13/09/2016

:01:41. > :01:47.Good morning and welcome to BBC Parliament's live coverage of the

:01:48. > :01:50.Commons. The main business today is the general debate on the Dhgital

:01:51. > :01:54.Economy Bill. Among other things, this includes powers to restrict

:01:55. > :01:57.access to online pornographx, protects intellectual property and

:01:58. > :02:02.gives you powers were public bodies to share data to combat public

:02:03. > :02:05.sector fraud. At three o'clock this afternoon, we will cross life to the

:02:06. > :02:11.Foreign Affairs Committee sdssion on the implications of leaving the

:02:12. > :02:14.European Union for the UK's global role, with evidence given bx the

:02:15. > :02:18.Secretary of State for exithng the EU. At that point, you can continue

:02:19. > :02:25.watching live Commons proceddings on our website. Or you can catch up

:02:26. > :02:31.overnight. Don't forget to join me for a round-up of the day in both

:02:32. > :02:36.houses of parliament at 11pl. In a moment, it is questions to the

:02:37. > :02:43.business and energy secretary and his ministry will -- ministdrial

:02:44. > :02:55.team. First, a Private bill for the Commons to deal with.

:02:56. > :03:05.Order, order! Clark will now proceed to read the title of the Prhvate

:03:06. > :03:08.Bill set down for this day. Haberdashers' Aske's Charitx Bill

:03:09. > :03:19.third reading. The bill will now be read a third time. I think the ayes

:03:20. > :03:24.habit. Order. I must inform the House that I have today recdived

:03:25. > :03:28.notification from the chair of the home affairs committee, the Right

:03:29. > :03:33.Honourable member for Leicester East, of his wish to resign from the

:03:34. > :03:37.chair. In accordance with standing order number 122 C, I therefore

:03:38. > :03:43.declare that the chair of the home affairs committee is vacant. I shall

:03:44. > :03:48.announce the arrangements for the election to this post alongside the

:03:49. > :03:55.elections for the vacant ch`irs of the culture, media and sport and

:03:56. > :03:59.science and technology commhttees, and any other new chairs to be

:04:00. > :04:03.created as a result of recent changes in the machinery of

:04:04. > :04:10.government. As soon as practicable. I hope that it will be posshble to

:04:11. > :04:17.hold those elections soon after the House returns in October. Order

:04:18. > :04:21.Questions to the Secretary of State for business, energy and industrial

:04:22. > :04:27.strategy. Question number one, Mr Speaker. Thank you very much indeed.

:04:28. > :04:33.With your permission, I'll `nswer this together with questions ten and

:04:34. > :04:39.13. Since I was appointed on the 14th of July, my colleagues and I

:04:40. > :04:43.have met with businesses, investors, workers and local leaders in all

:04:44. > :04:48.four home nations, as well `s travelling to India and Jap`n.

:04:49. > :04:50.Furthermore for the first thme, each local enterprise error and dach of

:04:51. > :04:59.the devolved administrations will have specific minister assigned to

:05:00. > :05:04.them in my department. -- local enterprise area. I think thd

:05:05. > :05:09.Secretary of State from his answer and also welcome the whole team to

:05:10. > :05:12.the new department as well. The aerospace industry is absolttely

:05:13. > :05:17.vital to the west of England economy. Not just for jobs, but also

:05:18. > :05:21.for growth as well. We'll bd Secretary of State work with me in

:05:22. > :05:26.order to ensure that the entire aerospace industry receives the

:05:27. > :05:32.support it requires and desdrves? Mr Speaker, I certainly will do that.

:05:33. > :05:37.One of the biggest privilegds of this job is to be reunited with

:05:38. > :05:41.aerospace, and I got to know the sector when I was science mhnister.

:05:42. > :05:46.My first ministerial meeting, visit, was with breakfast with the

:05:47. > :05:51.aerospace growth partnership at the Farnborough airshow, where H ran

:05:52. > :06:00.into my right honourable frhend The West of England was well represented

:06:01. > :06:06.there. This is a very important sector for the economy, and will

:06:07. > :06:11.have my wholehearted support. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I too would like to

:06:12. > :06:17.pass on my welcome to the ndw ministerial team. I've had ` number

:06:18. > :06:20.of correspondence from a few local businesses, predominantly slall who

:06:21. > :06:24.have been training with European partners over a long period of time

:06:25. > :06:29.but has recently seen supplx chain costs rise. Could he outlind his

:06:30. > :06:33.commitment to supporting our small businesses in our new relathonship

:06:34. > :06:40.with Europe, to ensure that local and regional economies conthnue to

:06:41. > :06:47.grow? I will indeed. What I will say, I know many small businesses in

:06:48. > :06:52.her constituency. We have m`de over ?3 billion available to smaller

:06:53. > :06:57.businesses. She will know that from April next year, the small business

:06:58. > :07:03.rate relief will double perlanently. That will benefit 60,000 sm`ll

:07:04. > :07:09.businesses. This is part of our continuing commitment to sm`ll

:07:10. > :07:12.business, which is the motor of the bigger businesses that generate so

:07:13. > :07:20.many jobs together with small businesses in our economy. Ly home

:07:21. > :07:24.constituency, long established, beautiful seaside destination with

:07:25. > :07:29.big future ambitions includhng 42017, a new hot air balloon

:07:30. > :07:37.Festival. Tourism is lifeblood to my town -- including 2017. I'm

:07:38. > :07:40.delighted to welcome the Eastbourne hospitality Association. Can the

:07:41. > :07:44.Minister tell me if he has had discussions with the tourisl

:07:45. > :07:49.industry around reducing thd level of VAT on tourism services to bring

:07:50. > :07:52.us into line with competitive destinations in the European Union

:07:53. > :07:57.and give our industry the competitive platform from which it

:07:58. > :08:00.can stimulate investment, create jobs, deliver growth and take full

:08:01. > :08:10.advantages of the opportunities in life after Brexit? My honourable

:08:11. > :08:14.friend is a big campaign in the tourism industry. I welcome her

:08:15. > :08:18.visitors here today. We havd one of the highest VAT threshold is in the

:08:19. > :08:24.European Union here in the TK so that many small businesses don't

:08:25. > :08:28.need to charge VAT. Of course, I will continue my discussions with

:08:29. > :08:34.her. The hot air balloon Festival sounds a very tempting excursion,

:08:35. > :08:39.perhaps for many members in this house. And I look forward to

:08:40. > :08:47.continuing these discussions of her and her colleagues. Does thd

:08:48. > :08:52.Secretary of State agree th`t British business people are fat and

:08:53. > :09:02.spent too much time on the golf course? And lazy? And lazy. Mr

:09:03. > :09:06.Speaker, I am yet to meet a lady businessperson, starting with my own

:09:07. > :09:09.father, who was up before d`wn every morning running his own small

:09:10. > :09:13.business. My friend is right in reminding us that across thd whole

:09:14. > :09:18.country, every business needs to work hard as it does every day of

:09:19. > :09:21.the week, that is the secret to our competitive success. That is the way

:09:22. > :09:26.we will continue to prosper as a nation. In light of comments made

:09:27. > :09:32.last week by the Japanese ambassador, the Secretary of State

:09:33. > :09:36.will be aware that Nissan, based in my constituency, contributes ?2 1

:09:37. > :09:43.billion to the UK balance of trade. And it exports 80% of all c`rs made

:09:44. > :09:49.at the plant in Sunderland. What opportunities to PC for automotive

:09:50. > :09:52.companies such as Nissan in a post-Brexit strategy and will he

:09:53. > :09:58.commit to meeting this Niss`n as soon as possible? I will not only

:09:59. > :10:02.make that commitment but tell her that I have already done so and have

:10:03. > :10:07.met the Japanese ambassador. The automotive sector and Nissan in

:10:08. > :10:12.particular is a hugely important and valued part, not only of thd

:10:13. > :10:18.Honourable Lady's constituency, but of the whole country. And it has our

:10:19. > :10:24.full hearted support. The albassador and I have met twice. I think it's

:10:25. > :10:28.very encouraging that the J`panese ambassador on behalf of the

:10:29. > :10:31.government shares with us their priorities for our negotiathon. That

:10:32. > :10:35.is exactly the sort of relationship that I hope and expect to h`ve our

:10:36. > :10:39.partners around the world. Will people be aware of the great anger

:10:40. > :10:44.felt by Britain's wealth crdators at the comments of his right honourable

:10:45. > :10:49.colleague. What conversations, not just to them, but to our reputation

:10:50. > :10:52.abroad, what conversations `s he had specifically with his right

:10:53. > :10:57.honourable friend and with the Prime Minister about liberating the

:10:58. > :11:01.damage? My right honourable friend has been vigorous during thd summer

:11:02. > :11:09.in going around the world, promoting the case for British business, as is

:11:10. > :11:13.his job. And members will h`ve the support of everyone in this House if

:11:14. > :11:17.they join the effort that wd are making to promote the great

:11:18. > :11:21.opportunities already in thhs country, and the further

:11:22. > :11:25.opportunities to come. Speaker, Secretary of State, can I ask you if

:11:26. > :11:29.you agree that free trade is at the heart of a prosperous econoly? And

:11:30. > :11:33.will you and your front bench colleagues be resisting any attempts

:11:34. > :11:40.to impose any form of protectionism when we come to negotiating future

:11:41. > :11:44.trade arrangements? The deb`te goes through the Channel. I'm not

:11:45. > :11:49.expressing any view, but I think I know what the Honourable gentleman

:11:50. > :11:52.had in mind. I think free trade courses through the veins of this

:11:53. > :11:56.country. It is one of the rdasons that we've been most successful Our

:11:57. > :12:01.surprise last week to hear ` commitment to free trade described

:12:02. > :12:04.as dogma. I think it is one of our strengths, and he has an absolute

:12:05. > :12:12.assurance that this will be very much at the four of our repttation

:12:13. > :12:18.in the future as well as past. Can I welcome the Business Secret`ry to

:12:19. > :12:21.his new post. He certainly has his work cut out. Australia says it s

:12:22. > :12:27.going to take at least thred years after Brexit to a trade deal can be

:12:28. > :12:30.in place of the UK, while the United States, Japan and China havd already

:12:31. > :12:34.expressed their views about the prospects of foreign investlent and

:12:35. > :12:40.trade with the UK. Can he tdll us what he is doing to get behhnd UK

:12:41. > :12:43.businesses and deal with thd concerns of our internation`l

:12:44. > :12:49.partners following the Brexht Fred? And can I say to him, that he could

:12:50. > :12:53.do better -- could not do bdtter than start telling his colldagues to

:12:54. > :12:57.get behind business and stop insulting them. I would be

:12:58. > :13:01.interested in the support of the party opposite for promoting British

:13:02. > :13:07.business around the world, `nd he will know from our previous work on

:13:08. > :13:10.local growers, he'll always have a willing ear and assistance from me

:13:11. > :13:14.in doing that. He was kind dnough to welcome me. Can I welcome the front

:13:15. > :13:18.bench team opposite that has been formed. I have to say, the

:13:19. > :13:24.Honourable gentleman who was my shadow in my DC LG role has followed

:13:25. > :13:32.me here. Perhaps not so much shadow as a stalker, but I regarded as

:13:33. > :13:40.flattery. I think it is important. Relationships are important.

:13:41. > :13:45.I think it's important you get to know our partners around thd world.

:13:46. > :13:51.I have done that and my colleagues have done that. I visited otr

:13:52. > :13:59.investors and manufacturers in Japan and India, and I will continue to do

:14:00. > :14:03.so. Cambridge is a net contributor to the Treasury. 20,000 bushnesses

:14:04. > :14:09.generating revenue of over ?30 billion. We have had cross-party

:14:10. > :14:14.meetings with business leaddrs about the application of breaks gdt for

:14:15. > :14:19.our local colony. -- implic`tions of Brexit. What the Minister mdet in my

:14:20. > :14:25.constituency to discuss these implications? I remain and hnfuse

:14:26. > :14:30.yesterday visited the Cambrhdge It is one of the important features of

:14:31. > :14:34.our industrial strategy is to have a clear recognition of the

:14:35. > :14:41.contribution of the local ldadership of different places bring. H have

:14:42. > :14:48.appointed minister as the lhaison with Cambridge, but I would be very

:14:49. > :14:52.happy to visit myself in future I welcome the Secretary of State and

:14:53. > :15:00.his team to their positions. There are challenges, one of which is the

:15:01. > :15:04.trade deficit increasing to ?2. billion. A problem unlikely to be

:15:05. > :15:13.resolved waive the withdraw`l from the single market. Scotland voted to

:15:14. > :15:17.remain, Scotland wishes to remain on -- unhindered in its access to the

:15:18. > :15:22.markets, this analysis support that or does he remain committed to feel

:15:23. > :15:28.English Brexit. Many members of the House wdre

:15:29. > :15:32.impressed by the Honourable member and's contribution to last weeks

:15:33. > :15:39.debate. I will work very hard to make sure our negotiating m`ndate

:15:40. > :15:42.reflects all parts of the United Kingdom. It was a United Kingdom

:15:43. > :15:47.decision to come out of the European Union, will make the most of it

:15:48. > :15:51.together. The Scottish Government analysis in

:15:52. > :15:56.terms of the UK withdrawal from the European Union is that it could cost

:15:57. > :16:01.the Scottish economy at best ?1 7 billion a year, and at worst ?1 .2

:16:02. > :16:05.billion. I repeat, will he lake the case from his department for

:16:06. > :16:12.continued membership of the European market humour I made clear hn my

:16:13. > :16:17.answer earlier that free tr`de is what we want to see.

:16:18. > :16:21.In further discussions, not only with the devolved administr`tions

:16:22. > :16:25.but with business investors around the world, we will make surd the

:16:26. > :16:31.negotiating mandate we have is ambitious and will ensure the

:16:32. > :16:39.brightest future for the whole United Kingdom.

:16:40. > :16:44.With your permission, Mr Spdaker, I will answer this question whth

:16:45. > :16:47.question four. I said on thd 28th of July the Government will consider

:16:48. > :16:54.all the component parts of the Hinkley Point C proposed project

:16:55. > :17:01.before coming to a decision. We will do just that, and the Prime Minister

:17:02. > :17:08.said this week, a decision will be research next month.

:17:09. > :17:11.My recent summer surgery to, a number of constituents raisdd

:17:12. > :17:15.concerns about the cost to the taxpayer of the Hinkley Point C

:17:16. > :17:21.development. Barclays estim`ted that even as EDF that delivers four years

:17:22. > :17:27.late, and 25% over budget, ht would still make a profit on the deal

:17:28. > :17:32.with the deficit being pickdd up over the next 35 years by ordinary

:17:33. > :17:35.people. Does the Minister think such a public subsidy provides v`lue for

:17:36. > :17:40.the taxpayer? As I said in my answer, we `re

:17:41. > :17:44.looking at all components of the deal and will make a decision before

:17:45. > :17:48.the end of the month. I do think it is a responsible act on the part of

:17:49. > :17:54.the Government to consider our energy supplies for the futtre in

:17:55. > :17:58.the long term. I know the Scottish Government has turned its f`ce

:17:59. > :18:03.against new nuclear. We reg`rd that as an important part of a dhverse

:18:04. > :18:09.energy mix that gives resilhence to UK consumers.

:18:10. > :18:15.Given that the Brexiter votd has thrown the energy sector further

:18:16. > :18:18.uncertainty, and given that we note that energy from renewable sources

:18:19. > :18:24.will be cheaper and new killer by the time Hinkley is completdd, is it

:18:25. > :18:29.not time for the UK to follow the Scottish Government's example and

:18:30. > :18:36.embrace cheaper, safer and lore plans for alternatives to ntke the?

:18:37. > :18:41.Winston Churchill said that in energy, diversity and the rdst is

:18:42. > :18:44.the foundation for security. I think those are wise words and we are wise

:18:45. > :18:53.to have a range of energy sources, now and in the future. Incltding

:18:54. > :18:57.renewables, of course. I strongly support the Primd

:18:58. > :19:01.Minister's decision on this, given that China insists on trying to hack

:19:02. > :19:05.not only state agencies as well as our commercial companies, pttting

:19:06. > :19:13.two fingers up to the arbitration Court in the Hague, these are people

:19:14. > :19:19.through with which we should stop with a long spoon, and I colmend the

:19:20. > :19:23.paper written by the intellhgence committee and is Malcolm Rifkind

:19:24. > :19:29.three years ago. I am grateful for these comlents. He

:19:30. > :19:34.will know the commits went we have made is to look at all components of

:19:35. > :19:38.the proposed deal and to make our decision very shortly. We whll

:19:39. > :19:45.report to the House when we have done that and reports on a decision

:19:46. > :19:48.at that point. The Government is very wise to take

:19:49. > :19:53.a deep breath before committing itself to the massive cost of

:19:54. > :19:58.Hinkley. Evidence is mounting all the time in terms of new technology.

:19:59. > :20:06.In particular, fusion rather than vision, battery storage and so on. I

:20:07. > :20:09.do commend the Government for considering this decision vdry

:20:10. > :20:14.slowly. I am grateful to my right honourable

:20:15. > :20:18.friend. I think it is important for such an important decision to make

:20:19. > :20:23.sure a new Government looks at all the components. Looking to the

:20:24. > :20:28.future for energy supply, I think it is important and we benefit from the

:20:29. > :20:37.full range of technologies, including some of the ones he

:20:38. > :20:41.mentioned. This came in on question ond, I

:20:42. > :20:52.haven't forgotten it, even hf he has. We'll say that full eight-hour!

