:00:09. > :00:16.Order, order. Questions of the Secretary of State for Culture,
:00:17. > :00:26.Media and Sport. Number one, Mr Speaker. I hope you will indulge me
:00:27. > :00:30.about page should we did a great supporter of the arts who died
:00:31. > :00:35.yesterday. The government has taken a number of steps the small
:00:36. > :00:42.production companies, food tax worries and grand schemes. In the
:00:43. > :00:52.last two years, they supported 51 organisations in Cornwall, and spend
:00:53. > :00:56.of ?7.5 million. North Cornwall has benefited hugely in terms of tourism
:00:57. > :01:08.through the Paul dark effect. While other TV dramas -- Poldark. Can my
:01:09. > :01:10.right honourable friend give his assurance he will continue to
:01:11. > :01:16.support the future of film industry and my part of the country. Of
:01:17. > :01:23.course, I'm well aware of the Poldark effect. I'm often mistaken
:01:24. > :01:27.for his body double. There are 13 grade production companies in
:01:28. > :01:30.Cornwall. Our film tax relief has brought more than ?7 billion
:01:31. > :01:39.investment into the UK, and I can ensure we will continue to support
:01:40. > :01:51.productions in Cornwall. Does he refer exclusively to call more? --
:01:52. > :01:55.Cornwall. Productions in Cornwall and of areas benefit hugely from
:01:56. > :02:04.unique not-for-profit strength of Channel 4. Will the Minister please
:02:05. > :02:07.explain why it is an interest of a production company in Cornwall for
:02:08. > :02:13.there to be the creation of another business like ITV or Channel five,
:02:14. > :02:21.and why it is in the public interest for Channel 4 to be privatised? I
:02:22. > :02:26.feel like I'm taking part in an episode of Just Minutes, whether
:02:27. > :02:35.subject is Cornwall. We've from the South West to Westminster. As the
:02:36. > :02:37.honourable member is aware, we are looking at all options for this
:02:38. > :02:49.fantastic channel to take it forward into the future. I'm pleased to
:02:50. > :02:53.confirm that it is now possible for people living in houses which are
:02:54. > :02:58.now able to get a speed of 2 megabits on now able to take
:02:59. > :03:00.advantage of a satellite broadband installation which should deliver
:03:01. > :03:13.speeds of 10 megabits a second or more. Connecting Cumbria promised
:03:14. > :03:18.super broadband, but it has not happened. It has applied people to
:03:19. > :03:21.services. What assurance can the Minister gave that under the
:03:22. > :03:28.universal service obligation they will be provided with the minimum of
:03:29. > :03:31.10 megabits by 2020? I'm pleased to say the Cumbrian programme is going
:03:32. > :03:38.well with around 20 minimum pounds of money invested in her own
:03:39. > :03:45.constituency. -- ?20 million. It is a fantastic result. We will soon be
:03:46. > :03:53.introducing a consultation on the universal programme and will follow
:03:54. > :03:56.up with haste. This option is very important in rural areas such as
:03:57. > :04:04.mine where we have technology issues in getting broadband. We've had some
:04:05. > :04:08.good work with BT, but can the Minister guarantee we will push
:04:09. > :04:13.ahead with all options to make sure everybody has access to broadband in
:04:14. > :04:17.my constituency? Yes, I can guarantee that. We are moving as
:04:18. > :04:24.fast as we can to deliver superfast broadband, and we intend to rich 95%
:04:25. > :04:28.of the country. We hope to have superfast broadband for everyone by
:04:29. > :04:37.2020, and we will look at what we have to do in the decade after that.
:04:38. > :04:41.In early December, the Minister cast themselves as Santa Claus,
:04:42. > :04:45.announcing, and I quote, Christmas present UK homes and businesses, ?60
:04:46. > :04:51.million to provide satellite provision for those failed by his
:04:52. > :04:58.super slow broadband call-out. As of Monday, a grand total of ?8,000 had
:04:59. > :05:03.been spent, with only 24 people benefiting from his supposed to get.
:05:04. > :05:09.Was it the fear of seeing the honourable member coming down the
:05:10. > :05:15.chimney that put people off? Or the fact it is an adequate stunt
:05:16. > :05:19.designed to fob off his backbenchers and leaving millions digitally
:05:20. > :05:29.excluded for many Christmases to come? I find the honourable lady for
:05:30. > :05:34.that bar humbug question. I'm delighted we have reached around 90%
:05:35. > :05:38.of the country thanks to our broadband programme. We cast aside
:05:39. > :05:42.the Scrooge like 2 megabits target Labour had for the country as a
:05:43. > :05:49.whole. We did promise everyone with guaranteed speeds of 2 megabits, and
:05:50. > :05:54.we have done. I'm sure the Minister was busy at Christmas with
:05:55. > :05:59.rehearsals for the Poldark Christmas special. Can I welcome his
:06:00. > :06:04.announcement about enabling those in rural areas to get broadband? It is
:06:05. > :06:08.an issue in my constituency, where farmers struggle to get broadband.
