, summer two off-line, is the right thing to

:29:09.:29:11.

do and I congratulate the Government. The other thing is

:29:12.:29:19.

corrupt -- protecting the IP of creators is part of the success of

:29:20.:29:26.

the creative economy. --. And for homes to receive the collectivity in

:29:27.:29:30.

the need to access services they rely on and the content thex enjoy.

:29:31.:29:35.

Open reach has been a key p`rt of the delivery of broadband sdrvices

:29:36.:29:40.

and it has been part of our debate today and a key part of the recent

:29:41.:29:45.

enquiry of the culture, medha and sport select committee. Thex are

:29:46.:29:49.

challenges for Openreach in customer service and all members who have

:29:50.:29:53.

engaged with BT on behalf of constituents would say therd is room

:29:54.:29:57.

for improvement and when BT came in front of the select committde they

:29:58.:30:01.

recognise that as well and they are not alone in being a providdr that

:30:02.:30:05.

must improve customer service. The challenge we face is how do we

:30:06.:30:10.

complete the final 5% of thd delivery of superfast broadband as

:30:11.:30:13.

quickly as possible and effdctively as possible and continue to improve

:30:14.:30:17.

services for other customers and is that job made easier or harder by

:30:18.:30:22.

the separation of BT from the rest of Openreach? As his secret`ry of

:30:23.:30:25.

state said in her opening speech nothing should be of the table.

:30:26.:30:34.

There are still challenges for BT Openreach to reach an, overseeing

:30:35.:30:36.

that. They must work harder to improve customer service. And other

:30:37.:30:42.

providers they work with. Wd are better able to extend our coverage

:30:43.:30:47.

of our network with Openreach operating inside the BT Grotp but if

:30:48.:30:52.

they cannot meet the targets set them nothing should be left off the

:30:53.:30:57.

table. With regard to the USO itself that is something widely welcomed by

:30:58.:31:02.

people across the house. Thdre are key questions still to be rdsolved.

:31:03.:31:05.

Firstly, you will be the deliverer of the USO. My honourable friend

:31:06.:31:13.

said it could be Openreach, BP said they could deliver it but that still

:31:14.:31:18.

has to be resolved. -- BT. How will it be paid for?

:31:19.:31:29.

The delivery of the USO must be affordable. There is no point having

:31:30.:31:36.

the legal rights to access superfast broadband is no one will pax for

:31:37.:31:41.

their delivery and that rem`ins one of the questions to be answdred I

:31:42.:31:46.

know of, are consulting on the delivery of the USO and that will be

:31:47.:31:50.

one of the important questions it must consider. We also lookdd at on

:31:51.:31:53.

the select committee investhgation very important part of the delivery

:31:54.:31:58.

of the final 5% of broadband services and that is over btilding.

:31:59.:32:02.

There are many small providdrs that may be prepared to go into community

:32:03.:32:06.

currently badly served but `re reluctant to do so because they do

:32:07.:32:10.

not know of Openreach about to go into that idiot themselves `nd

:32:11.:32:12.

Openreach have been reluctant to share because of market sensitivity

:32:13.:32:19.

-- rare to enter that area themselves. Area so bar excluders

:32:20.:32:27.

and were not prioritised because they are so marginal and I do not

:32:28.:32:31.

believe the commercial senshtivity can be so great they cannot give

:32:32.:32:36.

certainty to communities on whether they are about to benefit from

:32:37.:32:40.

further roll-out. We are le`ving the Commons to go to the live coverage

:32:41.:32:47.

of the Foreign Affairs Commhttee with David Davis. Collins coverage

:32:48.:32:52.

continues live on our website. We will return to the Commons once the

:32:53.:32:54.

committee has finished.

:32:55.:33:00.

Download Subtitles

SRT

ASS