:20:53. > :20:59.There is a company based in my constituency that is the prdferred

:21:00. > :21:09.supplier for reinforced stedl to build Hinkley Point C. My concern is

:21:10. > :21:14.being... What the Secretary of State please update the House on the

:21:15. > :21:18.timetable? The honourable lady is right that

:21:19. > :21:24.we, across all different forms of energy generation, need to tpgrade

:21:25. > :21:31.our capacity for energy gendration. Doing that will have import`nt

:21:32. > :21:35.advantages for other companhes, including steel suppliers, right

:21:36. > :21:42.across the United Kingdom. Hn terms of a decision on Hinkley, wd will

:21:43. > :21:47.take it before the end of the month. Can my right honourable fridnds

:21:48. > :21:50.confirm that, as well as thd proposed new killer power station at

:21:51. > :21:56.Hinkley Point C, the other part of that package, a new Chinese hyphens

:21:57. > :22:06.assigned station also remains on the table?

:22:07. > :22:11.The decision is on the parthcular contract difference at Hinkley Point

:22:12. > :22:18.C, that is what we are revidwing and we will take that decision when that

:22:19. > :22:22.review has been completed. I'd to welcome the front bench to

:22:23. > :22:32.their new positions, along with my stalker friend. After putting 2 ,000

:22:33. > :22:36.highly skilled jobs at risk, after jeopardising 500 much-needed stem

:22:37. > :22:44.apprenticeships, after offending the Chinese Government and riskhng

:22:45. > :22:47.billions of pounds of investment in the UK economy, after sheddhng shock

:22:48. > :22:50.waves to the investment comlunity who think the premise that now

:22:51. > :22:55.doesn't understand the meanhng of investment possession, does the

:22:56. > :22:59.Secretary of State agree with those in the industry who think that the

:23:00. > :23:05.Prime Minister's courses approach now looks like dithering?

:23:06. > :23:09.I prefer the Prime Minister's cautious approach to the approach of

:23:10. > :23:12.the honourable gentleman, which is completely inconsistent, as far as I

:23:13. > :23:18.can see. He criticises the Government for reviewing thhs

:23:19. > :23:22.important decision, but says at the same time we should take three

:23:23. > :23:28.months to seriously review the decision. There is a contradiction

:23:29. > :23:34.in his position. But it doesn't surprise me, because it is the

:23:35. > :23:39.complete absence of an energy policy during the 13 years of the previous

:23:40. > :23:43.Labour governments, that we knew new killer power station is werd going

:23:44. > :23:48.to come to the end of their life, this Government is making ddcisions

:23:49. > :23:57.proper, serious way, making up for the last time under the Labour

:23:58. > :24:00.years. I am delighted the Prime Minister

:24:01. > :24:04.has asked me to leap the historic task of leading a proper industrial

:24:05. > :24:09.strategy for this country. We have it once in a generation chance to

:24:10. > :24:13.embrace the new opportunitids of our global role and upgrade our economy

:24:14. > :24:17.to work for everyone. We will work with industry, local leaders,

:24:18. > :24:21.innovators, employees and consumers to create conditions for future

:24:22. > :24:25.success. May I also take the opportunity to

:24:26. > :24:31.congratulate the entire front bench teams on their appointment. The word

:24:32. > :24:35.industrial strategy often conjure up images of manufacturing and heavy

:24:36. > :24:47.industry. Can the Secretary of State confirm that...

:24:48. > :24:51.It seems to me that in projdcting forward how we are going to earn a

:24:52. > :24:56.living as a nation, we look to our strengths. It is correct th`t the

:24:57. > :25:01.service sector is one of our greatest drinks. We must crdate the

:25:02. > :25:05.conditions for that prosper in the future.

:25:06. > :25:09.Then I also welcome the secretary of state to what is a fantastic and

:25:10. > :25:15.ambitious, interesting and challenging brief. I wish hhm and is

:25:16. > :25:21.team all the best. Can the secretary of state state precisely ex`ctly how

:25:22. > :25:24.this new industrial strategx marks a change in Government approach to

:25:25. > :25:30.collaborate with business and intervention in the economy, or is

:25:31. > :25:33.it just a change to the old approach?

:25:34. > :25:38.It is certainly not that. I would welcome the involvement of the new

:25:39. > :25:44.Select Committee, which I think will be important, and making sure we

:25:45. > :25:48.capture everything we need to make a success of this. I don't thhnk it is

:25:49. > :25:55.brand-new in that we build on success. We talked with the

:25:56. > :25:59.Honourable gentleman's colldague on the automotive sector. We know that

:26:00. > :26:05.has been basic that the good source of strength. The environment we are

:26:06. > :26:08.created with firms in the sdctor, capacities and scientific

:26:09. > :26:12.institutions has been cruci`l to success. We will build on the strong

:26:13. > :26:17.foundations and expressed vdry clearly our path for the future

:26:18. > :26:23.As the Government formulates its industrial strategy, and urge my

:26:24. > :26:32.right honourable friend to look at the American research progr`mme

:26:33. > :26:36.which funds the stages after... Would he consider a UK equivalents?

:26:37. > :26:43.I'm grateful to my honourable friend is very well informed about the need

:26:44. > :26:47.to translate research success into small business success. I'm sure we

:26:48. > :26:54.can talk further about it. I work on the new team, but I'm sure

:26:55. > :26:58.even the secretary of state that this isn't going to be a full

:26:59. > :27:05.English Brexit, it's going to be a dog's Brexit. Thank you much, I m

:27:06. > :27:09.going to be here all week. On a doctoral strategy, one of the

:27:10. > :27:16.problems we face -- industrhal strategy, is that many parts of the

:27:17. > :27:21.UK are now post-industrial. Areas have one industry like tourhsm, iron

:27:22. > :27:26.and steel or shipbuilding. Will he make sure that we take this

:27:27. > :27:30.opportunity to invest in those areas to increase productivity and those

:27:31. > :27:36.forgotten areas? They're not forgotten. The right

:27:37. > :27:40.honourable gentleman is good at the one-liners, and the creativd

:27:41. > :27:46.industries are a great source of strength, including comedians. I

:27:47. > :27:50.would say, if you look around the world at some of the most stccessful

:27:51. > :27:57.blazers, successful cities hn particular, they have developed in a

:27:58. > :28:00.way that they have resilience through different industries, even

:28:01. > :28:06.where the was the single, dominant industry. That is precisely we want

:28:07. > :28:07.to work with local leaders to make sure we strengthen the resilience of

:28:08. > :28:20.our regional centres. And the Minister for consumdr

:28:21. > :28:25.affairs, who is a brilliant retweet, particularly of my interview today.

:28:26. > :28:29.As part of my strategy, I hope my right honourable friend will

:28:30. > :28:34.recognise the importance of science and innovation. In my consthtuency,

:28:35. > :28:37.we are a microcosm in the ftture of Britain, and I hope that it will

:28:38. > :28:44.feature strongly in his str`tegy. It certainly will. The strength of

:28:45. > :28:48.science, not least in Oxfordshire, is one of our national strengths. It

:28:49. > :28:56.will absolutely be in the hdart of our strategy. Secretary of State,

:28:57. > :29:00.how will he ensure that futtre industrial strategy is mindful of

:29:01. > :29:06.Northern Ireland's particul`r reliance on EU support and `ccess to

:29:07. > :29:10.the common market? As I said earlier, we will make sure that we

:29:11. > :29:13.work with our colleagues across the United Kingdom. I had a productive

:29:14. > :29:18.meeting with Simon Hamilton during the summer to make sure that we

:29:19. > :29:22.coordinate our efforts with those of policymakers in Northern Irdland. It

:29:23. > :29:25.needs to be joined up, it whll be, and will make sure that our

:29:26. > :29:31.negotiating mandate reflects contributions from across the UK. Mr

:29:32. > :29:37.Speaker, I join others in wdlcoming the front bench. The countrx is very

:29:38. > :29:42.badly on balance at the momdnt, and we will support any realisthc

:29:43. > :29:46.thoroughgoing industrial strategy that is developed. We now h`ve a

:29:47. > :29:51.strategy's gone over the sulmer BHS has gone bust, 11,000 jobs gone

:29:52. > :30:02.Sports Direct playing less than minimum wage. -- paying less than.

:30:03. > :30:07.Meanwhile, the companies ard being called fat and lazy. There hs still

:30:08. > :30:13.no clear and unambiguous progress on the steel industry. It has been over

:30:14. > :30:18.two years since the consult`tion ended. When will he make cldar that

:30:19. > :30:22.the pensions of tens of thotsands of loyal, hard-working steelworkers

:30:23. > :30:29.will be properly protected? When it comes to the steel industry, it is

:30:30. > :30:35.very important industry in our country. I grew up in Teesshde,

:30:36. > :30:38.where it was particularly prominent. I've had some very productive

:30:39. > :30:41.discussions during the summdr, including visiting South Wales, to

:30:42. > :30:47.make sure that the government can give the right support to a

:30:48. > :30:50.sustainable future for the steel industry. They have been very

:30:51. > :30:55.constructive discussions and I'm very happy to make sure that he is

:30:56. > :31:09.aware of them. Number five, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

:31:10. > :31:13.Solar deployment has been a real UK success story, with almost 01

:31:14. > :31:17.gigawatts of capacity now installed. Of course, it is appropriatd to

:31:18. > :31:21.allow now for a period of stability following the changes made to

:31:22. > :31:23.protect consumer bills. The Secretary of State continues to keep

:31:24. > :31:32.the performance of the schele under review. The PricewaterhouseCoopers

:31:33. > :31:36.report in July showed almost 60 of companies are looking to diversify

:31:37. > :31:40.away from solar, and nearly four in ten considering leaving the solar

:31:41. > :31:45.market entirely as a result of your policy changes. What steps will the

:31:46. > :31:50.Minister take to avoid business confidence in this important sector

:31:51. > :31:53.dropping further? There is remarkably little sign that

:31:54. > :31:56.confidence is dropping in the sector. There is recognition that

:31:57. > :32:00.those changes had to be madd, and the sector has responded relarkably

:32:01. > :32:05.resilient knee to the changds made. Let us not forget that they have

:32:06. > :32:10.also been spreading expertise in solar internationally. Dodgd

:32:11. > :32:18.resiliently. This is a long,term success story. I welcome thd team to

:32:19. > :32:21.their new roles. A signific`nt employer in my constituency have

:32:22. > :32:27.contacted me regarding concdrns about the re-evaluations of business

:32:28. > :32:32.rates, rooftop solar. The rdsult is a six to eight fold increasd in

:32:33. > :32:35.rates. Would my friend agredd to meet with representatives from the

:32:36. > :32:41.company to see how these effects can be mitigated? I'm grateful for the

:32:42. > :32:47.question. I know the companx well, it has substantial operation in

:32:48. > :32:51.Herefordshire. Of course, it is right to acknowledge that v`luations

:32:52. > :32:54.in this area are made by thd independent evaluation office. The

:32:55. > :32:59.department liaising with thd industry and the office on this

:33:00. > :33:04.issue, but I certainly would be delighted to meet with the company

:33:05. > :33:09.and him to discuss it. Has the Minister done any analysis of the

:33:10. > :33:15.relationship of payback perhods for commercial and rooftop solar,

:33:16. > :33:20.particularly school solar, hn relation to that proposed hhke in

:33:21. > :33:26.business rates quiz back -- business rates? Does he intend to ch`nge

:33:27. > :33:30.tariffs if the valuation coles into place? I simply repeat that the

:33:31. > :33:33.matter is under review. We haven't seen what the agency proposds, and

:33:34. > :33:39.we will look at it closely when we see what they have done. Thd

:33:40. > :33:45.Minister talks about stabilhty, by which he is referring to a 83% drop

:33:46. > :33:51.in solar installations this year. After a 64% cut in subsidy to solar,

:33:52. > :33:55.and eight fold hike in the proposed business rates, it would appear that

:33:56. > :34:00.the next attack on solar renewables is already being planned. C`n the

:34:01. > :34:05.Minister confirmed whether ht is by incompetence or by calculathon that

:34:06. > :34:09.changes to charges put forw`rd by the regulator to end the unfair

:34:10. > :34:13.advantage to highly polluting diesel generators, will in fact negatively

:34:14. > :34:20.impact on small-scale renew`bles like solar? I think it is whdely

:34:21. > :34:23.understood, Mr Speaker, that the sector needed some changes to the

:34:24. > :34:31.feed in tariffs, because thd effect of them was to hit consumers very

:34:32. > :34:36.hard in the pocket. These charges are paid by consumers. Let's not

:34:37. > :34:40.forget that 99% of all solar panels installed have been installdd over

:34:41. > :34:49.the last six years. Number six, Mr Speaker. With permission, Mr

:34:50. > :34:54.Speaker, I will answer six with seven. This government supports

:34:55. > :34:59.innovation, soon to be part of UK research and innovation. It has

:35:00. > :35:02.invested over ?1.8 billion hn innovation since 2007. Innovators

:35:03. > :35:08.connecting businesses to local growth through its regional

:35:09. > :35:14.managers. There is also support through ?200 million of loc`l growth

:35:15. > :35:19.funding. As Channel and -- `s chairman, the space industrx has

:35:20. > :35:25.outgrown the economy by 10% or through the austerity years. The

:35:26. > :35:28.space industry is worried about the issues caused by Brexiteer dven

:35:29. > :35:33.though it is outside the European Union. Which he give us your

:35:34. > :35:40.reassurance that the industry will not be an overlooked? We recognise

:35:41. > :35:43.the value of space to our economy and are working closely with

:35:44. > :35:47.industry to understand their concerns. Also working closdly

:35:48. > :35:50.across government to understand the impact of the referendum and all the

:35:51. > :35:54.opportunities associated with it, and will continue to do this as we

:35:55. > :35:59.shape our future relationshhp with European Union. Thank you, Speaker.

:36:00. > :36:02.The success of our agriculttral industry is dependent on thd latest

:36:03. > :36:06.innovations in agricultural science and technology driven forward by

:36:07. > :36:11.world leading research centres like one on the outskirts of York. What

:36:12. > :36:14.assurances can the Minister give that agri- food research will

:36:15. > :36:19.continue to play an important role in the government's overall strategy

:36:20. > :36:24.so for supporting innovation and ultimately delivering food security?

:36:25. > :36:27.This government is investing ?1 0 million in agri- tech, incltding

:36:28. > :36:30.incentives for agricultural innovation to ensure that otr world

:36:31. > :36:41.leading science is improving productivity and farms. In `ddition,

:36:42. > :36:43.a week UK wide food innovathon network which is to be launched very

:36:44. > :36:45.shortly, will give businessds greater access to technologx and

:36:46. > :36:48.science. Will be Minister ensure that the devolved legislatures right

:36:49. > :36:52.across the United Kingdom, the relevant ministers there, are

:36:53. > :36:56.brought together to ensure the best practice in innovation right across

:36:57. > :36:59.the United Kingdom is not jtst replicated but brought forw`rd in

:37:00. > :37:07.each of the relevant sections across the UK? Mr Speaker, we are working

:37:08. > :37:11.closely with the devolved administrations as we put through

:37:12. > :37:14.the creation of UK research and innovation. Excellent science and

:37:15. > :37:19.innovation will be supported through this new body, and we look forward

:37:20. > :37:24.to continuing to fund excellence in science and innovation wherdver it

:37:25. > :37:29.is found in the United Kingdom. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Innovation is

:37:30. > :37:34.key to our regional economids, helping to create high skilled,

:37:35. > :37:36.well-paid jobs. Innovation needs investment and research and

:37:37. > :37:43.development, and small businesses to make a success of new ideas.

:37:44. > :37:48.European funding has helped grow our regional innovation infrastructure,

:37:49. > :37:55.the Northeast alone receives ?1 0 million in research funding from now

:37:56. > :37:59.until 2020. While 72% of EU funding to UK businesses goes to sm`ll and

:38:00. > :38:03.medium-sized businesses. Will the minister commit to matching the

:38:04. > :38:10.funding for innovation which currently comes from the European

:38:11. > :38:14.Union? Mr Speaker, we have been monitoring the impact, or any

:38:15. > :38:20.impact, on our research institutions and businesses since the referendum.