:06:09. > :06:12.Will he undertake to work with the national farmers union and other
:06:13. > :06:19.people in touch with those rural industries to make sure farmers find
:06:20. > :06:25.out about this? I will give that undertaking. I am happy to work with
:06:26. > :06:31.the farmers and the landowners association as well. Since the
:06:32. > :06:35.Westminster Hall debate, when a commitment was given to expanding
:06:36. > :06:38.the superfast broadband in Northern Ireland, I've been contacted by
:06:39. > :06:43.people who say they can't increase their businesses, and those who want
:06:44. > :06:49.to start up businesses can't. What is he doing to help those people in
:06:50. > :06:56.the rural community to advance? We had a successful broadband voucher
:06:57. > :07:00.scheme which brought superfast broadband to 55,000 visitors, which
:07:01. > :07:06.has come to an end but we will review it. Of course the roll-out in
:07:07. > :07:17.Northern Ireland is picking up pace, which will help hone owners --
:07:18. > :07:21.homeowners and businesses. I believe it is reflected in a new sports
:07:22. > :07:27.strategy that sport has the power to change lives, particular deprived
:07:28. > :07:30.areas. We will invest significantly in organisations which deliver
:07:31. > :07:33.programmes in deprived areas, which will make differences in health
:07:34. > :07:40.outcomes and individual life chances. May I wish the Minister of
:07:41. > :07:51.sport well? It'll be our last question. With the Minister agree
:07:52. > :07:55.that sporting programmes do excellent work tackling gang crime,
:07:56. > :08:00.anti-social behaviour and rehabilitation and should be at the
:08:01. > :08:06.heart of the delivery of the new sports strategy? I'm a huge fan of
:08:07. > :08:09.those schemes, Mr Speaker, and the Premier League kicks project, which
:08:10. > :08:16.is supported by a number of projects, it shows 75% of its
:08:17. > :08:21.participants live in the top 30% modes deprived areas in England, and
:08:22. > :08:24.where the scheme has been run, it has seen a reduced in anti-social
:08:25. > :08:31.behaviour. It is those projects which will play a key role. Would
:08:32. > :08:35.the Minister care to reflect on the role of apps and did like patient
:08:36. > :08:40.the programme she has outlined under way in which that can turn the
:08:41. > :08:48.telescope round to project information into communities that
:08:49. > :08:52.might be disadvantage? Certain members of society we are trying to
:08:53. > :08:57.reach to make sure they participate more rely on apps in the greater use
:08:58. > :09:01.of technology, and it is something we reference with a great deal of
:09:02. > :09:04.interest, and having weaselly met with his constituents, and now
:09:05. > :09:13.there's a great deal of work being done to increase the number of apps,
:09:14. > :09:19.to make sure technology pays it key part -- plays. Kettering town
:09:20. > :09:22.Harriers, which I remember, is a great athletics club which offers
:09:23. > :09:26.opportunities for boys and girls across the borough of Kettering and
:09:27. > :09:30.further afield. Would my honourable friend agree that local athletics
:09:31. > :09:38.clubs or a great way to help people get involved in sport? I certainly
:09:39. > :09:41.believe local athletics club can play an important part in their own
:09:42. > :09:48.communities, I did note that our clubs across the entire country who
:09:49. > :09:51.want to make sure they reach out beyond their region, to make sure
:09:52. > :09:56.all people who want to get involved in athletics can do so, and when we
:09:57. > :10:05.have major events like the Olympic 's,, it will inspire others to get
:10:06. > :10:10.into sport. Can I join with the honourable member in wishing the
:10:11. > :10:17.Minister all the best in her forthcoming maternity leave? Whilst
:10:18. > :10:23.volunteers at grassroots struggle with scarce resources and increasing
:10:24. > :10:27.charges, we see a growing number of scandals involving those at the
:10:28. > :10:31.elite end of sport, lining their pockets with money which could be
:10:32. > :10:37.used at grassroots. This is the moralising the people who work hard
:10:38. > :10:42.to deliver sport. Isn't it time to insist that people who are found
:10:43. > :10:53.guilty of doping or Max Becton on giving life bans -- match fixing.
:10:54. > :10:54.And that people are searching for evidence for corruption and cheating
:10:55. > :11:03.in sport. We need to make sure we get as much
:11:04. > :11:07.money as possible invested in grassroots sport. I am pleased with
:11:08. > :11:11.the sports strategy that we have encouraged for the Premiere League,
:11:12. > :11:17.to double their investment in grassroots. This is underpinned by
:11:18. > :11:25.the welcome Spending Review, which I am disappointed was not shared, but
:11:26. > :11:28.in terms of scandals and allegations of corruption, it is ongoing,
:11:29. > :11:32.unfortunately. It is very disappointing with every scandal
:11:33. > :11:36.that is reported. But this is the case. And certainly, we are we in
:11:37. > :11:42.Government can make sure that we will make sure to see what we can do
:11:43. > :11:47.in terms of current legislation, and we will do so. In the meantime, we
:11:48. > :11:48.encourage international federations to ensure they root out corruption
:11:49. > :12:07.as quickly as possible. After the Flood became more
:12:08. > :12:13.widespread, we increased funding for recovery work. This is a matter for
:12:14. > :12:20.sport England but my Department receive regular updates that clubs
:12:21. > :12:24.in affected areas are facing and the football foundation is providing
:12:25. > :12:32.flood funds to assist clubs in eligible for sport England funds.