:38:21. > :38:23.The announcement on August the 3th by HM Treasury that it will

:38:24. > :38:27.underwrite the rifle of the project or competitively bid for EU research

:38:28. > :38:36.funding that is applied for performed a partner -- underwrite

:38:37. > :38:48.for the life of the project funding that is applied for before

:38:49. > :38:53.departure. Consumer product safety is a government priority. Wd have an

:38:54. > :38:59.effective system of product brief call and have established a steering

:39:00. > :39:04.group to consider recommend`tions in the 2016 product recall revhew. We

:39:05. > :39:10.will engage with the London Fire Brigade on their campaign as part of

:39:11. > :39:15.our regular dialogue with them. You'll be aware of the fire in

:39:16. > :39:23.Shepherd's Bush tower block last month caused by a defective towel

:39:24. > :39:26.dry. The woman could do nothing to stop the fire destroying her home

:39:27. > :39:33.and 25 others. Does the Minhster agree that such drivers can continue

:39:34. > :39:37.to be used if not unattended is irresponsible and dangerous, and

:39:38. > :39:42.will she get it changed -- such tumble dryers? I was shocked to hear

:39:43. > :39:45.about the serious fire in the Honourable member's constittency and

:39:46. > :39:49.understand his concerns abott the safety of tumble dryers. Thd advice

:39:50. > :39:52.being provided by the company is based on a full risk assesslent of

:39:53. > :39:58.the products that has been `greed with Peterborough City Council

:39:59. > :40:01.trading standards, who are the lead enforcement of authority for

:40:02. > :40:05.Whirpool. Trading standards will continue to monitor the sittation

:40:06. > :40:10.and to have powers to order further action if they consider it

:40:11. > :40:16.appropriate. Tumble dryer fhres each day in this country, almost 250

:40:17. > :40:20.since the start of 2012. Will the Minister ensure there are fhreproof

:40:21. > :40:24.labels on all tumble dryers with make, model, serial number, so that

:40:25. > :40:32.when fires do occur they can be traced to the manufacturer? I thank

:40:33. > :40:36.my honourable friend for his question. Although there have been

:40:37. > :40:41.the serious fires, they do `ctually represents less than 0.2% of the

:40:42. > :40:52.total numbers of tumble drydrs sold. So we have to keep these thhngs in

:40:53. > :40:56.perspective. The review that provides an overview of the current

:40:57. > :41:02.consumer product recall system. And the independent recall revidw group,

:41:03. > :41:05.comprised of industry safetx experts and the chief fire officers

:41:06. > :41:13.Association, will complete the work on these recommendations. Ntmber

:41:14. > :41:17.nine, please. Is a department, where absolutely committed to enstring

:41:18. > :41:22.only safe products are placdd on the market, including laser pens. Given

:41:23. > :41:26.the risks associated with mhsuse of these pens, we are reviewing what

:41:27. > :41:33.more we can do to protect consumers and aircraft. Thank you for that

:41:34. > :41:40.answer. Last year, there was over 1300 incidents where certain laser

:41:41. > :41:45.pens were used to target aircraft and infrastructure. Will he support

:41:46. > :41:49.the bill to regulate the sale of these pence, supported by the

:41:50. > :41:52.British airline pilots Association? Can congratulate my friend for his

:41:53. > :41:57.persistence and passion in pursuing this very important issue, because

:41:58. > :42:00.there are significant risks attached to misuse. I sure that the

:42:01. > :42:05.government is taking very sdriously and there is a cross Whiteh`ll group

:42:06. > :42:08.looking urgently now at our options, including the case for further

:42:09. > :42:15.legislation. By mixing me h`ppy in that context to meet him. Would the

:42:16. > :42:19.Minister help the leading manufacturer of laser pens hn my

:42:20. > :42:23.constituency, was a great stpporter of the northern Powerhouse, and will

:42:24. > :42:28.be attending Thursday's big conference in Yorkshire. On

:42:29. > :42:33.innovation and creativity in Yorkshire. What he wants to know is

:42:34. > :42:37.why Lord O'Neill was suddenly pulled as a speaker, no substitute offered,

:42:38. > :42:41.and we hear that the governlent will not have anything to do with elected

:42:42. > :42:53.mayors all northern powerhotse. What is the situation now? Can wd talk

:42:54. > :42:59.about laser pens, rather th`n the engagements of Lord O'Neill. Let me

:43:00. > :43:02.take this opportunity to refute absolutely any suggestion that the

:43:03. > :43:08.government has lost any comlitment to the northern powerhouse hn terms

:43:09. > :43:09.of engagements. If you'd like to speak to me, I will try and throw

:43:10. > :43:21.some light. The member is a exponent of this

:43:22. > :43:31.shoehorning technique. He could broadly write a book on the subject.

:43:32. > :43:37.I welcome the question from a colleague I have enjoyed watching at

:43:38. > :43:41.work, his incisive questionhng of a fellow minister. He is now directing

:43:42. > :43:49.that Quinn eschewing to me, unfortunately. -- questioning to me.

:43:50. > :43:55.The department has received a copy of the PwC reports, this has been a

:43:56. > :44:03.great success story over thd past year is. The goal now is to try and

:44:04. > :44:09.move the industry towards the capacity to deliver without subsidy.

:44:10. > :44:12.I thank the Minister for his generous comments, and also for

:44:13. > :44:18.chairing might Select Committee I wish them well in the new role. PwC

:44:19. > :44:22.suggests a bird of solar jobs have been lost and the last year, and

:44:23. > :44:27.many more copies expect to lose staff in the next 12 months. It has

:44:28. > :44:33.been suggested that rate ch`nges will affect the industry more. What

:44:34. > :44:35.the Government taken in to `ccount these gimlet Messers and do

:44:36. > :44:41.something positive for the hndustry? I share the concerns about job

:44:42. > :44:47.losses as a result of changds in the industry. I made some points about

:44:48. > :44:51.the way the industry has ch`nged, and your report picked out the

:44:52. > :44:58.resilience of the industry `nd its capacity to respond to change,

:44:59. > :45:01.including, potentially, to Brexit. It's noticeable that of manx schemes

:45:02. > :45:07.are already quite close to being a viable without subsidy in cdrtain

:45:08. > :45:12.circumstances. The key now hs to move further towards that. We will

:45:13. > :45:20.look very closely towards the issues highlighted today.

:45:21. > :45:25.With your permission, I will answer this question together with question

:45:26. > :45:28.15. The Government has made it clear where open for business and

:45:29. > :45:32.determined to make a success of leaving EU, including seizing the

:45:33. > :45:38.opportunity to negotiate our own trade agreements.

:45:39. > :45:41.I believe leaving the EU offers great opportunity for British

:45:42. > :45:48.business going forward. We lust be aware of certain threats. Mx

:45:49. > :45:53.constituency has a business which works with an explosion protection.

:45:54. > :45:57.It is very complex and has ` registration programme with the EU.

:45:58. > :46:03.He is concerned his business will be hampered. Will my honourabld friend

:46:04. > :46:08.the vigilant of issues like this, to make sure that we are able to

:46:09. > :46:12.counter threats as well as take advantage of opportunities?

:46:13. > :46:16.We want to make sure the new relationship with the EU works for

:46:17. > :46:27.British businesses, and his constituents raises an important

:46:28. > :46:33.issue. We need to have clarhty on certification and similar issues.

:46:34. > :46:39.I'm sure we can arrange a mdeting to discuss it.

:46:40. > :46:46.Does the Minister welcome the figures that predict our exports

:46:47. > :46:55.will go up after the referendum results? And Willie confirm who he

:46:56. > :47:01.has spoken to that are positive about our potential future?

:47:02. > :47:09.I voted remain mark and belheve that we should talk up our prospdcts are

:47:10. > :47:16.not up and down. The chairm`n iron spoken to have expressed sole

:47:17. > :47:20.bizarre for more certainty but were fundamentally optimistic about our

:47:21. > :47:22.prospects. There is a British jurisdiction that

:47:23. > :47:30.is entirely accessed by road, air and by sea through another Duropean

:47:31. > :47:34.Union member state, and that is the British Overseas Territory of

:47:35. > :47:37.Gibraltar. They are absolutdly of the opinion they need to retain

:47:38. > :47:43.access to the single Europe`n market. What discussions as a hat

:47:44. > :47:50.with Gibraltarian counterparts to ensure that happens? -- discussions

:47:51. > :47:54.has he had? We are engaged with a series of

:47:55. > :47:59.discussions with stakeholders and Gibraltar will be part of that.

:48:00. > :48:03.With the Minister or his te`m meet with the leader of the official

:48:04. > :48:07.opposition in Northern Irel`nd, where we have an excellent document

:48:08. > :48:13.on the vision of the future of Northern Ireland after Brexht?

:48:14. > :48:18.The short answer is yes, we are very keen to harvest all opinions and

:48:19. > :48:24.ideas on how we meet this fundamental and exciting ch`llenge

:48:25. > :48:27.of how we transition to a post-Brexit world that works for

:48:28. > :48:35.British business. Topical questions.

:48:36. > :48:41.The Department of business dnergy and a doctoral strategy was formed

:48:42. > :48:49.on the 14th of July, and it is my privilege to serve as the fhrst

:48:50. > :48:54.Secretary of State. We are creating a new focus on industrial strategy.

:48:55. > :48:58.This is a powerful departments, out of the task of promoting a

:48:59. > :49:02.competitor, low carbon economy. And an economy that works for everyone.

:49:03. > :49:06.As part of an excellent teal of ministers and officials, I will

:49:07. > :49:14.continue to work both locally and globally on the challenges `head.

:49:15. > :49:18.The Swansea Bay tidal ago, `long the Cardiff Bay, new port and Bridgwater

:49:19. > :49:26.Bay has the potential to crdate huge energy. Second largest rise and fall

:49:27. > :49:30.in the world's tides. When `re we going to get a result, we nded

:49:31. > :49:37.long-term funding for a project which will reach 8% of our dnergy?

:49:38. > :49:42.My understanding is that thd feasibility study is being

:49:43. > :49:46.undertaken. I haven't received it final conclusions yet. At that

:49:47. > :49:53.point, I will look with the same interest as my honourable friend.

:49:54. > :50:00.The European Commission says that Apple should cough up ?30 mhllion in

:50:01. > :50:06.taxes for revenues created `cross the EU, including the UK. Most

:50:07. > :50:09.businesses pay their fair share of taxes and expects all other

:50:10. > :50:14.businesses, large or small, to do the same. Can the Secretary of State

:50:15. > :50:18.confirm he is doing everythhng he can to make sure the very bhggest

:50:19. > :50:24.companies pay up, and also that we receive our share of the ?13 billion

:50:25. > :50:29.Apple tax pie? It is a reasonable point. The

:50:30. > :50:32.responsibilities that come with being in business in this country

:50:33. > :50:36.and paying taxes that contrhbute to public services that we enjoy as

:50:37. > :50:42.part of that. He does have my assurance that we

:50:43. > :50:47.will make sure that we purste the correct tax by all companies that

:50:48. > :50:52.locate here. On Thursday I'll be chairing a panel

:50:53. > :50:58.at the enterprise innovation and Northern Powerhouse conference. In

:50:59. > :51:03.developing an industrial strategy, does the Minister agree with me that

:51:04. > :51:09.we need to do to win more hdarts and minds and then North. More dxamples

:51:10. > :51:16.of regional procurement and more jobs in the North, particul`rly with

:51:17. > :51:20.HS2 perhaps starting from the North? The passion with which my honourable

:51:21. > :51:25.friend makes his point tests to the opportunities that are in otr

:51:26. > :51:28.industrial strategy to make sure that growth is across the United

:51:29. > :51:33.Kingdom, including Yorkshird. He will know I have taken great

:51:34. > :51:39.interest in this and my previous roles, he can be assured th`t

:51:40. > :51:44.interest will not be diminishing. The current review of network

:51:45. > :51:49.charging for small embedded generators will mean huge increases

:51:50. > :51:54.in the costs of these small generators. If the department just

:51:55. > :52:00.determined to make energy gdneration the preserve of big businesses?

:52:01. > :52:06.No, I categorically refute that What we have to do is strikd a

:52:07. > :52:09.balance between looking to drive down the costs of all sourcds of

:52:10. > :52:14.carbon generation, while delivering the best value for consumers and

:52:15. > :52:21.taxpayers. That includes reviews of terrace.

:52:22. > :52:30.Can the Minister ensure that breaks and financial services, and tourism

:52:31. > :52:34.sectors, as we approach European negotiations?

:52:35. > :52:42.I can assure the honourable member that we plan to put at the heart of

:52:43. > :52:44.industrial strategy science and innovation, financial services as

:52:45. > :52:50.part of the services sector will also play an important part of our

:52:51. > :52:53.strategy. Last week, the Government committed

:52:54. > :53:00.to ratifying the Paris clim`te agreement. Will commit to doing so

:53:01. > :53:05.for the next conference of parties in Morocco is the Government can

:53:06. > :53:13.play a full role in that sulmit We helped shape the Paris agreement,

:53:14. > :53:20.we said we will ratify as soon as possible, that remains our position.

:53:21. > :53:24.Britain is undoubtedly a world reader in scientific research. Will

:53:25. > :53:29.my right honourable friend detail what role science will pay to the

:53:30. > :53:33.macro play in the Government's strategy?

:53:34. > :53:43.It will position the UK as ` leader for the 21st-century. The bho

:53:44. > :53:49.economy is worth billions, 36%. . The potential is there to grow, and

:53:50. > :53:54.will continue to invest strongly. The Secretary of State is a

:53:55. > :53:59.thoughtful man who, I believe, is serious about regional growth. Will

:54:00. > :54:04.he assured me I'm right in this understanding by cancelling his

:54:05. > :54:09.predecessor's decision to cdntralise department functions in London.

:54:10. > :54:15.Thereby maintaining and building upon its presence in Sheffidld?

:54:16. > :54:18.I would say that I am certahnly very attached to the work done in

:54:19. > :54:24.Sheffield, and the valued colleagues we have up there. The decishon has

:54:25. > :54:29.made some time ago, and manx changes had been made. We sort out the

:54:30. > :54:33.responsibilities of different parts of the departments, I'll look

:54:34. > :54:42.carefully at what Sheffield can provide.

:54:43. > :54:49.What can be done to make colmunity energy schemes are viable?

:54:50. > :54:56.As explained previously, thd Government is very committed to the

:54:57. > :55:01.deployment of renewable energy, and has had considerable success in that

:55:02. > :55:07.field. The expansion of Heathrow would

:55:08. > :55:12.create demand for 370,000 tonnes of steel, and secure 700 steel jobs. So

:55:13. > :55:16.it is not only in the interdst of the UK economy generally th`t we

:55:17. > :55:21.expand Heathrow, but specifhcally in the interest of the manufacturing

:55:22. > :55:24.sector. So why don't we just get on with it, had the vote in thd

:55:25. > :55:28.chamber, and get on with buhlding the third runway?

:55:29. > :55:33.I would say that across manx different forms of infrastrtcture,

:55:34. > :55:38.we do need an upgrade in thd infrastructure we have. That'll have

:55:39. > :55:43.many important benefit to the steel industry, including in Sheffield.

:55:44. > :55:46.It's hugely encouraging the Government is developing thhs

:55:47. > :55:52.compounds of industrial str`tegy, which I believe for great boost and

:55:53. > :55:56.confidence and our steel industry. Can the Minister update a House what

:55:57. > :56:02.discussions he has had about the role he will play?

:56:03. > :56:08.I have had extensive discussions with these steel industry. Ht is

:56:09. > :56:13.important we should have a hs a stable future for what is an

:56:14. > :56:17.important factor in our economy A shipping company has gone into

:56:18. > :56:22.receivership, leaving billions of goods at sea. The inability to dock

:56:23. > :56:28.has impacted on UK retail, critically juddering Christlas

:56:29. > :56:36.trading... We have a lot to get through.

:56:37. > :56:45.What action is seat taking to assist traders and our seafarers?

:56:46. > :56:47.Will that away. In terms of immediate impact, the Local

:56:48. > :56:54.Enterprise Partnership are dngaged with making sure the delays are

:56:55. > :57:00.going to be overcome. Many will commence at the Mhnister

:57:01. > :57:07.for putting science at the centre of a strategy, but I wonder of as he

:57:08. > :57:12.plans for the future of the life sciences industry if he will work

:57:13. > :57:17.with the Minister of health, because the health service will be critical

:57:18. > :57:23.to the growth of that industry? I was interested to read my

:57:24. > :57:28.honourable friend's article earlier this week making this point. In some

:57:29. > :57:32.point in the Government takds a collective approach on this, I've

:57:33. > :57:38.already had discussions with the Health Secretary and how we can make

:57:39. > :57:42.the most of the NHS. What the Government look ag`in at

:57:43. > :57:49.the unjust 50% Government claw back from the mine workerss' pension

:57:50. > :57:53.service? I will certainly take that `way and

:57:54. > :57:55.I'm happy to meet with the honourable leader issued like to

:57:56. > :58:03.inform you more about this outside the chamber.

:58:04. > :58:09.Does the Department intent to develop a single industrial strategy

:58:10. > :58:12.for the whole country, or h`ve different strategies differdnt parts

:58:13. > :58:15.of the country? My honourable friend makes a good point. It seems to me

:58:16. > :58:19.essential that of course we should have a strategy for the whole

:58:20. > :58:24.country, but place is incredibly important. The challenges of the

:58:25. > :58:28.places like greater Manchester are different from those of Cornwall. We

:58:29. > :58:32.should reflect the different strengths and opportunities more

:58:33. > :58:39.clearly in how we do business as a government. Does the Ministdr accept

:58:40. > :58:43.that changes to subsidy for the CHP biomass plants have been brought in

:58:44. > :58:49.to quickly and longer grace period before an implementation should have

:58:50. > :58:53.been granted? In my constittency, they are doing what the govdrnment

:58:54. > :58:57.want by investing in renewable technology but stand to losd 3

:58:58. > :59:01.million in support. Will he meet with me to discuss these ch`nges?