:12:33. > :12:37.Thank you for that reply. I wish the minister well in her forthcoming
:12:38. > :12:41.maternity leave. Ramsbottom United football club and Ramsbottom Cricket
:12:42. > :12:46.club, in my constituency, both have grounds submerged in the recent
:12:47. > :12:51.floods, causing tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage. Although
:12:52. > :12:56.supporters have worked valiantly to help, they are struggling to
:12:57. > :12:59.recover. Can my honourable friend say what further help might be
:13:00. > :13:08.available from the Government, as a matter of urgency? I have read about
:13:09. > :13:16.the awful damage of both the cricket club and the football club and it
:13:17. > :13:20.sounds like the wider community is supporting with an incredible job to
:13:21. > :13:24.help with the clear up. The football foundation and others have pledged
:13:25. > :13:27.financial support. If there is anything else the clubs need
:13:28. > :13:32.assistance with, my honourable friend is welcome to get in touch
:13:33. > :13:40.and we will try to ensure the clubs receive all the help and advice
:13:41. > :13:43.possible. Mr Benn Bradshaw. My ministerial colleagues and I meet
:13:44. > :13:46.regularly with a range of stakeholders on issues relating to
:13:47. > :13:50.the work of the Department, including the future of Channel 4.
:13:51. > :13:52.The Government is looking at a number of options, including those
:13:53. > :14:00.proposed by Channel 4's leadership. No decisions have yet been taken. Mr
:14:01. > :14:02.Benn Bradshaw. Will he join me congratulating Channel 4 on their
:14:03. > :14:09.record number of both Oscar and BAFTA nominations of this year? And
:14:10. > :14:13.does he agree that Channel 4 would not be able to deliver its unique
:14:14. > :14:22.and valuable be met if it had to return a profit to shareholders? As
:14:23. > :14:27.I said, my concern is to ensure the continuing success of our ability
:14:28. > :14:32.with Channel 4 and that is why we are looking at options, as indeed
:14:33. > :14:38.the last Government did. It also considered privatisation. We have
:14:39. > :14:44.not yet reached a conclusion. I will adopt whatever policy I believe is
:14:45. > :14:49.best designed to ensure that Channel 4 continues to enjoy the success
:14:50. > :14:54.which he has described. That the Secretary of State recognise the
:14:55. > :14:56.inherent tension in that one of the purposes of privatisation would be
:14:57. > :15:01.to raise the maximum amount of money for the Treasury, and the more
:15:02. > :15:06.Channel 4 sticks to its stint of unsuccessful be met, the less money
:15:07. > :15:12.is likely to be raised? Can he assure the House that uppermost in
:15:13. > :15:15.his mind will be the preservation of the broadcasting success and the
:15:16. > :15:21.creative success of Channel 4, when he comes to his final decision? I am
:15:22. > :15:26.very happy to give exactly that assurance. The reason we looking at
:15:27. > :15:30.different options for the future of Channel 4 is in order to ensure that
:15:31. > :15:34.it could continue to deliver the be met in what is going to become a
:15:35. > :15:37.very fast changing and challenging environment, as I have made clear
:15:38. > :15:42.before, it is the remote which matters and which Channel 4 I want
:15:43. > :15:48.to see continuing to deliver into the future. Has the Secretary of
:15:49. > :15:53.State had an opportunity to continue the one year on report on Channel
:15:54. > :15:58.4's the engines of the degree of diversity charter? Does he recognise
:15:59. > :16:03.that while diversity is a pronounced feature in Channel 4's particular
:16:04. > :16:09.vocation, it is not only their job and will devalue that when he
:16:10. > :16:13.considers the BBC charter renewal? I absolutely agree. The challenge of
:16:14. > :16:17.creating diversity is one which applies right across all
:16:18. > :16:20.broadcasters. It is something I know my honourable friend, the minister,
:16:21. > :16:27.has paid close attention to and indeed was speaking only this week
:16:28. > :16:36.with Idris Elba, who is another person who competes with him in
:16:37. > :16:41.terms of his own attraction! Mr Speaker, can be Secretary of State
:16:42. > :16:43.confirm that the Chancellor of the Exchequer now believes that Channel
:16:44. > :16:49.4 privatisation will bring the Conservatives much public opprobrium
:16:50. > :16:52.for a relatively small financial return and that the Conservatives
:16:53. > :17:01.are now backing away from the idea of privatising this much loved
:17:02. > :17:04.public institution? I hate to disappoint but as I said, no
:17:05. > :17:08.decisions have been taken. I have not had the opportunity to discuss
:17:09. > :17:12.the matter with the Chancellor of the Exchequer because we have not
:17:13. > :17:22.yet reached our own conclusions on this matter. I look forward to doing
:17:23. > :17:25.so in due course. There are two key First World War events to
:17:26. > :17:29.commemorate this year. On the 31st of May, national events will be held
:17:30. > :17:35.to mark the Battle of Jutland and the wider war at sea. On the 1st of
:17:36. > :17:38.July, national events will be held in Manchester and at a memorial in
:17:39. > :17:41.France to commemorate the Battle of the Somme. This will be part of
:17:42. > :17:45.wider commemorations over the next two years and I would encourage all
:17:46. > :17:56.members to read details of the latest culture programme, announced
:17:57. > :18:03.yesterday. Thank you for the work you have contributed to in ensuring