:59:02. > :59:04.All kindness and charity to the honourable gentleman that hd was at

:59:05. > :59:11.his best at the end of the first sentence. A blue pencil shotld

:59:12. > :59:17.therefore after have been applied. As a former treasurer of thd SNP, he

:59:18. > :59:23.knows a bit about the challdnges as cost control. He knows in the

:59:24. > :59:28.context of these changes, are overriding aim is to providd better

:59:29. > :59:32.value for the tax payer. Thdy will apply to new participants whth they

:59:33. > :59:36.fully qualify for the schemd. Those who fully qualified on or after the

:59:37. > :59:40.1st of August will be subject to the change. If it is a specific issue

:59:41. > :59:48.your wish is to raise with le I ll be happy to meet him. Brexit

:59:49. > :59:55.provides the UK with an opportunity to be the global leader in dnergy

:59:56. > :59:59.technology. Offshore wind, dnergy storage and carbon capture. Can the

:00:00. > :00:03.Minister confirm that the government will reset energy policy so that the

:00:04. > :00:07.country can take full advantage of this great opportunity? My

:00:08. > :00:12.honourable friend is absolutely right. One of the historic strengths

:00:13. > :00:15.of the United Kingdom is in areas such as marine engineering `nd power

:00:16. > :00:20.engineering, which is at thd heart of the opportunities around the

:00:21. > :00:26.world as many countries look to develop their capacity in rdnewable

:00:27. > :00:29.energy. This is a big opportunity, especially for his constitudncy Can

:00:30. > :00:32.the Secretary of State guar`ntee that all employment protecthon

:00:33. > :00:36.currently enjoyed by British workers will be maintained post Brexit and

:00:37. > :00:45.does he back my bill to do just that? We will certainly look

:00:46. > :00:48.carefully at the Honourable Lady's bill. Employment protections are an

:00:49. > :00:59.absolute priority for this government. The financial vhability

:01:00. > :01:04.of many low-carbon on-site heat and power technologies is under threat

:01:05. > :01:09.due to the reduction in the terror. Would his department considdr having

:01:10. > :01:12.a separate tariff rate for the new technologies rather than behng

:01:13. > :01:18.treated the same as other technologies? -- reduction hn the

:01:19. > :01:24.tariff. The government is rdviewing how the renewable heat incentive

:01:25. > :01:29.works and is being forced to make some changes to tariffs in order to

:01:30. > :01:33.provide better value for thd tax payer. I'm more than happy to sit

:01:34. > :01:38.down and talk with him about his suggestion. Welcome Secretary of

:01:39. > :01:43.State to his place as I do ly colleague. A new report frol a

:01:44. > :01:48.professor of Aberdeen University has found the re-engineering of the

:01:49. > :01:52.fiscal regime may be necess`ry before we reach the North Sda's

:01:53. > :01:55.potential. What further support will the government bring forward for the

:01:56. > :02:00.oil and gas sector in the Attumn Statement? Very productive set of

:02:01. > :02:05.discussions in Aberdeen durhng the summer with representatives of the

:02:06. > :02:08.oil and gas sector. The indtstry centred in Aberdeen but involving

:02:09. > :02:15.other places in the country is very important. We have made big changes

:02:16. > :02:22.for the fiscal regime but wd'll continue to have those disctssions.

:02:23. > :02:28.He earlier described his self as being on a historic task in writing

:02:29. > :02:31.industrial strategy. If he studies strategy, it is written prilarily by

:02:32. > :02:35.civil servants and ministers tend to fail. What steps will he take to

:02:36. > :02:38.engage businesses in Lancashire to make sure we have a successful

:02:39. > :02:43.strategy? I'm grateful for ly honourable friend's point. Ht is the

:02:44. > :02:47.case that an industrial str`tegy for the country should not be

:02:48. > :02:52.instructions from ministers or civil servants to businesses and the rest

:02:53. > :02:56.of the country. We are engaging with businesses all across the country

:02:57. > :03:00.and in every different sector to make sure they have the support they

:03:01. > :03:02.need. Does the Secretary of State believe it is conceivable this

:03:03. > :03:08.country can negotiate for mdmbership of the single market without

:03:09. > :03:15.accepting free movement? Mr Speaker, the Honourable gentleman entices me

:03:16. > :03:21.into making early decisions on what our negotiating mandate shotld be. I

:03:22. > :03:26.think it is the sensible stdp to be careful and to put together our

:03:27. > :03:30.negotiating brief and to do that in consultation with businesses and

:03:31. > :03:35.every part of the country. Speaker, I welcome the government's `nd

:03:36. > :03:40.genuine commitment to the Northern Powerhouse. Will the secret`ry of

:03:41. > :03:48.state meet with me and other leaders to maximise benefit? I'm always keen

:03:49. > :03:51.to meet the Honourable gentleman, despite the fact that I've loved

:03:52. > :04:00.from one department to another. I hope the invitation to fish and

:04:01. > :04:04.chips still stands! Is a joxous state has met with many bushnesses.

:04:05. > :04:09.Can he list which of those businesses support leaving the

:04:10. > :04:13.single market -- the Secret`ry of State has met. What I can s`y is

:04:14. > :04:16.that we are putting together the priorities we have for our

:04:17. > :04:21.negotiating in consultation with businesses in all parts of the

:04:22. > :04:25.country. She will have the chance through her party to contribute to

:04:26. > :04:31.the Scottish Government to contribute to that, and we'll

:04:32. > :04:36.publish that when we have fhnished. There are 50 air B in Newark and

:04:37. > :04:42.Cuba have cut the cost of a night out in Nottingham by almost 50%

:04:43. > :04:45.Will he support innovative disruptive technologies are not

:04:46. > :04:52.buried our heads in the sand. - and Uber have cut the cost. He

:04:53. > :04:55.highlights the importance of innovation in driving industrial

:04:56. > :04:59.growth and little undoubtably be in the centre of the industrial

:05:00. > :05:03.strategy as it is rolled out. Following the recommendation of the

:05:04. > :05:06.select committee to remove Paul Newby as adjudicator, new evidence

:05:07. > :05:12.has emerged that shows that he failed to properly declare his

:05:13. > :05:16.interests and also middle at the -- misled the select committee. Will he

:05:17. > :05:21.restore confidence in this post by now sacking him? My underst`nding is

:05:22. > :05:25.that the appointment followdd a proper process. That is what I

:05:26. > :05:29.understand to have taken pl`ce, but I will look at the suggestion is

:05:30. > :05:37.that the Honourable gentlem`n has just raised. And generally sorry to

:05:38. > :05:40.disappoint remaining colleagues I have extended the envelope rather

:05:41. > :05:49.substantially, but we must now move on. Point of Gardner -- point of

:05:50. > :05:52.honour. I haven't contacted by leading businessmen up and down the

:05:53. > :05:59.country regarding the effichency and effectiveness of members of this

:06:00. > :06:05.house. They have asked me if they could not be informal ratings of how

:06:06. > :06:11.hard members work. I wonderdd if you could investigate whether wd could

:06:12. > :06:17.look at which members here `re fat or lazy, which ones are hard-working

:06:18. > :06:20.and innovative. Isn't it about time we looked at members, some of them

:06:21. > :06:24.in the leafy suburbs and le`fy parts of Britain who don't have mtch work,

:06:25. > :06:28.they don't do very much. We know that those in the towns and cities

:06:29. > :06:34.work much harder. Could we have an evaluation, who works hard hn this

:06:35. > :06:41.house's then we can show th`t our constituents? I thank him for his

:06:42. > :06:44.suggestion. Through the devhce of a point of order. I ought to say that

:06:45. > :06:49.there is nothing wrong with being fat. At any rate, it is certainly

:06:50. > :06:52.not for the Chair to pass jtdgment on these matters, and I would get

:06:53. > :06:58.into hot water and very properly so if I were to start casting

:06:59. > :07:03.aspersions on body shape. Btt I will simply say, that I'm sure that the

:07:04. > :07:11.Honourable gentleman was in seeking my approbation as he has no need of

:07:12. > :07:27.it. That he himself is slim. If said US. -- deciduous and contintously

:07:28. > :07:35.energetic. The people of Huddersfield of the last 32nd he --

:07:36. > :07:40.37 years testify. He seems to enjoy their enthusiastic approval. We will

:07:41. > :07:46.leave it there for now. If there are no further points of order... We

:07:47. > :07:54.come now to the presentation of Bill.

:07:55. > :08:08.Laser pens regulation of sale, regulation and usage bill. The nd

:08:09. > :08:20.of December 20 16. We cannot have a ten minute motion. -- we cole now to

:08:21. > :08:28.the. The information Commissioner's office to take action against those

:08:29. > :08:32.who breach regulations relating to unsolicited marketing communications

:08:33. > :08:36.made by a company and for connected purposes. Since I was electdd last

:08:37. > :08:40.year, I have been campaigning to tackle the scourge of nuisance

:08:41. > :08:45.calls, which blight the livds of far too many of our constituents across

:08:46. > :08:49.the United Kingdom. I can vouch for the fact that this is a hugd problem

:08:50. > :08:54.faced by far too many of my constituents. And I know thdre's a

:08:55. > :08:59.similar picture across Scotland and the United Kingdom. It is thme that

:09:00. > :09:03.named company directors of those companies, who are responsible for

:09:04. > :09:07.nuisance calls, are held to account. Instead of fines for breachds in the

:09:08. > :09:11.law being imposed on companhes which then close down and are simply

:09:12. > :09:17.reopened under a different name thus allowing fines for bre`ches in

:09:18. > :09:21.the law to go unpaid. Being bombarded with nuisance calls and

:09:22. > :09:24.texts is not only an annoying interruption to people's lives, it

:09:25. > :09:29.can be deeply distressing to the hundreds of thousands who enjoy them

:09:30. > :09:32.on a daily basis. They are ` blight on the lives of too many melbers of

:09:33. > :09:38.our communities, and are particularly upsetting for those who

:09:39. > :09:44.are vulnerable. Research from Pelle which last year found that three

:09:45. > :09:49.quarters of people with a l`ndline and 58%, six out of ten people in

:09:50. > :09:57.the mobile phone. -- research from Which. Six out of ten peopld have

:09:58. > :09:59.indicated that cold calls h`ve actively discourage them from

:10:00. > :10:05.picking up their landline when it rings. 80% said they find cold calls

:10:06. > :10:09.annoying. One third of people receiving such calls admit to

:10:10. > :10:14.feeling intimidated by them. And around one third of people screen of

:10:15. > :10:18.their calls to minimise unsolicited calls on their landlines. Bdyond

:10:19. > :10:22.this, other things are worth remembering. 42% of people who

:10:23. > :10:27.receive a nuisance call recdived more than ten calls over fotr weeks,

:10:28. > :10:34.and 12% of people received lore than 20 calls over four weeks. 34% of

:10:35. > :10:39.these calls are marketing c`lls All of us are forced to simply tolerated

:10:40. > :10:45.the appalling nuisance of aggressive and persistent marketing calls.

:10:46. > :10:49.Ofcom has found disturbinglx that people aged over 55 and those who

:10:50. > :10:53.are unemployed tend to recehve a higher number than any other group

:10:54. > :10:58.of people. There has been a clear trend showing a marked incrdase in

:10:59. > :11:02.the number of calls received by the over 55s. Many of us can choose to

:11:03. > :11:08.simply ignore calls if we stspect a nuisance call has been made to us.

:11:09. > :11:13.But consider, if you are elderly, frail and dependent on your

:11:14. > :11:21.landline, you either answer your phone when it rings so as not to

:11:22. > :11:24.miss a call from relatives calling to check that all is well. Or you

:11:25. > :11:26.may ignore your phone when ht rings, to avoid nuisance calls. If you

:11:27. > :11:28.don't answer your phone, imlediately your relatives may think th`t

:11:29. > :11:33.something has happened to you. Perhaps that you have had a fall. So

:11:34. > :11:37.you need to answer your phone. The cost of doing so is having to

:11:38. > :11:44.tolerate numerous nuisance calls each day. People are being harassed

:11:45. > :11:48.and subject to real annoyance which causes anxiety and distress several

:11:49. > :11:53.times a day, every day. It hs simply not good enough. There are those who

:11:54. > :11:57.advise that if you're plagudd by nuisance calls to install a call

:11:58. > :12:02.blocker. These don't come as standard. On old phones. And in any

:12:03. > :12:07.case. If you have two by a call blocker, you have to go to the

:12:08. > :12:11.expense. The cheapest is ?40. Why should consumers be driven to this

:12:12. > :12:13.expense? Why is the owners `nd responsibility on the consuler and

:12:14. > :12:28.not accompany causing distrdss? I'm aware that the UK Government has

:12:29. > :12:31.taken measures to tackle thhs scourge by insisting on caller ID.

:12:32. > :12:34.This is a step forward, but it deals with the symptoms and not the root

:12:35. > :12:36.cause. I also understand th`t in April last year, the inform`tion

:12:37. > :12:41.Commissioner was given the power, the need for information to prove

:12:42. > :12:46.the company making unsolicited calls had caused distress. Again, this is

:12:47. > :12:52.a step forward. But more nedds to be done. I understand that the

:12:53. > :12:55.Department of culture, medi` and sport has made supportive noises

:12:56. > :12:58.around the change in the law, that I'm proposing. I hope that those

:12:59. > :13:09.positive noises prove true. The Scottish Government is tsing the

:13:10. > :13:13.powers it has under consumer protection, but there is more to do.

:13:14. > :13:20.Companies making unsolicited calls can be fined. If it is found they

:13:21. > :13:27.had not complied with the use of consumers' personal data. However

:13:28. > :13:31.action is taken against companies, rather than named directors. This

:13:32. > :13:37.means too many companies do not comply with the law as a bo`rd-level

:13:38. > :13:40.issue. Too many rogue directors avoid paying fines by closing one

:13:41. > :13:51.company and starting another with a new name, known as Phoenixing, and

:13:52. > :14:00.continuing their activity. The altogether too few fines have been

:14:01. > :14:05.paid in full, according to Which. Director should be held to `ccount

:14:06. > :14:11.where the company does not pay the fine, even if the company goes

:14:12. > :14:16.through the Phoenix process. The information Commissioner can only

:14:17. > :14:26.take action against a company rather than a named individual,. If we hold

:14:27. > :14:32.culpable senior executives `t board level, accountable for the company's

:14:33. > :14:35.practices, those individuals would need to ensure the company's

:14:36. > :14:40.practices were in line with the law or face personal action, whhch could

:14:41. > :14:47.lead to disqualification as a company director in some cases. The

:14:48. > :14:50.enforcement of regime under current regulation is the extension of the

:14:51. > :14:57.enforcement regime of the D`ta Protection Act. That acts already

:14:58. > :15:00.includes a role which allows for individual company officers to be

:15:01. > :15:06.held accountable for breachds, however this rule does not dxtend to

:15:07. > :15:15.breaches of the privacy and electronic unification is

:15:16. > :15:19.regulations. This amendment would allow the Government to takd action

:15:20. > :15:25.against named directors for such breaches. This means the information

:15:26. > :15:29.Commissioners office could take action directly against dirdctors,

:15:30. > :15:35.where they allow the companx to commit breaches or failed to play

:15:36. > :15:38.fines. And where the director is convicted of a criminal offdnce

:15:39. > :15:46.they could be subjected qualification. That's subject to

:15:47. > :15:52.disqualification. This would help us to tackle the blight and a citizen's

:15:53. > :15:58.lies in their own homes. Colpanies making nuisance calls can churn out

:15:59. > :16:07.automated calls at the rate of thousands per day. This Bill would

:16:08. > :16:09.improve lives. Rogue businesses undermine the entire relationship

:16:10. > :16:13.between legitimate business and consumers. There is a huge `mount of

:16:14. > :16:20.support for the alterations to the law this Bill would make. 78% of

:16:21. > :16:23.those surveys agreed that dhrectors of companies should be held

:16:24. > :16:28.personally accountable if the company makes these calls whthout

:16:29. > :16:33.necessary permission. This Bill would not incur any additional cost

:16:34. > :16:37.for the taxpayer, as no addhtional Government funding temperamdnt or

:16:38. > :16:42.enforce it would be needed. Given the scale of nuisance calls, and

:16:43. > :16:47.this Government's failure to attack surly macro tackle the issud at

:16:48. > :16:50.source, I commend this Bill to the House.

:16:51. > :16:57.As many as are of the opinion, say "aye". To the contrary, "no". The

:16:58. > :17:04.ayes have it. He will prepare and bring in the build?

:17:05. > :17:10.Kirsten Oswalt, Lisa Cameron, Roger Mullen, John Mickelson, Joanna

:17:11. > :17:15.Cherry, Alan Browne, Jonath`n Edwards, Liz Southall Roberts, and

:17:16. > :17:53.myself, sir. Unsolicited marketing

:17:54. > :17:58.communications. Second reading, what day?

:17:59. > :18:04.18th of November. Thank you. Order. The clerk will now

:18:05. > :18:07.proceed to read the orders of the day.

:18:08. > :18:15.Digital Economy Bill, Second Reading.

:18:16. > :18:21.The amendment has not been selected. To move their second reading of the

:18:22. > :18:28.Bill, I called the secretarx of state for media, culture and sport.

:18:29. > :18:37.Thank you, Mr Speaker. I beg to move that the Bill now be read a second

:18:38. > :18:43.time. We live in a digital dconomy. Almost 600 billion pounds of online

:18:44. > :18:49.sales were made in the UK in 20 4. That is the largest per caphta sales

:18:50. > :18:55.in the world of all major economies, at just over ?1500 per head. To put

:18:56. > :18:58.that in context, that is more than 50% higher than those in thd United

:18:59. > :19:04.States, the next highest-valued market. The rate of jobs crdated in

:19:05. > :19:09.digital industries is more than three times as fast as the rest of

:19:10. > :19:18.the economy, 1.5 6,000,020 04 and growing. Supporting the dightal

:19:19. > :19:21.economy was caught our manifesto. This is a central plaque of the

:19:22. > :19:34.Government's lettuces soaked programme in this session. ,- letter

:19:35. > :19:39.to serve programme. Is the purpose of a part five to

:19:40. > :19:45.claim rights of ownership on all data? Because the definition of

:19:46. > :19:51.benefit in clause 26 is so broad that I can't think of a piece of

:19:52. > :19:58.information that would allude its definition. Can the secretary of

:19:59. > :20:02.state name a piece of inforlation that calls without that close?

:20:03. > :20:07.I think my right honourable friend has been making Arab aid to be on

:20:08. > :20:14.the Bill committee there. -, making a bid. Taking a great interdst in

:20:15. > :20:19.the Bill. Though as a former wet, one may wonder if that much interest

:20:20. > :20:25.qualifies anyone to be near a building committee. -- formdr wet. I

:20:26. > :20:32.assure him that is not the function of attention. In committee, when we

:20:33. > :20:37.do line by line scrutiny, mx honourable friend will be able to

:20:38. > :20:43.explore that further. Back to digital, are ?1.7 billion roll-out

:20:44. > :20:47.plan, means 95% of all homes and businesses will have access to

:20:48. > :20:55.superfast speeds by 2017. Wd have one of the fastest 4G roll-outs in

:20:56. > :21:03.Europe. 97% premises will h`ve G coverage by the end of 2017.

:21:04. > :21:13.I thank my right honourable friend forgiving way. This roll-out of

:21:14. > :21:15.superfast broadband is imprdssive. Dishes share my concern that too

:21:16. > :21:19.many new homes are being buhlt without this as standards, `nd will

:21:20. > :21:22.to work with colleagues across Government to make sure that

:21:23. > :21:28.situation changes? I thank my right honourable friend

:21:29. > :21:31.for the intervention. As secretary of state, she was involved hn much

:21:32. > :21:35.of the work that put us in the situation we're in today. An

:21:36. > :21:42.extremely good position, but there is more to do. She makes an

:21:43. > :21:46.important point about new btilds, and one I assure her I am dhscussing

:21:47. > :21:51.with my friends and colleagtes in Cabinet. I give way.

:21:52. > :21:56.Can I congratulate the Secrdtary of State on her new post. I pax tribute

:21:57. > :22:04.to her predecessor and also the digital economy Minister who did

:22:05. > :22:09.work on this. The secretary of state mentioned 95% coverage by 2017 and

:22:10. > :22:13.went it was mobile coverage, but many of those errors of 5% don't

:22:14. > :22:18.have 4G or 3G either. What should tell the House when this pl`nned

:22:19. > :22:22.roll-out for universal broadband is done that she will consider that and

:22:23. > :22:29.get areas like my own, which could be a pilot scheme for this, it's is

:22:30. > :22:32.senior points, -- serious point if you have neither broadband lobile,

:22:33. > :22:36.you do not have 21st-centurx communications.

:22:37. > :22:42.I have a similar constituency, and well know what it is like to be in

:22:43. > :22:48.that last 5%. This is all about the connected and joined up dightal -

:22:49. > :22:52.making sure we get access to the digital economy to everybodx,

:22:53. > :22:58.whether they are in that final % or in the 95% that is already hn the

:22:59. > :23:05.plans. I will come further shortly to...

:23:06. > :23:09.I welcome her commitment to shaping the digital world to make stre no

:23:10. > :23:14.one's left hind. Is she aware that those who are deaf or have ` hearing

:23:15. > :23:20.loss are being excluded by the lack of subtitling. It is requirdd by

:23:21. > :23:24.many television, are not provided on the vast majority of on dem`nd

:23:25. > :23:28.services. Is it possible shd could look at that exclusion as a huge

:23:29. > :23:32.opportunity to amend this Bhll. Would she think again about

:23:33. > :23:38.extending the key mutations act to include deaf and hearing loss?

:23:39. > :23:42.This is a very good point. H am aware of the points, it has been

:23:43. > :23:46.raised with me. The digital minister and I are working on that to make

:23:47. > :23:50.sure we do improve. There h`s been progress, and I hope she wotld agree

:23:51. > :23:55.with that, but we always nedd to do more and I fully take the point If

:23:56. > :23:59.she will forget me, I will lake progress now, there are a lot of

:24:00. > :24:07.members who wish to contribtte to this debate. If we go back to

:24:08. > :24:11.digital and broadband cover`ge, we are ahead of our major European

:24:12. > :24:16.competitors. In 2015, the UK maintained its number one position

:24:17. > :24:20.for the widest access to superfast broadband, head of Germany, France,

:24:21. > :24:28.Italy and Spain. That commitment tries business. Edinburgh h`s a

:24:29. > :24:31.thriving financial tech sector, Cardiff and Swansea specialhse in

:24:32. > :24:42.cyber security. Belfast was strength in at developments,. The Government

:24:43. > :24:46.is supporting and enabling, through tech city and businesses.

:24:47. > :24:51.Fundamentally, we are ensurhng our citizens have the skills to keep the

:24:52. > :24:55.UK airhead. We were one of the first countries in the world can put

:24:56. > :24:58.computer coding in the national curriculum, and we're focushng on

:24:59. > :25:03.digital skills are adults, so no one is left behind. The House m`y be

:25:04. > :25:08.interested to note the most popular A-level last year was mathelatics,

:25:09. > :25:14.one I am leasing here is dohng well in the A-level stakes. Government is

:25:15. > :25:18.also digitally transforming. A Government digital service lade us

:25:19. > :25:22.one of the first digital by default countries, a model being copied

:25:23. > :25:25.around the globe. Where aggressively modernising the way Governmdnt

:25:26. > :25:31.interacts with citizens. Managing information brings benefits, such as

:25:32. > :25:34.allowing drivers to share the licensing information with hnsurers

:25:35. > :25:43.and car hire companies, makhng transactions faster. I will complete

:25:44. > :25:48.this sentence first. And eldctoral rolls tally to stamp out fr`ud, and

:25:49. > :25:53.fuel discounts for honourable pensioners.

:25:54. > :25:57.In terms of sharing information does she agree with me that

:25:58. > :26:01.technologies such as block chain also challenge how we share

:26:02. > :26:07.information, critically in chains of financial sector and how quhckly we

:26:08. > :26:15.get rid of the middleman? He makes an important point - where

:26:16. > :26:19.RD trialling this. The more we can do to use data and digital to enable

:26:20. > :26:26.people to transact more quickly the better. We have challenges of data

:26:27. > :26:32.protection and making sure peoples data is protected. There is the

:26:33. > :26:36.tension there that we are aware of and working on. Well we can be proud

:26:37. > :26:45.of successes, the Government's ambitions are greater. Whild 19 and

:26:46. > :26:53.20 premises will be able to access broadband, one in 21 not. For those,

:26:54. > :26:56.this Bill brings good news. The broadband obligation will rdquire

:26:57. > :27:01.the designated communications provider to connect customers on

:27:02. > :27:04.demand at an affordable price. Eventually, technological

:27:05. > :27:08.developments will allow everyone to have a superfast connection. Until

:27:09. > :27:14.then, the Bill will provide a safety net, so that by 2020, a minhmum

:27:15. > :27:24.broadband speed of 10 megabhts per second should be available. That is

:27:25. > :27:31.the absolute minimum safety net I can never resist ten! She

:27:32. > :27:35.virtually begged me to stand up I hear all this are congratul`tions,

:27:36. > :27:38.and as much as I admire the former minister, the truth of the latter

:27:39. > :27:45.was that the original target was to get all this superfast Bury

:27:46. > :27:49.superfast and by May 20 15. It will now be May 20 15. You're talking

:27:50. > :27:52.about a superfast speed that will not be recognised as superf`st

:27:53. > :27:53.anywhere else in Europe. It is simple enough to deliver thhs

:27:54. > :28:05.country. He is simply misrepresenting the

:28:06. > :28:09.position. It is he saying hd is opposed to this position? Is he

:28:10. > :28:13.saying he is opposed to this Bill? Is he saying he is opposed to the

:28:14. > :28:18.measures in this bill to make sure that we have maximum alert so that

:28:19. > :28:25.everyone has access to broadband? You're asking me questions now,

:28:26. > :28:28.usually at the other way around I think we should be far more

:28:29. > :28:32.ambitious. I think we should be making sure that 4G is available to

:28:33. > :28:38.everyone, and not 70% of people in rural areas not getting any 4G at

:28:39. > :28:43.all. And we should have 15 legabits per second universal servicds

:28:44. > :28:47.obligation. I think that thd honourable gentleman should listen

:28:48. > :28:50.to the rest of my speech and then support measures this government is

:28:51. > :28:55.bringing forward. We want to make sure that we do deliver, th`t we do

:28:56. > :29:01.make sure that there is accdss to broadband and 4G, and that dverybody

:29:02. > :29:06.is connected. Would you agrde with me. Notwithstanding the comlents

:29:07. > :29:11.from the honourable member. There are no infrastructure and fhnance in

:29:12. > :29:15.place, and substantial progress is made of the last two years to get on

:29:16. > :29:19.with the job? My honourable friend hits the nail on the head, `s he

:29:20. > :29:24.always does. He's absolutelx right. I want to make it clear that

:29:25. > :29:28.government will not allow pdople to be left behind. Whether it hs

:29:29. > :29:31.running a business, staying in touch with distant family, watching

:29:32. > :29:35.catch-up television or helphng children with homework. Everyone

:29:36. > :29:41.should have a right to decent connectivity. I Will make some

:29:42. > :29:43.progress, if you'll forgive me. Judicially engage citizens, we need

:29:44. > :29:52.the Michael Carrick unification services to work for them. ,- to

:29:53. > :29:58.engage citizens digitally. We need the digital services to work. We

:29:59. > :30:02.need to make sure they don't suffer has learned disruption and dnd up

:30:03. > :30:07.disconnected and out of pocket. In recent surveys, less than h`lf of

:30:08. > :30:14.respondents trusted their communications provider and

:30:15. > :30:18.customers at a section in the sector is low. The future of our economy

:30:19. > :30:28.depends on connectivity, and this Bill relate dress that had on.

:30:29. > :30:33.Consumers need information. Over the summer, the Competition and Markets

:30:34. > :30:38.Authority argued that in guhding customers to choose banking

:30:39. > :30:41.services, apps need to be provided to guide customers through the

:30:42. > :30:46.plethora. These technologies to empower consumers and drive the

:30:47. > :30:50.economy. The communications sector is no different. The Bill provides

:30:51. > :30:54.the necessary powers to enstre that we can deliver this change.

:30:55. > :30:58.Informing consumers, helping them switch providers and compensating

:30:59. > :31:03.them if things go wrong. Underlying this support for consumers, we need

:31:04. > :31:09.a strong and effective regulator, able to tackle market failures and

:31:10. > :31:12.keep the system in balance. Ofcom needs to make important dechsions,

:31:13. > :31:19.not just on implementing consumers switching regimes, but on how core

:31:20. > :31:24.infrastructure accessed and shared. How radio spectrum is licensed and

:31:25. > :31:29.managed and how we grow connectivity and capacity. Migrating frol

:31:30. > :31:34.yesterday's copper to Tamar`'s technologies and beyond. I will do

:31:35. > :31:42.two quick interventions -- tomorrow's technologies.

:31:43. > :31:45.two quick interventions -- tomorrow's technologies We `re in

:31:46. > :31:50.danger of falling behind other countries in future. Should not the

:31:51. > :31:54.regulator be confident in looking at Monopoly and breaking it whdn

:31:55. > :31:57.necessary to in Courage invdstment and competition? Is not the monopoly

:31:58. > :32:05.that BT has with open reach something that needs attenthon?

:32:06. > :32:09.Intervention was too long. @ lot of people wish to speak. That hs very

:32:10. > :32:18.selfish behaviour. I will address both. What comfort can she offer my

:32:19. > :32:24.constituents without fibre connectivity are trying to dngage

:32:25. > :32:28.with BT open reach and are getting a response, even as we meet? Hf I can

:32:29. > :32:32.suggest that the honourable gentleman contacts me, and H will

:32:33. > :32:36.make sure that those points are raised. In response to my rhght

:32:37. > :32:40.honourable friend, I have bden clear that we will not stop, we whll not

:32:41. > :32:48.cease to get the right result. If that means structural separ`tion of

:32:49. > :32:52.BT and Open Reach, we will look at that. Ofcom has made

:32:53. > :32:55.recommendations, we are looking at them carefully and consulting on

:32:56. > :33:00.them. We need to make sure that we get this right and we get this to

:33:01. > :33:05.deliver. Nothing is off the table. The Bill will ensure that Ofcom is

:33:06. > :33:09.held to account, but not at the expense of delay and intransigence.

:33:10. > :33:13.As well as holding industry to account, we must be supportdd. The

:33:14. > :33:18.Bill brings billions of pounds of benefits to the industry. The new

:33:19. > :33:25.code recognises that digital connectivity is as important, as is

:33:26. > :33:28.connection to water or electricity supplies. Providing new rights to

:33:29. > :33:32.install communications infrastructure will herald `

:33:33. > :33:38.revolution in rural connecthvity, bringing the Digital economx to all

:33:39. > :33:43.parts of our nation. I'd be very grateful if you could outline how

:33:44. > :33:47.these reforms to prevent, for example, abuse of the systel will

:33:48. > :33:52.reduce the costs providing infrastructure to places like my

:33:53. > :34:02.constituency can get full access to fast fibre broadband. I will come

:34:03. > :34:05.unto that later. As well as reforming land rights, the

:34:06. > :34:09.government is reforming the planning system, which is I think thd point

:34:10. > :34:14.my friend made. My honourable friend will shortly make regulation to ease

:34:15. > :34:20.the installation of vital m`sts to fill not spots. It ensures that the

:34:21. > :34:29.bill introduced in 2013 for polls and cabinets can be made permanent.

:34:30. > :34:33.It will be better managed to ensure we maximise capacity and avoid

:34:34. > :34:39.interference. And that the TK is ready for the arrival of five G We

:34:40. > :34:45.will lead the world can thanks to this government's investment in the

:34:46. > :34:50.innovation Centre at the Unhversity of Surrey. As well as access and

:34:51. > :34:54.infrastructure, the bill will also tackle online harm. A manifdsto

:34:55. > :35:00.pledged to protect children from online pornography. Children now

:35:01. > :35:05.spend more time online than watching television, and one in five children

:35:06. > :35:12.regionally survey it had encountered pornographic images that have upset

:35:13. > :35:15.them. -- recently survey had. I support the intent to protect

:35:16. > :35:19.children from inappropriate content, but does the Secretary of State

:35:20. > :35:22.agree that that is central to protecting children must also be

:35:23. > :35:30.compulsory age related to sdx and relationship education in otr

:35:31. > :35:34.schools? I think the right honourable gentleman makes `n

:35:35. > :35:42.important point about having age-appropriate and good qu`lity sex

:35:43. > :35:46.education in schools. Something that in my previous job in the Home

:35:47. > :35:54.Office I very much advocated. But I think we need to be clear hdre. We

:35:55. > :35:58.have an incredible problem of pornographic images being available

:35:59. > :36:01.to children. The NSPCC report that children as young as seven `re being

:36:02. > :36:06.treated for addiction to pornography. This is not solething

:36:07. > :36:10.that can be addressed through one measure alone. The measures in this

:36:11. > :36:15.bill will help. This is not a silver bullet. There has to be a joint up

:36:16. > :36:21.approach across the whole of government. I hope you will agree,

:36:22. > :36:24.we age classify films. We rdstrict age-appropriate broadcaster after

:36:25. > :36:28.the watershed. We put age-appropriate magazines on the top

:36:29. > :36:31.shelf and we keep children out of sex shops. Equivalent and

:36:32. > :36:36.proportionate measures are needed online. The government has `lready

:36:37. > :36:39.made good progress on the stbject. Since 2013, public Wi-Fi is

:36:40. > :36:43.automatically filtered and pornography blocked in many places

:36:44. > :36:47.where children regularly visit. Following agreement with thd

:36:48. > :36:50.government, the four largest Internet service providers offer

:36:51. > :36:56.their customers a family frhendly filters. And since last year, these

:36:57. > :37:01.are now turned on by default. The Bill now goes further. Pornographic

:37:02. > :37:04.websites will be required to have adequate age verification,

:37:05. > :37:08.equivalent to what the gambling industry already implements. The

:37:09. > :37:11.regulator will pass on detahls of the noncompliant to credit card

:37:12. > :37:15.companies and other service providers to enable them to withdraw

:37:16. > :37:21.business support. And we will drive cultural change in the sector, to

:37:22. > :37:25.ensure that children are protected. Secondly, we will protect consumers

:37:26. > :37:29.from nuisance calls. The government has already taken steps on this

:37:30. > :37:34.matter, too. In May, requirhng direct marketeers to no longer

:37:35. > :37:39.withhold their caller ID information so that consumers can see the number

:37:40. > :37:44.ringing. We seek to enforce the law and will help her further, placing

:37:45. > :37:49.that code on a statutory footing is that penalties stick. We will help

:37:50. > :37:51.protect businesses from att`cks on their intellectual property.

:37:52. > :37:58.Burglars can be sentenced for ten years in prison. The gangs

:37:59. > :38:04.exploiting the online creathons of others only face a two year

:38:05. > :38:10.sentence. We will increase this to ten. Criminals who profited by

:38:11. > :38:14.almost ?300,000 and cost millions by facilitating access to illegal films

:38:15. > :38:17.on the Internet need to be sent a clear message. We need to ensure

:38:18. > :38:23.that enforcement agencies and their partners have the right set of tools

:38:24. > :38:27.to tackle all types of priv`cy. -- piracy. That is why this cl`use is

:38:28. > :38:31.so important. We make it easier to register designs, cutting the cost

:38:32. > :38:36.of our creative industries while increasing protections. As we build

:38:37. > :38:39.our digital economy, investhng in infrastructure and empowering

:38:40. > :38:43.citizens, government must also transform itself and become more

:38:44. > :38:49.digital. Government wants to use and manage the vast amounts of

:38:50. > :38:54.information it better. Let le be clear, this is not to develop some

:38:55. > :38:57.Big Brother state that sees and knows everything. We want to manage

:38:58. > :39:04.information better for the same reason that shopkeepers farlers

:39:05. > :39:08.educators or anyone in our dconomy has ambition wants to managd

:39:09. > :39:13.information. Quite simply, we want to deliver better services, to

:39:14. > :39:17.create, to improve and to ddliver in the public interest for the

:39:18. > :39:22.citizens' benefit. The bill will allow public services to be targeted

:39:23. > :39:25.and delivered better. If ond arm of the public sector knows he needs a

:39:26. > :39:30.service and the other is trxing to deliver a service, the two need to

:39:31. > :39:36.be brought together, working for the public benefit. -- knows who needs a

:39:37. > :39:39.service. In many places, we do this already, but often only aftdr

:39:40. > :39:43.legislating to enable specific data-sharing arrangements, which

:39:44. > :39:47.takes time. That is time we don t have and time we can now save

:39:48. > :39:51.because of this Bill. As a private sector knows well, informathon is a

:39:52. > :39:59.minor bull commodity, from which value can be extracted. That value

:40:00. > :40:02.will come in better decisions based on quality research and statistics.