:18:04. > :18:07.the commemorations. At the Yorkshire sculpture Park, we are reminded of
:18:08. > :18:11.the importance of ensuring commemorations are extended to every
:18:12. > :18:16.corner of the country. In this important year of commemoration, we
:18:17. > :18:21.should find a moment for members to come together in this House and pay
:18:22. > :18:27.respects in this place. Will he use his good office to ensure such an
:18:28. > :18:32.opportunity is forthcoming? Can I thank the honourable gentleman for
:18:33. > :18:36.his words and in return, can I thank him for his support? We may over
:18:37. > :18:41.many matters that this is a matter where I think all parties
:18:42. > :18:45.represented come together in memory of those who sacrificed so much. He
:18:46. > :18:51.mentioned the weeping window and the wave sculptures and I was delighted
:18:52. > :18:54.that the Chancellor has made more money available to allow us to take
:18:55. > :19:00.that sculpture to more parts of the country, including Saint Magnus
:19:01. > :19:04.Cathedral, as part of the commemoration of Jutland. In
:19:05. > :19:07.relation to his suggestion that we should have an opportunity here to
:19:08. > :19:12.commemorate those who gave their lives, I think it is an excellent
:19:13. > :19:22.suggestion. I am happy to pursue that. How will Devonport be included
:19:23. > :19:27.in the Battle of Jutland celebrations or commemorations? My
:19:28. > :19:35.grandfather was a gunnery officer and wrote an eyewitness account
:19:36. > :19:38.about it. I entirely understand my honourable friend's wish to see the
:19:39. > :19:42.commemoration, given his own personal connection. I pay tribute
:19:43. > :19:46.to his grandfather and indeed all who served at that time. He will
:19:47. > :19:51.know that a series of events are being planned, including the
:19:52. > :19:54.ceremony at the Orkney Islands for Jutland. Descendants of those who
:19:55. > :19:58.served at the Battle are invited to take part in the event. I hope he
:19:59. > :20:01.will apply. People need to be quick because the closing date is
:20:02. > :20:05.tomorrow. He may be interested to know that the Royal Navy will be
:20:06. > :20:11.marking the centenary at memorials in his constituency at Devonport and
:20:12. > :20:21.also at Portsmouth and Chatham. Question seven, please. A positive
:20:22. > :20:28.experience of sport at a young age can create a lifetime of engagement
:20:29. > :20:33.in physical activity. This sits at the heart of the new sports
:20:34. > :20:38.strategy. Can I wish the Minister of sport well with her maternity? I am
:20:39. > :20:42.aware she will have other diary commitments but may I invite her and
:20:43. > :20:47.colleagues to join with me and the BBC and ITV on the 2nd of February
:20:48. > :20:54.for the parliamentary launch of the Six Nations rugby? Does she agree
:20:55. > :20:57.that free to air sports, underpinned by the events, are crucial in
:20:58. > :21:03.inspiring young people to take up support? Thank you. I am conscious
:21:04. > :21:08.of the fact that my honourable friend's injury was sports related
:21:09. > :21:14.and he may not be the best advert for encouraging people to get
:21:15. > :21:18.involved in sport at this time! But I understand the Secretary of State
:21:19. > :21:24.was hoping to attend the event on the second, I shall be otherwise
:21:25. > :21:29.engaged but I do agree that sport on free to air TV underpinned by the
:21:30. > :21:33.listed events regime is absolutely crucial in inspiring gangsters to
:21:34. > :21:43.take up sport. I look forward to the Six Nations. I shall be watching
:21:44. > :21:48.from the armchair. Can I gently remind the front benches, I have not
:21:49. > :21:54.heard the words England, cricket, South Africa, Joe Root, Yorkshire...
:21:55. > :22:00.Let's congratulate the English team for what they have achieved in South
:22:01. > :22:04.Africa. On access to sport, does not go with this age of children and
:22:05. > :22:10.obesity, with young people getting out into the countryside and
:22:11. > :22:14.walking, as well as support? As chair of the John clear trust, I
:22:15. > :22:17.know how difficult it is to get children from poorer areas into the
:22:18. > :22:24.countryside to learn about it and love it. I am grateful for the
:22:25. > :22:32.opportunity to congratulate the sporting success of our England
:22:33. > :22:36.Cricket stars in South Africa. Also, English men and women in Australia,
:22:37. > :22:44.who appear to be doing well in the big bash tournament. Making sure
:22:45. > :22:48.children are involved in sport is incredibly important. They must be
:22:49. > :22:53.inspired by all sports available to them. The sports strategy is about
:22:54. > :22:57.making sure we encourage people who want to do all sorts of sports or
:22:58. > :23:01.physical activity, whether traditional or outdoor activities,
:23:02. > :23:09.such as mountaineering, is something they can have access to. The
:23:10. > :23:12.Government is supporting an increase in visitor numbers to Yorkshire
:23:13. > :23:19.through the work of Visit Britain, visit England and Yorkshire received
:23:20. > :23:24.record tourism in 2014 and we continue to attract domestic and
:23:25. > :23:28.international visitors. The Bremen is to publish a 5-point plan onto
:23:29. > :23:36.risen and will have a recent Spending Review and we secured
:23:37. > :23:42.further funding. With a heritage item is movable, there is a case for
:23:43. > :23:48.having it on display outside of London and the South of England.
:23:49. > :23:54.Hull is our City of Culture next year. Many people in Yorkshire are
:23:55. > :24:00.expecting the aeroplane of Amy Johnson took the on display in the
:24:01. > :24:04.region. But the London based seismicity has refused permission
:24:05. > :24:11.for this to happen. They said the plane must stay in London. Will he
:24:12. > :24:14.join with me in asking the London obsessed seismicity and to think
:24:15. > :24:27.again and will he meet with me to discuss the matter? -- science
:24:28. > :24:31.Museum. I am happy to discuss that and understand why Hull should want
:24:32. > :24:37.to celebrate the life of Amy Johnson, who was born in the city.
:24:38. > :24:41.In relation to the specific issue that my honourable friend races, I
:24:42. > :24:48.know there has been lengthy dialogue and the science Museum is looking at
:24:49. > :24:52.the delicate state of the aeroplane and potential cost but this is a
:24:53. > :24:59.matter I am happy to look into further and I am happy to meet my
:25:00. > :25:02.honourable friend to discuss this. I am sure the Secretary of State will
:25:03. > :25:09.be delighted to know that Hull now ranks in the top ten cities of the
:25:10. > :25:13.world to visit. On what basis, I am pleased that one of my honourable
:25:14. > :25:17.neighbours from across the way has supported the bit to bring the Amy
:25:18. > :25:23.Johnson claimed to Hull, but on that basis, will he pressed the Treasury
:25:24. > :25:26.to fill the gap, the ?5 million gap that the arts Council turned down
:25:27. > :25:32.for the refurbishment of the new Theatre in Hull, so it can go ahead
:25:33. > :25:46.for the 2017 celebrations and also in light of the recent payment of a
:25:47. > :25:49.new Theatre in Manchester. She is right to include the settlement
:25:50. > :25:54.which included money for arts institutions. I'm aware of the issue
:25:55. > :25:57.relating to the University of Hull and keen to support as much as
:25:58. > :26:01.possible in the city during this very important year that is
:26:02. > :26:05.approaching. I am happy to continue to press the case. She will
:26:06. > :26:08.understand that there were a lot of competing bids. We are determined to
:26:09. > :26:20.make Hull a success. Mr Speaker, good progress is being
:26:21. > :26:28.made on the BBC programme puts up a consultation which launched in July
:26:29. > :26:34.perceived 192,000 responses. We are responding to all of them, and
:26:35. > :26:38.reached 130,000 people. I've commissioned further review,
:26:39. > :26:42.including an independent review, and in the coming months my department
:26:43. > :26:50.will work to publish proposals for them. Would the Minister not accept
:26:51. > :26:57.that the huge number of responses to the consultation, which is a second
:26:58. > :27:04.largest response, shows the concern people have an interest people have
:27:05. > :27:10.in the BBC? In the interest full transparency, will the Secretary of
:27:11. > :27:14.not give my constituents a specific timetable when the government will
:27:15. > :27:20.publish its full response to the BBC consultation? As I said, I'm pleased
:27:21. > :27:29.the volume responses we've had, although it is the case that we are
:27:30. > :27:40.approaching 130,048 hours, and they have boasted of the excise --
:27:41. > :27:44.excess. Maybe not wholly representative of the public
:27:45. > :27:48.opinion. We are committed to reading everyone. That is proving a
:27:49. > :27:55.logistical challenge and has taken longer than we'd anticipated, but we
:27:56. > :28:00.will be publishing a summary of the consultation and our own proposals.
:28:01. > :28:06.There have been reports that as a part of cost-cutting, the BBC will
:28:07. > :28:08.downgrade News coverage, and it is Parliamentary coverage. With the
:28:09. > :28:14.Secretary of State agree that the public should reasonably expect that
:28:15. > :28:21.a news channel and Parliamentary report should be essential for a
:28:22. > :28:27.public service? My honourable friend will understand it is not for me to
:28:28. > :28:35.tell the BBC how to spend their resources. However, I do agree with
:28:36. > :28:41.him... I do agree with him that it is a core part of the BBC, that they
:28:42. > :28:47.should provide news, and that includes coverage of the proceedings
:28:48. > :28:52.of this House. My constituents tell me they don't want the BBC
:28:53. > :28:56.dismantled, they don't want to diminish, they don't want its remit
:28:57. > :28:59.narrowed. This is a government which has flogged up more than our
:29:00. > :29:06.national assets than any other. Can we trust them with the BBC? The
:29:07. > :29:10.Charter of the BBC expires at the end of this year. And it does
:29:11. > :29:15.provide an opportunity to look at all aspects of the BBC and what is a
:29:16. > :29:19.very fast changing media landscape, that is the purpose of the charter
:29:20. > :29:22.review. We have not reached a decision and listing to all
:29:23. > :29:29.expressions of opinion about the future of the BBC, of which there
:29:30. > :29:31.are very many. How does the Secretary of State explain the
:29:32. > :29:36.worrying discrepancy between the amount raised by a licence fees and
:29:37. > :29:46.the amount spent in Scotland? A mismatch of 335 and pounds, and the
:29:47. > :29:54.?190 million spent the -- 335 and pounds. Would he not accept it would
:29:55. > :30:03.boost Scotland? I would say that viewers in Scotland benefit from
:30:04. > :30:07.national programming of the BBC. She will be aware that the director
:30:08. > :30:13.general weaselly gave evidence to the Scottish education and culture
:30:14. > :30:19.committee, which he pointed out that in 2014 108 million was spent on
:30:20. > :30:28.local content, and it has raised towards 200 million. Mr Speaker, 97%
:30:29. > :30:32.of the adult population of the UK use the BBC's services for an
:30:33. > :30:34.average of 18 hours a week, and their perceptions of the BBC have
:30:35. > :30:40.improved in the last ten years. According to the BBC trust, it is of
:30:41. > :30:46.the public support their main mission to educate and entertain.