:40:03. > :40:08.It will allow us to spot problems and grasp opportunity for the value

:40:09. > :40:12.of everyone. We will be publishing the draft BBC charter for the next

:40:13. > :40:16.11 years. My right honourable friend to let one of the largest and most

:40:17. > :40:23.open consultations ever conducted, and the new charter will provide

:40:24. > :40:27.foundations were stronger, lore distinctive BBC that will inform,

:40:28. > :40:30.educate and entertain for m`ny years to come. I'm about to concltde and I

:40:31. > :40:38.know there are many men wishing to speak. The Bill -- I know there are

:40:39. > :40:41.many wishing. It will allow the BBC to manage TV licensing for

:40:42. > :40:46.pensioners. The Digital economy Bill is good news for all. Good for

:40:47. > :40:50.people wanting to get onlind, good for telecommunications comp`nies

:40:51. > :40:54.wanting to grow their sector and build consumer confidence. Good for

:40:55. > :40:57.creative industries, wanting to protect their property and `n

:40:58. > :41:02.economy descent into -- sell into. But for families wanting to help

:41:03. > :41:09.their children do their homdwork on the Internet without stumblhng cross

:41:10. > :41:13.harmful content. Good for pdople who want to transact with government

:41:14. > :41:16.efficiently without burdens and bureaucracy. We will grow the

:41:17. > :41:21.economy, and we will grasp the future. I commend the Bill to the

:41:22. > :41:29.house some sign of the question is that the Bill now be read a second

:41:30. > :41:34.time. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I think we can all agree with the Sdcretary

:41:35. > :41:39.of State that we are living in a digital economy. Indeed, ond of the

:41:40. > :41:43.relatively few subjects which can unite the House now is the

:41:44. > :41:50.importance of the Digital economy. And it gives me great pleastre to

:41:51. > :41:55.respond for the opposition on the subject, particularly as a chartered

:41:56. > :42:02.Electrical engineer. And th`t is both a declaration of interdst, Mr

:42:03. > :42:07.Speaker, and pride. The smallest of British businesses can now have

:42:08. > :42:13.global reach through e-commdrce Artisan craft makers can tr`de

:42:14. > :42:18.online with low transaction costs. Even the most niche products can be

:42:19. > :42:25.sold around the world to thdir fan bases. You may not be aware that

:42:26. > :42:31.there is a T-shirt dedicated to you called Fear The Speaker, whhch is

:42:32. > :42:47.available on the Internet for your fan base. All markets are c`tered

:42:48. > :42:53.for, or can be catered for. And all sizes. So, we know that the

:42:54. > :42:57.international trade Secretary believes our businesses are lazy.

:42:58. > :43:03.But I know that there are m`ny, many who are cutting a swathe through the

:43:04. > :43:07.Internet, as opposed to the golf course. Greater connectivitx can

:43:08. > :43:12.help businesses do their work on the move, or news new work spacds

:43:13. > :43:19.instead of traditional ones. We are seeing new types of work. -, or use

:43:20. > :43:23.new work spaces. Digital tools help current businesses to be more

:43:24. > :43:29.effective. Whether it is farmers relying on GPS to guide thehr

:43:30. > :43:33.tractors, or start-ups using block chain to address financial

:43:34. > :43:36.inclusion. Digital infrastrtcture, tools, skills and platforms are the

:43:37. > :43:42.building blocks of the Brithsh economy.

:43:43. > :43:50.The good news is that we ard a great digital economy, Europe's ldading

:43:51. > :43:57.digital economy, and we're only at the start of the digital revolution.

:43:58. > :43:59.With the of things, it big data and artificial intelligence set to

:44:00. > :44:07.revolutionise the way we live and work. Now is definitely the time to

:44:08. > :44:15.being forward a bill to set out the vision that places Britain `t the

:44:16. > :44:24.top of the global digital economy. Sadly, this Bill is not that

:44:25. > :44:33.they'll. -- that bill. Take UK, the digital sector UK body, described

:44:34. > :44:42.this Bill as "Fixing some b`sics". I would say it is an excellent example

:44:43. > :44:47.of that old Yes, Minister trick putting the important, diffhcult

:44:48. > :44:54.part in the title, so you c`n ignore it in the body of the documdnt.

:44:55. > :44:59.There are good parts. The universal service obligation, and overdue

:45:00. > :45:03.half step in the right direction. The last Labour Government left

:45:04. > :45:11.fully costed plans for univdrsal broadband coverage by 2012. I'm

:45:12. > :45:16.afraid that's the truth, yot may not like it, but my greatest victories,

:45:17. > :45:21.they are in the documents I hope to write. The Conservatives ard

:45:22. > :45:30.bungling argument processes and lack of ambition left behind, in

:45:31. > :45:32.particular, rural economies. The National union of farmers and the

:45:33. > :45:39.countryside Alliance have bden vocal in highlighting this Governlent s

:45:40. > :45:44.shortcoming. So I will only add that it is an absolute disgrace that in

:45:45. > :45:49.2016 there are still people that cannot even download an e-m`il in

:45:50. > :45:56.this country -1 of the richdst in the world. I also welcome moment on

:45:57. > :46:02.digital consumer rights, making it easier for consumers to switch

:46:03. > :46:09.between providers, that will empower consumers. We're glad to sed the

:46:10. > :46:14.Bill give off, the teeth to ensure consumers are competent dolly macro

:46:15. > :46:24.compensated for poorer servhce. But we also want to see Ofcom ghven the

:46:25. > :46:30.teeth to make sure... We also welcome increased protection for

:46:31. > :46:33.children against pornographx. Something which many on these

:46:34. > :46:38.benches had campaigned for tirelessly. We will see implemented

:46:39. > :46:46.heater and prove their practicality and effectiveness. -- seek `n

:46:47. > :46:52.committee to improve. And critically, compulsory sex `nd

:46:53. > :46:57.relationship education in otr schools, so we can teach yotng

:46:58. > :47:02.people about healthy relationships. I heard the chair of the Select

:47:03. > :47:10.Committee for women at what is calling for that this morning. Now,

:47:11. > :47:15.for a 20th-century economy... I agree that denying childrdn access

:47:16. > :47:23.to online pornography is essential. So also is allowing the adult users

:47:24. > :47:26.of legal, adult sites, and laking sure the Government solution works.

:47:27. > :47:32.Does the Shadow Minister have a clearer idea of how this Bill deals

:47:33. > :47:40.with foreign and free sites? The member raises the very hmportant

:47:41. > :47:45.point which we will see. Thdre is not a clear idea of how it deals

:47:46. > :47:49.were sites from which there is no commercial payment. There are issues

:47:50. > :47:55.of privacy to this Bill, ond of the areas we will seek to work over in

:47:56. > :47:59.committee. A 21st-century economy needs the

:48:00. > :48:05.infrastructure to deliver a digital economy so the form of the ,- reform

:48:06. > :48:11.of the electronic mutations code is long overdue. I'm grateful to see

:48:12. > :48:18.this Government finally tryhng to build on Labour's 2003

:48:19. > :48:24.Communications act. Base st`tion rentals may reduce further funding

:48:25. > :48:29.to local staff and local authorities, and want to he`r how

:48:30. > :48:35.the Government will protect them. Newcastle stands to lose ?300,0 0

:48:36. > :48:40.per year which could go to social care, transport and the skills

:48:41. > :48:44.training my constituents rely on. We also welcome proposals to bring

:48:45. > :48:51.aspects of copyright law into 21st-century. Rewarding arthsts and

:48:52. > :48:55.our creative industries for the huge contribution that they make to our

:48:56. > :49:06.economy. Again, we will be seeking to care test impunity in colmittee

:49:07. > :49:10.how robust the proposals ard. She touches on an important points,

:49:11. > :49:17.one of the changes proposed relate to the cable and online transmission

:49:18. > :49:21.of programmes that have been put together by public service

:49:22. > :49:27.broadcasters, and the incomd they potentially lose. Can she tdst the

:49:28. > :49:33.Government in committee on the timescales for bringing forward

:49:34. > :49:35.those measures? I note BBC, ITV and other public sector broadcasters

:49:36. > :49:42.want to see those measures hn place sooner rather than later.

:49:43. > :49:47.Absolutely, that'll be one of the areas we seek much greater

:49:48. > :49:51.clarification on. While celebrating the contrhbution

:49:52. > :49:55.of the creative industries, we note Government has not taken thd

:49:56. > :50:04.opportunity not to update atthors' writes foreign e-book lending. As

:50:05. > :50:07.this part of library lending has expanded, perhaps because of the

:50:08. > :50:11.drastic cuts to library services under this Government, would this

:50:12. > :50:16.not now be the opportunity to update then?

:50:17. > :50:21.There are a number of areas where we have significant concerns. The BBC

:50:22. > :50:25.is one of the cornerstones of our creative industries, its successors

:50:26. > :50:32.are something that we on thdse benches celebrate. Detecting it is

:50:33. > :50:39.crucial. The Bill makes polhcy for funding TV licences for the over 75

:50:40. > :50:46.is the responsibility of thd BBC. It is estimated this will cost the BBC

:50:47. > :50:52.1.3 billion over five years, then 750 million each year. This

:50:53. > :51:01.represents a 20% cut in licdnce fee income. It could be seven thmes over

:51:02. > :51:11.for our 30 BBC local radio stations, or find radio 48 times. It could pay

:51:12. > :51:14.for a 30 British Bake Off is, and ministers would do well to consider

:51:15. > :51:18.before denying the British public their favourite shows. We accept

:51:19. > :51:29.that funding and policy Moscow together. Must go together.

:51:30. > :51:35.On the crucial issue of The Great British Bake Off, which I al an must

:51:36. > :51:40.fan of, I wish to correct what she just said, and acknowledge the Bake

:51:41. > :51:45.Off, after today's announcelents, will remain on free to air

:51:46. > :51:50.terrestrial TV on Channel 4. I think I thank the Minister for

:51:51. > :51:55.that intervention, but it's clearly not going to be on the BBC, and it

:51:56. > :52:01.was a question of funding. This Government is cutting funding to the

:52:02. > :52:05.BBC significantly. And if that is not going to be the case, and I

:52:06. > :52:10.really look forward to an announcement that the Government is

:52:11. > :52:18.withdrawing those Messers -, measures.

:52:19. > :52:21.This has been described as ` slippery slope towards the further

:52:22. > :52:29.outsourcing of the Social Sdcurity system already under siege. This

:52:30. > :52:34.Bill isn't notable only for its inability to respond to the

:52:35. > :52:39.challenges it set itself. It should be infamous for not even considering

:52:40. > :52:45.the challenges that the dightal economy represents. This has little

:52:46. > :52:49.to do with the digital economy itself, and much to do with the

:52:50. > :52:53.Government's culture of cow`rdice when it comes to addressing the key

:52:54. > :53:01.challenge of the digital economy - data. The only measures on data seem

:53:02. > :53:07.designed to extend the currdnt public sector data-sharing chaos to

:53:08. > :53:13.a complete free for all. Yotr data is at risk with this Bill. Xou don't

:53:14. > :53:21.own it, you're not safe with it anyone can take it, and Govdrnment

:53:22. > :53:26.decide what others should sde of it. The Government wants to makd sharing

:53:27. > :53:33.public data easier if it can show benefit. But these benefits will be

:53:34. > :53:40.decided without proper publhc scrutiny - indeed without any

:53:41. > :53:48.debate, where has the debatd been? I give way.

:53:49. > :53:54.I am grateful. There are a number of fuel poverty initiatives whdre there

:53:55. > :53:58.had been requests for data sharing, precisely for the reason so that

:53:59. > :54:02.help and assistance can be targeted at those. Does the honourable lady

:54:03. > :54:07.not agree with that kind of initiative?

:54:08. > :54:14.Data-sharing, like much of the digital economy and these

:54:15. > :54:17.technologies can bring huge benefits ringing public servers more

:54:18. > :54:23.effective. But they need to be done in relationship to the contdxt of a

:54:24. > :54:30.framework where we have dat` ethics, principles, the rights of chtizens

:54:31. > :54:36.whether in fuel poverty or not. I think that is basically cap`ble of

:54:37. > :54:40.being achieved, but we need a Government with the vision to

:54:41. > :54:44.instigate a debate and set out the right, transparent framework.

:54:45. > :54:55.Unfortunately, this Bill dods not do that. As we saw in the faildd

:54:56. > :55:01.attempt for NHS data-sharing. When the Government fails to share out a

:55:02. > :55:06.proper transparent framework, the cost is borne by the lack of trust

:55:07. > :55:16.that the public has in thosd services. I will make progrdss here.

:55:17. > :55:22.I just think, before proceeding on this point, she may wish to

:55:23. > :55:26.acknowledge the two-year opdn policy taking process which is unddrpinned

:55:27. > :55:31.these data measures, which ht has been a very welcome to parthcipate

:55:32. > :55:35.in, but has so far refused to engage.

:55:36. > :55:39.I hope the Minister will not continue to use my speech to make an

:55:40. > :55:44.accurate points of his own. I am very well aware of the data,sharing

:55:45. > :55:53.debate, and so aware it was rounded off with out a proper agreelent of

:55:54. > :55:57.the actual conclusions. I look forward to him setting out dxactly

:55:58. > :56:02.where this agreement that ldd to the current proposals was debatdd, was

:56:03. > :56:09.discussed, was agreed with `ll stakeholders. Because he knows very

:56:10. > :56:14.well he is unable to do that. This failure to set out a d`ta

:56:15. > :56:18.framework matters now, even more so because we have new generathons of

:56:19. > :56:23.technology, such as the intdrnet of things, which is going to increase

:56:24. > :56:31.exponentially the generation and use of data. So to take smart mdters as

:56:32. > :56:37.just one example, when security is designed into the smart energy code

:56:38. > :56:39.for energy metering, there hs no regulatory framework for thd data

:56:40. > :56:44.about your home, when you start making the tea, when your children

:56:45. > :56:49.go to sleep, when you lock the back door. The previous secretarx of

:56:50. > :56:54.state for energy told me thhs date with along to the energy colpanies.

:56:55. > :57:01.She then retracted that statements, but clearly had no idea as to who it

:57:02. > :57:06.wouldn't really belong to. @nd I doubt she can tell me nor now that

:57:07. > :57:12.she is the Home Secretary. On that point about data-sh`ring,

:57:13. > :57:16.doesn't the shadow spokesperson agree that technology like block

:57:17. > :57:19.chain were like individuals and households to maintain that

:57:20. > :57:24.information and just give ott the specific requirements, such that

:57:25. > :57:31.energy companies might requhre quick back?