:30:47. > :30:50.These figures are an endorsement of the ethos of the BBC. His
:30:51. > :30:54.department's consultation on charter renewal close on the 8th of October
:30:55. > :30:59.pasture, and is now spent more time considering responses to that than
:31:00. > :31:04.he allowed the public to respond. When will he get his act together
:31:05. > :31:11.and publish the results? Can he give us a date today? Can I begin by
:31:12. > :31:15.welcoming the honourable lady to her new position? I have been doing this
:31:16. > :31:19.job for a short time, just eight months. She is the third holder of
:31:20. > :31:24.the position of opposition spokesman, so I hope she survives a
:31:25. > :31:29.little longer than her predecessors. In relation to her question, I am
:31:30. > :31:35.keen that we should publish our proposals, but we did not anticipate
:31:36. > :31:40.192,000 responses, and she will understand that if I were to get up
:31:41. > :31:45.and publish our conclusions in a short period, she would be at the
:31:46. > :31:50.dispatch box claiming we had not properly analyse them and it was
:31:51. > :31:55.cosmetic. It is not a cosmetic exercise, and we are reading them
:31:56. > :32:01.carefully. He sounds he is procrastinating. The BBC charter, as
:32:02. > :32:05.he said, does expire, but he does not even got around to publishing
:32:06. > :32:11.his white Paper because the consultation is taken so long for
:32:12. > :32:14.him to reply to. Can he guarantee that his department's time wasting
:32:15. > :32:17.when puzzle is taken so long for him to reply to. Can he guarantee that
:32:18. > :32:19.his department's time wasting when puzzles in some debilitating,
:32:20. > :32:27.short-term charter by the end of the year? And can guarantee it will be
:32:28. > :32:32.for a minimum ten years? The charter review comes round once every ten
:32:33. > :32:37.years, and we want to get it right. We will take however long it takes
:32:38. > :32:40.in order to fully consult and consider the options. We will
:32:41. > :32:45.publish as soon as we are ready. In relation to the length, that is one
:32:46. > :32:49.of the questions contained in a Green paper, and which we are
:32:50. > :32:58.considering, and will form part of our conclusions when we come to
:32:59. > :33:03.publish it. Michael Wood. Since the chamber met last, the Minister for
:33:04. > :33:07.sport has launched the first government's sport strategy, and the
:33:08. > :33:11.menace of culture has become the longest serving arts minister in
:33:12. > :33:16.history -- minister of culture. We have seen the sad passing of some
:33:17. > :33:21.cultural icons. I'm sure the whole chamber wall give their sympathies
:33:22. > :33:28.for the families and bands of data by week, Jimmy Hill, Alan Rickman
:33:29. > :33:40.and Lenny, and in celebrating the enormous conjuration they made to
:33:41. > :33:44.our country. -- Lemmy. The attraction of the star Wars
:33:45. > :33:49.franchise to our country shows a diversity of our film franchise.
:33:50. > :33:57.What has my honourable friend made of tax credits on the film industry?
:33:58. > :34:01.My honourable friend is right to highlight the success we have had in
:34:02. > :34:08.attracting international investment in film to this country, not just on
:34:09. > :34:15.Start Wars, but major films being made now, and part of that is tax
:34:16. > :34:20.credits. In 2013, the creative industries accounted for 5% of the
:34:21. > :34:24.economy, and tax credits are one way of supporting them. It has been
:34:25. > :34:33.responsible for nearly ?7 billion of investment, and our TV tax credit
:34:34. > :34:37.has supported ?800 million. What assistance will the department give
:34:38. > :34:41.to local authorities to keep their regional museums open, following the
:34:42. > :34:45.recent museum association report stating that one of five regional
:34:46. > :34:51.museums have closed in part or in full, and that one in ten expect to
:34:52. > :34:58.have to introduce entrance charges to cover reductions in local
:34:59. > :35:02.authority funding? I read the museum association 's report and I welcome
:35:03. > :35:07.that 6% of museums have seen their visitor numbers increase, and 40%
:35:08. > :35:12.have seen the education outreach increase. We want to work with local
:35:13. > :35:15.authorities, work with the arts Council, and I would urge Labour
:35:16. > :35:23.authorities to look again at the horrific plans to close museums.
:35:24. > :35:31.Nuisance phone calls continued to blight the lives... A situation in
:35:32. > :35:38.Mr Nuttall has not been fully heard, and he will be heard. Nuisance phone
:35:39. > :35:43.calls continued to be blighting the lives of my constituents. Can the
:35:44. > :35:49.Minister explain how quickly the latest propose action will be
:35:50. > :35:54.introduced and enforce? I'm pleased we have now issued a consultation on
:35:55. > :36:05.caller identification, which we hope will allow people to screen the
:36:06. > :36:12.calls. What progress has been made in securing at least 5% of the
:36:13. > :36:15.Premier League TV deals for grassroots football? Children's
:36:16. > :36:19.football is unplayable at this time of year, yet the Premier League
:36:20. > :36:25.continued to throw money around as though it is going out of fashion.
:36:26. > :36:29.The honourable member will be pleased to know that through
:36:30. > :36:32.negotiations and discussions with the Premier League, I've managed to
:36:33. > :36:39.secure at least double what it is they currently invest in grassroots
:36:40. > :36:46.football, so that is more than ?100 million per annum, which equates to
:36:47. > :36:49.around 6.5% of their total. The long serving arts and broadband minister
:36:50. > :36:54.wash my disappointing that despite his welcome promise to make sure no
:36:55. > :36:58.home in the country has broadband speed less than 2 megabits, there
:36:59. > :37:03.are parts of my constituency in Gloucester which is not reached that
:37:04. > :37:09.speed yet. I've raised one area with BT since 2013. They promise to
:37:10. > :37:13.upgrade it, then they fell to do so, and say it is unviable. Will he meet
:37:14. > :37:19.with me and celebrate his long tenure by resolving this problem? I
:37:20. > :37:24.will meet my honourable friend at any point. I'm pleased that at least
:37:25. > :37:28.94% of his constituents have superfast broadband. It is more
:37:29. > :37:34.difficult because of state aid rules, but I will meet with him and
:37:35. > :37:39.discuss the issues he faces. I too would like to wish the Minister well
:37:40. > :37:53.on returning, and hope it all goes well. A recent FOIA from the Calman
:37:54. > :38:00.commission has a field 633 issues of laundry -- gambling commission. What
:38:01. > :38:05.the government going to do to protect staff in betting shops and
:38:06. > :38:09.those who are vulnerable? I take the issue of gambling seriously, and the
:38:10. > :38:14.gambling commission are consulting on changes to strengthen the fight
:38:15. > :38:18.against this crime, and the Treasury will be consulting on the directive,
:38:19. > :38:23.which will include gambling. In relation to the issue of violent in
:38:24. > :38:26.betting shops, there has been an increase in police call-outs to
:38:27. > :38:32.high-street shops. It is not recorded as to where the call-out is
:38:33. > :38:40.related faulty machines, but as a keen campaigner, today I published
:38:41. > :38:49.the evaluation of the ?50 regulations introduced last April,
:38:50. > :38:53.and I expect a review to begin soon. Will the Secretary of State journey
:38:54. > :39:03.to find the towns across the country. The secretary of State will
:39:04. > :39:10.be able to join me for pancake racing. I'm happy to congratulate
:39:11. > :39:16.all those towns holding arts festivals, which is not just
:39:17. > :39:22.Horsham. I'm pleased that my honourable friend's constituency,
:39:23. > :39:26.there are plans to commemorate Shakespeare's 400 anniversary of his
:39:27. > :39:33.death, which we will mark across the world. I would be happy to come to
:39:34. > :39:38.his constituency, but I can't promise to participate in the
:39:39. > :39:46.pancake race. Despite talk of a national programme, there was a
:39:47. > :39:51.deferential of ?450 million in Scotland. That could free up money
:39:52. > :39:55.for direct production in Scotland, which would support 5000 jobs and at
:39:56. > :40:07.60 bling pounds to the economy. I am aware of the concerns in
:40:08. > :40:11.Scotland about this, and as I said earlier, it is something which the
:40:12. > :40:16.director general discuss with the select committee last week. I shall
:40:17. > :40:19.be seen the director-general later. It is important the BBC should serve
:40:20. > :40:24.all parts of the country, but you can't simply sit down and allocate
:40:25. > :40:29.spending precisely in proportion to the licence fee, it is a national
:40:30. > :40:35.broadcaster. Can I wish my honourable friend well in her
:40:36. > :40:40.imminent sporting challenge? As my honourable friend knows, Faversham
:40:41. > :40:42.and Mid Kent is rich in fantastic and fascinating tourist
:40:43. > :40:54.destinations, such as the historic market town of Faversham. I welcomed
:40:55. > :40:57.the 40 million visit England fund recently announced. Could my
:40:58. > :41:01.honourable friend and advise whether organisations like visit Kent will
:41:02. > :41:07.have a bid to get some of this share?