:57:32. > :57:38.Technology can have very grdat applications in promoting consumer

:57:39. > :57:41.and citizen trust and openndss. But, again, it has to be set out in the

:57:42. > :57:48.right framework, with the rhght principles. We need a progrdssive

:57:49. > :57:55.ownership framework for dat`. One debated and discussed by evdryone,

:57:56. > :58:00.including those not online. The Government must deliver an dffective

:58:01. > :58:06.data regulation framework for the digital consumer. Without that the

:58:07. > :58:12.digital economy will be hamstrung by people's fears and company's

:58:13. > :58:16.confusion. That is not the only gaping hole in the Government's

:58:17. > :58:21.bill. The Government cannot tell is who will have access to our digital

:58:22. > :58:25.identities. In order to download and app from Google play you must have a

:58:26. > :58:32.Google account which can iddntify you and your device. Who owns that

:58:33. > :58:36.identity? The Bill has nothhng to say I'm sober security, despite that

:58:37. > :58:43.being one of the critical challenges of the digital economy. -- cyber

:58:44. > :58:46.security. It includes bulk sharing of registration data, which one

:58:47. > :58:47.commentator describes as suspiciously like an ID card through

:58:48. > :58:58.the back door. The Bill also says nothing `bout

:58:59. > :59:06.work in the Digital economy. The Digital economy brings new set of

:59:07. > :59:11.relationships and roles. None of these workers are employed by the

:59:12. > :59:17.companies they work for. And all of them are managed by algorithms. The

:59:18. > :59:23.Bill does nothing to protect workers from extra casualised workers,

:59:24. > :59:28.compressed wages, fewer rights and almost no recourse to justice in the

:59:29. > :59:33.new intermediary economy. These firms are the future, Mr Deputy

:59:34. > :59:37.Speaker. But we must protect the workers of the future too. @nd it's

:59:38. > :59:45.not only workers that are ilpacted by algorithms. Uber knows a person

:59:46. > :59:53.is more willing to accept hhgher or surge prizes were on their phone as

:59:54. > :59:57.-- research prices when thehr phone is on lower battery. We havd no way

:59:58. > :00:05.of verifying it when they s`y they don't. I'm told that one well-known

:00:06. > :00:07.dating website has a thug whth optimised for short-term

:00:08. > :00:13.relationships which maximisd their revenue. Do the people using the

:00:14. > :00:18.sites know that? These crithcisms are not an attack on the Digital

:00:19. > :00:23.economy. I am a Tech evangelist I want the UK to see the advantages of

:00:24. > :00:28.a digital Britain. But that means the whole of the UK. Technology

:00:29. > :00:33.brings astounding new opportunities, but millions of people and

:00:34. > :00:41.businesses are left behind because of the lack of digital literacy In

:00:42. > :00:46.2014, Santander found that 34% of UK businesses looking to export don't

:00:47. > :00:51.have their own websites. Last year, it was found that a quarter of the

:00:52. > :00:57.capital's firms have little or no online presence. In addition, the

:00:58. > :01:01.government is doing little to tackle harassment and threats online. Our

:01:02. > :01:06.lives are increasingly lived on the Internet. There would be an outcry

:01:07. > :01:12.if women didn't feel safe w`lking down the street. Yet many don't feel

:01:13. > :01:19.safe going online. Now is the time for a Bill to ready the country for

:01:20. > :01:24.the new digital world. But the government is guilty of another

:01:25. > :01:30.half-hearted attempt to respond to the 21st century. We will not oppose

:01:31. > :01:37.this Bill at second reading, Mr Deputy Speaker. But the Dightal

:01:38. > :01:42.economy deserves better. Instead of a positive legacy, the Consdrvatives

:01:43. > :01:47.will be leaving us with another missed opportunity. One his legacy

:01:48. > :01:59.will be with us for decades to come. -- one whose legacy. Thank xou, Mr

:02:00. > :02:02.Deputy Speaker. It is a ple`sure to be able to welcome the Digital

:02:03. > :02:07.economy Bill, not least bec`use it still has my name on it. -- the

:02:08. > :02:14.Digital Economy Bill. I think that indeed my right honourable friend

:02:15. > :02:27.can claim a degree of joint paternity of this particular

:02:28. > :02:33.measure. The Bill... It's a beautiful Bill! The Bill is

:02:34. > :02:37.something of a Christmas trde, and does have a number of different

:02:38. > :02:41.measures within it. I want to say a word first about the two major

:02:42. > :02:46.provisions which both relatd to connectivity. The reform of the

:02:47. > :02:50.electronic communications code has been something which communhcations

:02:51. > :02:55.providers have been urging the considerable time. It was p`rt of

:02:56. > :02:59.the deal that was struck by the Right Honourable member for

:03:00. > :03:03.Bromsgrove with the mobile phone providers in return for the

:03:04. > :03:07.has attempted to be introduced in has attempted to be introduced in

:03:08. > :03:11.the enterprise act in the l`st parliament. It has done arotnd a

:03:12. > :03:17.long time. I found myself: ly own constituency about 18 months that

:03:18. > :03:22.Vodafone suffered a problem on one of their trans knitters which led to

:03:23. > :03:25.a number of my constituents losing service. -- one of their

:03:26. > :03:29.transmitters. That was impossible to put right for something likd eight

:03:30. > :03:36.weeks, Vodafone being unabld to access the transmitter. You will

:03:37. > :03:41.render that on a number of occasions, I raised the isste of BT

:03:42. > :03:44.with them. Small businesses in Coventry have struggled with the

:03:45. > :03:48.servers from BT and the gendral public as a whole. It not agree that

:03:49. > :03:53.it is about time BT was had a good look at, something done abott them?

:03:54. > :03:58.I do agree. I will come on to say just a word about that in a moment.

:03:59. > :04:04.Generally, I do agree. In tdrms of the code reforms, this will make it

:04:05. > :04:08.easier for communications providers to maintain and repair their

:04:09. > :04:11.equipment. It is an essenti`l part now of ensuring we have adepuate

:04:12. > :04:18.infrastructure. I would go further... I will give way. He says

:04:19. > :04:23.it will make it easier for them to repair. It won't. It makes ht easier

:04:24. > :04:28.for them to put new masts up, but doesn't make it any easier for them

:04:29. > :04:35.to repair them. In particul`r because it's expressly excltdes the

:04:36. > :04:38.groupings, the whips as thex are called, which enable differdnt

:04:39. > :04:42.mobile companies to be using similar masts. Would you see it adv`ntageous

:04:43. > :04:47.to change the bill to allow that to be included? I believe that access

:04:48. > :04:52.to the wholesale infrastructure provider's mast is regulated by

:04:53. > :04:55.Ofcom anyway. We were advisdd it was not a significant problem. We did

:04:56. > :04:59.look at it quite closely at the time, but decided that it w`sn't

:05:00. > :05:07.necessary to extend the provisions to cover wholesale infrastrtcture

:05:08. > :05:10.providers. Alongside the reform of the ECC, there have been sole very

:05:11. > :05:15.welcome changes to planning laws which will enable higher masts and

:05:16. > :05:22.things. As we move into the next generation of five Cabinet G

:05:23. > :05:31.services, these will requird transmitters which may need to be

:05:32. > :05:36.attached to lamp posts in chties. -- generation of 5G. It may be when we

:05:37. > :05:39.come to 5G, which is coming down the track fast, that we will nedd to

:05:40. > :05:43.look planning laws again. I will leave that with the minister. In

:05:44. > :05:47.terms of the universal servhce obligation, this too I think is a

:05:48. > :05:53.major step forward. Whether or not it is a necessity remains to be

:05:54. > :05:57.seen. It is sensible to put the provisions in the bill. BT `re ready

:05:58. > :06:01.saying that they can deliver it without a legal requirement. That

:06:02. > :06:05.this should certainly spur them on in their efforts to demonstrate that

:06:06. > :06:10.that is possible. The honourable gentleman opposite raised hhs own

:06:11. > :06:13.concerns about BT. This is not the occasion to rehearse all thd

:06:14. > :06:17.arguments of a digital communications review, but `lthough

:06:18. > :06:24.Ofcom have rightly I think put forward proposals which will make

:06:25. > :06:28.clearer separation between Open can! Reach and BT, there is some concern

:06:29. > :06:33.that those don't go far enotgh. It will be necessary for BT to make it

:06:34. > :06:37.absolutely clear that there is full separation and that there is a level

:06:38. > :06:40.playing field. I would say to my honourable friends on the front that

:06:41. > :06:45.they've will want to look at that very carefully. It it if it is not

:06:46. > :06:50.working sufficiently, it will need to be revisited. -- if it is not.

:06:51. > :06:55.Ofcom is playing a key role throughout this. One of the measures

:06:56. > :07:00.which we also thought about for a long time was the request from Ofcom

:07:01. > :07:05.for changes to their appeals procedure. That is something which

:07:06. > :07:08.BT has strongly opposed, but Ofcom believes to be necessary. One of the

:07:09. > :07:13.reasons its nursery is that it has become apparent in recent ydars that

:07:14. > :07:18.almost every single decision taken by Ofcom is Pompey challengd in the

:07:19. > :07:25.court. -- one of the reasons it is necessary. Ofcom is not detdrmining

:07:26. > :07:29.these things, it is being ddtermined by the judicial process triggered by

:07:30. > :07:32.the provider. This is not how it is supposed to work and has resulted in

:07:33. > :07:37.lengthy delays in putting through some quite important measurds. On

:07:38. > :07:41.balance, the change to the nature of the appeals process, the hurdle that

:07:42. > :07:46.has to be met in order to allow a judicial challenge, is a sensible

:07:47. > :07:55.one. I think it has become `pparent because of a number and extdnt of

:07:56. > :08:00.traditional -- the number of judicial. I like to say somdthing

:08:01. > :08:06.about one or two other things. Copyright. I'm delighted th`t the

:08:07. > :08:08.bill equalises the penalties for online and off-line copyright

:08:09. > :08:12.infringement. I have actually bought a copy of the select committee

:08:13. > :08:19.report supporting the creathve economy which was published in

:08:20. > :08:23.September 2013, in which ond of the key recommendations was precisely

:08:24. > :08:26.that the penalties should bd equalised, and that should be made

:08:27. > :08:30.clear. That infringement of copyright online is as serious a

:08:31. > :08:35.matter as infringement off-line That will send a clear mess`ge, but

:08:36. > :08:38.there are still more that ndeds to be done. My right honourabld friends

:08:39. > :08:44.provision with in the Conservative provision with in the Conservative

:08:45. > :08:48.Party manifesto that we would put pressure on search engines to try

:08:49. > :08:52.and prevent illegal sites coming up at the top of the search. I know

:08:53. > :08:56.there have been roundtable discussions that have been going on

:08:57. > :09:00.for a considerable time, but it is a matter of great concern abott no

:09:01. > :09:09.significant progress has bedn made. In the most recent attempt to find

:09:10. > :09:16.out whether or not there had been improvement, a search was m`de into

:09:17. > :09:20.a celebrity photograph down loud, photographs being one of his most

:09:21. > :09:24.recent songs. Of the top ten listings to come out from Google,

:09:25. > :09:29.only one of those top ten w`s actually to a legal fight. @nd the

:09:30. > :09:34.legal site was YouTube, which is owned by Google. -- legal wdbsite. I

:09:35. > :09:38.will happily give way. I th`nk the right honourable gentleman forgiving

:09:39. > :09:45.way. He is much missed on this Bill I'm sure, by both sides. He raised a

:09:46. > :09:48.singer being available throtgh the illegal platforms. Would yot not

:09:49. > :09:53.agree with me that platforms like Google and YouTube should bd

:09:54. > :09:57.compelled to list only legal sites? At present, sometimes the Phrates

:09:58. > :10:03.are listed higher up than ldgal sites. As a consequence, our

:10:04. > :10:09.musicians who contribute ?4 billion annually to the economy, ard losing

:10:10. > :10:12.out as a consequence. I think it be unrealistic to expect Googld to

:10:13. > :10:16.establish whether every single website is legal. By what they can

:10:17. > :10:20.do is react when illegal sites are brought to their attention. They do

:10:21. > :10:25.delist, but immediately a ndw one comes back up. Where they h`ve been

:10:26. > :10:30.a vast number of complaints from the rights owners about particular

:10:31. > :10:33.sites, then they should twe`k their algorithms that those sites no

:10:34. > :10:36.longer appear at the top of the search listings. These are kinds of

:10:37. > :10:40.measures that have been in discussion for months and months,

:10:41. > :10:44.and yet still it is going on. I would say to my right honourable

:10:45. > :10:50.friend, then they will be a case for including a legal provision to

:10:51. > :10:54.encourage them to establish a voluntary code. She may remdmber in

:10:55. > :11:02.the last additional economy act measures were taken then to deal

:11:03. > :11:06.with illegal downloads. -- last digital economy act. An agrdement

:11:07. > :11:10.was then reached which made it unnecessary to bring the law. It is

:11:11. > :11:19.that kind of incentive wherd them a belt well be a case for leghslation.

:11:20. > :11:23.We cannot allow Google and the other providers to continue allowhng

:11:24. > :11:28.people access to legal sites. - where there may well be. In terms of

:11:29. > :11:33.copyright, is the repeal of section 73, which has already been raised.

:11:34. > :11:37.The provision which exempts the cable companies for having to pay

:11:38. > :11:40.copyright license fees. The original justification for that was that it

:11:41. > :11:47.was to encourage the roll-ott of cable. That is largely been

:11:48. > :11:51.fulfilled. -- that has. That particular provision within the law

:11:52. > :11:55.has been abused, particularly by something called TV catch who have

:11:56. > :12:00.used it basically to steal copyright material and make it available

:12:01. > :12:05.without paying any license `t all. The repeal of section 73 fingers up

:12:06. > :12:16.through the right. It does leave this question about the rel`tionship

:12:17. > :12:26.the cable companies and public saw service broadcasters. -- of section

:12:27. > :12:30.703I think is right. The other big area which the Bill covers hs that

:12:31. > :12:35.of pornography, which again has already been mentioned in age

:12:36. > :12:39.verification. The Bill doesn't specify how you verify age, and I'm

:12:40. > :12:43.not entirely clear how the providers are going to do it at all. There are

:12:44. > :12:47.going to be concerns. It will not be sufficient to have a box saxing are

:12:48. > :12:54.you a team? Please tick herd. On the other hand, if they required that

:12:55. > :13:03.the user submit a credit card number. -- ie 18. That does raise

:13:04. > :13:07.issues of privacy. The contdnt that is being accessed is perfectly

:13:08. > :13:11.legal. Of course it is right that children should be prevented from

:13:12. > :13:15.accessing it. That can be h`rmful. But for adults, this is leg`l

:13:16. > :13:19.content. And it is for that reason that I think the Bill is right to

:13:20. > :13:26.not go down the road of acttally blocking access to websites which

:13:27. > :13:30.are providing legal content. There are still big questions arotnd this,

:13:31. > :13:35.which I'm sure will be explored during the committee stages of the

:13:36. > :13:36.bill. I agree with the opposition spokesman. Perhaps I should take

:13:37. > :13:46.some responsibility. This should have been measures to

:13:47. > :13:51.deal with cyber security, it is one of the greatest challenges facing

:13:52. > :13:56.our country. Something ministers take very seriously. The repuirement

:13:57. > :14:00.is on telecoms companies to report a cyber attack, as talk talk had to do

:14:01. > :14:08.it not that long ago. But it is restricted to telecoms comp`nies.

:14:09. > :14:11.Every company is being subjdcted to cyber attack, and whether this

:14:12. > :14:16.results in the loss of data affecting large numbers of the poll,

:14:17. > :14:20.it is right they should be lade public and the companies tell their

:14:21. > :14:24.consumers. That is not currdntly within the law, and pumps something

:14:25. > :14:30.we should look at again. Thd Bill does look at a number of important

:14:31. > :14:41.provisions which will help hs establish a fully digital economy. I

:14:42. > :14:47.welcome the opportunity to speak on the second reading of this very

:14:48. > :14:53.important area. There are sdveral measures in the Bill which we in the

:14:54. > :14:59.Spencers welcome. We welcomd long overdue changes in areas such as the

:15:00. > :15:05.electronic medication code. Moves towards greater communication and

:15:06. > :15:11.steps toward legislation whhch promotes greater connectivity. I

:15:12. > :15:16.know I'm not alone in thinkhng the title of this Bill is a misnomer.

:15:17. > :15:21.The British economy, with its woeful record on productivity is crying out

:15:22. > :15:28.for a vision to ride the wave of technological change, but wd have a

:15:29. > :15:35.bill which is cobbled together, they can, an ambitious. Although it

:15:36. > :15:42.presents several welcome me`sures, it offers little in the measure of

:15:43. > :15:49.direction or strategy. It is planned to make the UK otherworldly Gerrit

:15:50. > :15:56.in digital provision -- world leader. I would ask all members to

:15:57. > :16:04.consider whether this Bill really lives up to that vision? Thd reality

:16:05. > :16:10.is that the remarkable next phase of the information revolution hs

:16:11. > :16:18.something we should contemplate With phenomenal access speeds sue

:16:19. > :16:22.fibre and five GE allowing ts to realise the potential of thd

:16:23. > :16:26.internet of things. If we gdt this right and make the most of these

:16:27. > :16:32.opportunities, technology c`n truly power our economy. In Scotl`nd, the

:16:33. > :16:39.moves that we are taking on this front are strong and unequivocal.

:16:40. > :16:47.The SNP is committed to a m`nifesto pledge of 100% superfast

:16:48. > :16:57.collectivity -- collectivitx. We don't see any reason why

:16:58. > :17:03.connectivity, which is given extra significance in our country like

:17:04. > :17:07.Scotland, should give any extra significance to Rowell or urban

:17:08. > :17:12.areas. Does my friend agree that in the

:17:13. > :17:20.secretary's opening remarks that we are soon to have 95% coverage, this

:17:21. > :17:26.is not the case in many are`s. The figure is much higher in many

:17:27. > :17:31.communities. In my own constituency, the figure

:17:32. > :17:36.realistically is more like 25% that are not going to be covered. The

:17:37. > :17:41.concentration of the 5% will be greater in rural areas, in

:17:42. > :17:48.particular in Scotland. Teal I will return to is the desire for this

:17:49. > :17:58.ambition for support to show more ambition. The former digital

:17:59. > :18:08.minister cried, let's embrace superfast broadband, never lind 10

:18:09. > :18:16.megabits. Rural areas already had to deal with her connectivity. We have

:18:17. > :18:21.poor roads, poor highways, let's not have equally polity macro dhgital

:18:22. > :18:25.superhighways. Because digital is becoming more and more important.

:18:26. > :18:30.The Government talks about ht as a fifth utility. But with that

:18:31. > :18:36.rhetoric, that status comes a greater responsibility upon them,

:18:37. > :18:42.providers and regulators to provide equality of access. As we t`lk

:18:43. > :18:45.increasingly of forms of digital citizenship, it is absolutely vital

:18:46. > :18:50.that large swathes of the country that could become do not become left

:18:51. > :18:55.behind as second-class digital citizens. So we welcome the

:18:56. > :19:03.introduction of a universal service obligation. But as the Scottish

:19:04. > :19:09.Government pointed out in Ofcom s DCR, it is important the USO is

:19:10. > :19:15.dynamic and capable of for offering overtime. Rather than a one size

:19:16. > :19:20.fits all approach, the USO should be framed in such a way that it offers

:19:21. > :19:28.maximum flexibility and doesn't offer substandard solutions as we

:19:29. > :19:32.try to hit a minimum standard. Ultimately, we want a USO that helps

:19:33. > :19:37.to incentivise network provhders to push fibre fervour, and empower

:19:38. > :19:45.communities, perhaps through a voucher scheme or other mechanisms

:19:46. > :19:50.that support local ambition. We want to insure a framework that does more

:19:51. > :19:54.to improve rural coverage and protects the interests of rtral

:19:55. > :20:01.consumers, rather than cementing a digital divide. Clearly, thd key to

:20:02. > :20:09.an effective USO will be in its delivery. This legislation prefers

:20:10. > :20:13.to Ofcom's technical analyshs. It's worth pointing out that a shmple

:20:14. > :20:21.headline figure of 10 megabhts download is onslaught -- is flawed.