:41:08. > :41:16.As a Kent MP, I am proud of our tourist attractions. I can assure
:41:17. > :41:23.you that all parts of the country, including Kent, will have an
:41:24. > :41:28.opportunity to make a bid. Downton Abbey's servants quarters were in my
:41:29. > :41:32.constituency. Now that it has ended, what is the Government doing to
:41:33. > :41:37.increased representation of the region's ethnic, regional and gender
:41:38. > :41:41.diversity is, so the airwaves are not dominated by the classes
:41:42. > :41:46.upstairs? I fully support the sentiment behind this question. We
:41:47. > :41:55.worked closely with the broadcaster and have stretching targets and a
:41:56. > :42:02.creative diversity target. But broadcasters need to get on with it.
:42:03. > :42:09.A funding bid was recently released. In the interests of brevity, yes or
:42:10. > :42:16.no, will my right honourable friend encouragement esters in sealed cheek
:42:17. > :42:19.to look favourably upon that bit? The importance of tourism to
:42:20. > :42:26.Staffordshire is something that should be stressed. This is a matter
:42:27. > :42:29.for my colleagues in the Department of communities for local Government.
:42:30. > :42:32.I understand they have been in discussion. The Minister for local
:42:33. > :42:40.growth and the Northern powerhouse will be happy to set up a meeting to
:42:41. > :42:44.discuss the position. Over 20,000 jobs depend on tourism in York. What
:42:45. > :42:49.support community initiative to ensure that attractions like Jorvik
:42:50. > :42:55.and others are restored, following the floods? I am conscious of the
:42:56. > :43:00.challenge to ensure that we get the message out that Yorkshire, as other
:43:01. > :43:03.parts of the country affected by flooding, are indeed open for
:43:04. > :43:07.business. We will be looking closely what we can do to support those
:43:08. > :43:13.businesses are affected by flooding. That is something I hope to see more
:43:14. > :43:20.about soon. Did the Minister confirmed they would be a triennial
:43:21. > :43:27.review this year? What will that the? Yes. The review will be in
:43:28. > :43:37.2016, precise timings to be confirmed. Andy Murray won last
:43:38. > :43:50.night again. He is from Mike is the 20. He is a hero. -- he is from my
:43:51. > :43:57.constituency. Can the Government is sure me that we will do all we can
:43:58. > :44:01.to ensure we are a shining example to promote the integrity of sport,
:44:02. > :44:07.as epitomised by Andy Murray? I am happy to join in with that call. I
:44:08. > :44:10.spoke to the all England tennis club and the Association of tennis
:44:11. > :44:14.professionals and we are determined to do what we can to support them in
:44:15. > :44:19.ensuring the game is absolutely clean. They are committed to that as
:44:20. > :44:24.well. We will be holding a summit later in the year to look at the
:44:25. > :44:30.challenge of tackling corruption across all sectors, including that
:44:31. > :44:38.of sport. Given the imminent rise of the mobile infrastructure through
:44:39. > :44:44.gram, what can now be done to improve the knot spot situation,
:44:45. > :44:52.which is wholly unsatisfactory, in relation to the rural economy? I am
:44:53. > :44:57.pleased we should have 75 site erected as a result of a programme.
:44:58. > :45:04.32 people living in Wales have benefited from a new mobile site. We
:45:05. > :45:10.negotiated a deal with mobile operators to increase coverage to
:45:11. > :45:19.90% geographic coverage. Firstly, to congratulate my local football team
:45:20. > :45:24.for reaching the last 16 of the Scottish cup. It is unfair that
:45:25. > :45:27.English football fans can watch their national team free of charge
:45:28. > :45:35.but Scottish fans have to pay. Will he meet with the Scottish Government
:45:36. > :45:40.to resolve the situation? I should just say that this is a matter for
:45:41. > :45:42.the home nation football associations and the Scottish FA. It
:45:43. > :45:49.should renegotiate with Uefa on their central sales strategy. We
:45:50. > :45:54.have a listed event regime, where the tendency home nations compete in
:45:55. > :46:03.tournament is that home nations must qualify. The honourable member for
:46:04. > :46:10.Hyndburn has the nerve to claim to be a champion of workers when, if
:46:11. > :46:13.his policies were adopted, there would be far fewer betting shop
:46:14. > :46:17.workers because they would be closed. If he wants to see more
:46:18. > :46:24.staff in betting shops, there needs to be a viable financial future for
:46:25. > :46:29.them, in particular in relation to negotiation on machines and the
:46:30. > :46:33.levy. There are strict statutory requirements around the number of
:46:34. > :46:36.people staffed in betting shops. This is subject to health and safety
:46:37. > :46:43.regulation. There is voluntary minimum standards required across
:46:44. > :46:51.the industry. I expect all operators to add here to those to protect
:46:52. > :46:56.staff on the High Street. Questions to the right honourable member for
:46:57. > :47:06.Carshalton and Wallington and to be Leader of the House, Mr Peter Grant.
:47:07. > :47:09.With permission, I will answer questions one and two together. I
:47:10. > :47:14.anticipate both houses will have another Gina G to debate this one is
:47:15. > :47:16.the joint committee on the Palace of Westminster has reported that the
:47:17. > :47:21.question of future scrutiny will be aired in those debates and the House
:47:22. > :47:26.of Commons commission will listen carefully to views expressed before
:47:27. > :47:27.making any decision. Many of