:20:22. > :20:29.It should not consider basic download speed, upload, latdncy

:20:30. > :20:33.data limits and cost. Everyone should be entitled to a fair

:20:34. > :20:38.standard broadband, and that is about a lot more than just download

:20:39. > :20:44.speed. I returned to the other point I mentioned is - do we really think

:20:45. > :20:54.10 megabits will be considered sufficient by 2020? No chance. I ask

:20:55. > :20:58.the Government to think why it considers the bar should be set so

:20:59. > :21:03.low? The SNP challenges the thinking which sees 10 megabits as adequate.

:21:04. > :21:10.I actually find some of the briefings depressing to read, it

:21:11. > :21:15.smacked of vested interests, who, in the desire to leave markets open for

:21:16. > :21:19.future commercial activity, that actually rural areas should be

:21:20. > :21:23.sacrificed and given a lessdr service, which is totally

:21:24. > :21:29.unacceptable. Beyond the technical aspects of the USO, Parliamdnt

:21:30. > :21:35.should have a role to play, especially women consider the matter

:21:36. > :21:40.of funding. I personally believe there is a strong case for public

:21:41. > :21:46.funding, rather than just rdlying on industry or an industry levx. But is

:21:47. > :21:51.an industry levy is an option to be pursued, we encourage the Government

:21:52. > :21:56.to cast the net as far as possible to cover all those who benefit from

:21:57. > :22:01.the digital economy. We welcome measures to improve the ability of

:22:02. > :22:06.consumers to switch providers with maximum ease. We also want to look

:22:07. > :22:13.closely at measures to incentivise quality of service to ensurd these

:22:14. > :22:17.incentives are universal. The Government, I believe, has lissed an

:22:18. > :22:21.opportunity I hope they will reconsider to reintroduce mdasures

:22:22. > :22:30.advocated by my friends, thd honourable member for ever less

:22:31. > :22:41.near padlock and Strathspey - what a magnificent name for a constituency!

:22:42. > :22:46.My honourable friend here g`ined support from Ofcom and the

:22:47. > :22:50.Government for allowing customers who had signed up to mobile

:22:51. > :22:55.contracts to switch or cancdl if they find they had inadequate

:22:56. > :23:00.coverage. I encourage the Government and ministers to revisit thhs and

:23:01. > :23:06.consider whether this may bd more explicitly raised. It's not just in

:23:07. > :23:15.the wired world where changd is needed. There are also long overdue

:23:16. > :23:29.measures to reform the electronic communications code. Here, here I

:23:30. > :23:35.think he liked that! Parts, kettle, by the way!

:23:36. > :23:39.LAUGHTER We welcome the measures in the

:23:40. > :23:44.Ellett communication. My eyds are still running at the thought of the

:23:45. > :23:56.lovechild that these ministdrs gave birth to was a Christmas trde. That

:23:57. > :24:00.made my eyes water! Oh, dear! We are glad that the long overdue

:24:01. > :24:07.measures to reform the electronic communication code, considering the

:24:08. > :24:11.code hasn't changed since the introduction of many digital

:24:12. > :24:16.economies we now take for granted. -- digital technologies. We also

:24:17. > :24:20.ever says the importance of a system being put in place by definhng

:24:21. > :24:25.balance of approach. Providdrs must not be held to ransom, but `lso

:24:26. > :24:32.landowners should be entitldd to receive fair compensation. On top of

:24:33. > :24:34.that, when taking forward stch extensions two permitted

:24:35. > :24:40.development, we need to enstre appropriate balance is to rtck

:24:41. > :24:43.between proximity to rule ott such infrastructure and planning controls

:24:44. > :24:55.on such developments, amenity and environments. A particular `rea of

:24:56. > :24:59.concerned as how... This is a key area we want to look at in

:25:00. > :25:05.committee. It is vitally important that where public assets ard used

:25:06. > :25:11.for siting of equipment, thd Government needs to reconcile the

:25:12. > :25:17.code with the Treasury's Grden book requirement to acquire best value

:25:18. > :25:25.for public sector assets. It's important to consider who do

:25:26. > :25:31.landowners are. In many inchdents -- incidence -- instances, thex are

:25:32. > :25:37.public bodies. Such is the Forestry Commission. We understand the Bill

:25:38. > :25:39.is not retrospective, subst`ntial amount of money could come out of

:25:40. > :25:47.the public purse when contr`cts come up for renewal. Of course, hncreased

:25:48. > :25:51.coverage is a welcome thing. But a key question that the new code

:25:52. > :25:56.raises is whether mobile opdrators should be allowed to renew old

:25:57. > :25:59.contracts on the same basis as the new regime, or whether we should

:26:00. > :26:05.have a different regime for renewal? We should also consider comlitments

:26:06. > :26:14.on any savings being reinvested into infrastructure. My party welcomes

:26:15. > :26:18.the fact that the independent operators are excluded from the

:26:19. > :26:23.provisions of the new code. Only about a third of the UK mast

:26:24. > :26:28.infrastructure is shared, whereas in countries like America it is

:26:29. > :26:32.something like 80%. In some potent as we go into committee stage, we do

:26:33. > :26:37.not allow independent operators to be pulled into this legislation I

:26:38. > :26:41.agree with the right honour`ble gentleman that this is alre`dy

:26:42. > :26:46.covered under Ofcom, and wotld strike me as somewhat perverse that

:26:47. > :26:50.at the time we're having a big discussion as to whether not

:26:51. > :26:52.Openreach should be independent we do something that might dam`ge

:26:53. > :26:59.independent infrastructure hn telecoms provision. We also welcome

:27:00. > :27:03.some of the adjustments the Digital Economy Bill made to spectrtm policy

:27:04. > :27:11.in these islands. It highlights that fixing mobile coverage, the reform

:27:12. > :27:17.of the code will only go so far The most powerful letter we havd remains

:27:18. > :27:23.licensing. So when it comes to the next round of licences, we should

:27:24. > :27:26.consider conditions for licdnces to meet a higher standard in tdrms of

:27:27. > :27:34.population and geographical coverage. We also encourage the

:27:35. > :27:38.Government to look at how policy has been developed in countries such as

:27:39. > :27:45.Germany with out to in strategy making sure rural areas, rather than

:27:46. > :27:50.mean left behind, are done first. The measure contained within this

:27:51. > :27:56.Bill, relating to compensathon, is overdue, I believe. Especially when

:27:57. > :28:02.considering the digital communications review laid bare

:28:03. > :28:09.statistics on how poor the system has performed. Not surprisingly in

:28:10. > :28:13.some briefings, there was ptshed back against this idea. I think

:28:14. > :28:18.they've had their chance, and everyone recognises the need to

:28:19. > :28:21.improve. It is clear we need to do something around automatic

:28:22. > :28:27.compensation. We need to reject arguments from the sector which

:28:28. > :28:30.claim automatic compensation would inhibit the management and

:28:31. > :28:35.maintenance of good quality networks. I actually worked at the

:28:36. > :28:42.same company as the Shadow Linister some years ago, a Canadian company.

:28:43. > :28:47.I did not have the technical expertise that she has, but even I

:28:48. > :28:51.know that when you build a network, you build it secure and reshlient

:28:52. > :28:59.and in such a way that it c`n be upgraded and maintained.

:29:00. > :29:05.I do not know if we think pdople in this chamber can be hoodwinked by

:29:06. > :29:12.technical excuses but we cannot and should not.

:29:13. > :29:18.I think this is an area where policy will have to evolve. We must come up

:29:19. > :29:24.with the fierce scheme but one which we look at the behaviour of the

:29:25. > :29:30.operators. -- fare scheme. Ht is not meant to be people, it is mdant to

:29:31. > :29:35.drive improvement. We also need to consider when talking about customer

:29:36. > :29:39.service be changed world we live in. As the days of Perloff owning the

:29:40. > :29:45.question was simple, it was a binary, works or it doesn't. On or

:29:46. > :29:51.off, but in the days of the intranet that is far more complex. -, in the

:29:52. > :29:59.days of telephony. The headline download speed is not guaranteed. I

:30:00. > :30:07.would contend that... That hs not scripted. Apologies. I would contend

:30:08. > :30:13.that what that highlight is the needs when it comes to servhce to be

:30:14. > :30:20.more... What is the average speed you should expect? And what is the

:30:21. > :30:24.maximum speed? So people have a conscious choice and sign up for a

:30:25. > :30:29.service that does what it s`ys on the tin. The SNP welcomes the

:30:30. > :30:34.introduction of age verific`tion for online pornography. We have concerns

:30:35. > :30:41.though around how it will bd enforced. That is something we will

:30:42. > :30:45.look carefully at an early committee stage. With so many sites b`sed

:30:46. > :30:50.oversees the challenge of t`ckling noncompliance will be compldx. I do

:30:51. > :30:56.believe the Government should consider going further and look at

:30:57. > :31:01.things such as transaction unblocking in response to this. The

:31:02. > :31:05.Government must do more to put in place incentives for compli`nce and

:31:06. > :31:09.we should consider measures which would offer the regulator and option

:31:10. > :31:15.of a blogging site that are not compliant. The SNP welcomes this

:31:16. > :31:19.move. -- blocking sites. We share the opposition's

:31:20. > :31:26.reservations about the outsourcing of policy on TV licensing. Hn

:31:27. > :31:32.Scotland we recently classified loneliness as a health issud.

:31:33. > :31:38.Clearly benefits relating to those in old age have a significant role

:31:39. > :31:44.to play in tackling. We recognise the Government's decision to pass

:31:45. > :31:47.the battle on policy to the BBC is based on the financial settlement

:31:48. > :31:54.but we want to challenge thd thinking around this area when we

:31:55. > :32:01.get to the committee stage. While we think it always nedds to be

:32:02. > :32:04.challenged and updated, SNP is committed to the unique rold of

:32:05. > :32:10.public service broadcasting in society. We are fundamentally

:32:11. > :32:13.supportive of it. We welcomd the repeal of section 73 and recognise

:32:14. > :32:17.the importance of public service broadcaster to be able to rdalise

:32:18. > :32:24.the value of the content thdy create sort this is a long overdue step and

:32:25. > :32:30.I John -- joined calls from across the house that the secretarx of

:32:31. > :32:33.state does not hesitate. On intellectual property, wd are

:32:34. > :32:37.supportive of the changes in the bill that will get the protdction of

:32:38. > :32:40.intellectual property on my estate is equivalent to the one employees

:32:41. > :32:49.or off-line content. I will give way. I am glad he got to

:32:50. > :32:55.that part because I think... Does this bill not need to do more,

:32:56. > :33:00.tackle the culture of major search engines, the value gap about those

:33:01. > :33:03.who create this one double content we have an big technology to earn

:33:04. > :33:08.money off that. Would he agree we must look at how we can bring in

:33:09. > :33:11.measures to tackle that in committee stage?

:33:12. > :33:15.I absolutely do agree and look forward to bringing forward specific

:33:16. > :33:23.proposals and amendments in the committee stage of the bill. We also

:33:24. > :33:27.offer support, although what reservations, only measures within

:33:28. > :33:30.the bill relating to digital Government and information sharing.

:33:31. > :33:34.We welcome the recognition Government needs to move towards a

:33:35. > :33:38.place where it is a digital by default and we understand the huge

:33:39. > :33:41.benefits for citizens and governments in new approachds to

:33:42. > :33:46.digital and information sharing offers. Our concerns relate to

:33:47. > :33:52.execution and how this is implemented. Securing the cost of

:33:53. > :33:58.citizens will be vital in h`rnessing the power of data to improvd the

:33:59. > :34:03.workings of Government. What we do not want to do is offer this

:34:04. > :34:08.Government a blank cheque. We will raise our concerns and look at the

:34:09. > :34:12.detail about how citizens' data would be put to use and what forms

:34:13. > :34:16.of protection would be put hn place to cover things on human rights

:34:17. > :34:23.privacy and data ownership. Where there is a clear logic on a purely

:34:24. > :34:26.technical matter like the USO for enabling legislation to allow

:34:27. > :34:32.detailed to be defined by an external agency this is an `rea that

:34:33. > :34:38.requires ongoing parliament`ry oversight and it is not cle`r at

:34:39. > :34:43.this stage if such an obviots requirements of democracy would be

:34:44. > :34:46.met. Scotland already has a well established data link framework and

:34:47. > :34:50.a set of guiding principles designed to proportionally balance the risk

:34:51. > :34:54.to confidentiality against the public benefit using data for

:34:55. > :34:58.research and indeed the Scottish Government will want to funding be

:34:59. > :35:03.involved in the development of the building codes of practice which

:35:04. > :35:11.will govern the disclosure, use and processing of information.

:35:12. > :35:16.In summary, while we were, several measures within the Digital Economy

:35:17. > :35:21.Bill which covers a wide range of different areas, we are comlitted to

:35:22. > :35:31.push for much greater clarification on where we can for much more

:35:32. > :35:36.ambition as the bill moves through. Can I suggest a member as wd take up

:35:37. > :35:41.to ten minutes and that way we should get everybody in. Sir Alan

:35:42. > :35:44.Haselhurst. I am grateful for the opportunity to

:35:45. > :35:49.make a contribution to the debate on the second reading of this bill I

:35:50. > :35:54.cannot help but feel when wd have a bill of this nature before ts one is

:35:55. > :35:59.the pinch oneself to think of how it seemed like only yesterday one was

:36:00. > :36:02.protecting protest meetings that are attending protest meetings of

:36:03. > :36:06.concerned parents who thought the direction of the mast for mobile

:36:07. > :36:12.phones would endanger their children's health. It is allost the

:36:13. > :36:16.day before yesterday that one could have imagined the provision of

:36:17. > :36:21.broadband would start to have the kind of proportion of weeklx

:36:22. > :36:27.correspondence to MPs that ht certainly now has in my casd and I

:36:28. > :36:31.suspect in the case of many others. I welcome the measures that are in

:36:32. > :36:38.this bill to improve coverage of mobile telephone, vast tracts of my

:36:39. > :36:45.constituency are untouched by a mobile signal and this is bdcoming

:36:46. > :36:53.increasingly ridiculous. I remember being on a visit to one of the

:36:54. > :36:57.poorest state in India to whtness the installation of a basic

:36:58. > :37:02.sanitation system and I happened to glance at my mobile phone to see

:37:03. > :37:07.there was a very strong signal, much stronger than in large part of my

:37:08. > :37:14.constituency. I do not want to talk about history

:37:15. > :37:18.or the background to this bhll, I do not want to delve into BT's role in

:37:19. > :37:28.particular zero BT's relationship with Openreach. I do look forward to

:37:29. > :37:32.this bill reaching the stattte book in a form which will ensure

:37:33. > :37:39.universal coverage of broadband is at the level of service which so far

:37:40. > :37:46.as possible is future proof. I welcome the universal service

:37:47. > :37:52.obligation, I remember the former Prime Minister first announced this

:37:53. > :37:55.and I thought at the time that universal service obligation sounds

:37:56. > :38:00.right until you remember thdre are many properties in this country

:38:01. > :38:07.which do not have water through a publicly supported name and have to

:38:08. > :38:11.admit private arrangements `nd certainly not contact with lain

:38:12. > :38:18.sewage. We should be careful that universal is going to mean tniversal

:38:19. > :38:22.so far as broadband is concdrned. It is understandable and I keep

:38:23. > :38:26.saying it to constituents, ht is understandable the more poptlous

:38:27. > :38:31.areas of the country have bden favoured first in the BT roll out.

:38:32. > :38:37.More income comes in from that and so on but the fact of the m`tter is

:38:38. > :38:42.that if this does not reallx take account of changes in the structure

:38:43. > :38:48.of society and in business practice. References already been madd to some

:38:49. > :38:52.of the new needs which are dmerging. If you have got new businesses in

:38:53. > :38:59.the countryside often occupxing redundant farm buildings, often

:39:00. > :39:04.being occupied by firms working in the highest end of technology, it is

:39:05. > :39:08.ludicrous that they are somdhow almost relegated to the back of the

:39:09. > :39:13.queue when their contribution to the economy is of enormous potential.

:39:14. > :39:18.Then the Government itself `nd the various agencies of Governmdnt are

:39:19. > :39:22.increasingly -- increasing the amount of data required to be

:39:23. > :39:32.dispatched and submitted electronically. Farmers, those who

:39:33. > :39:36.have read the NFU submission on this matter recognise how far farmers are

:39:37. > :39:46.now supposed to be dependent on being able to download and tpload a

:39:47. > :39:51.vast amount of information. Students increasingly are relying on

:39:52. > :39:57.submitting their coursework through electronic means. There is the

:39:58. > :40:01.growing habit which is not `n helpful to the pressures of public

:40:02. > :40:07.transport of busy executives taking part of the week working from home

:40:08. > :40:13.and expecting the same level of collectivity which they had in their

:40:14. > :40:16.city or town office. -- collectivity. For these reasons we

:40:17. > :40:22.need to ensure universal me`ns universal. Anyone who buys `

:40:23. > :40:31.television set these days is likely to be buying one which is 4K enabled

:40:32. > :40:36.with the Met gadgets that comes with it. I sense there will be more

:40:37. > :40:41.unrest amongst people who w`nt to have a decent TV set to get

:40:42. > :40:46.advantage of better clarity and all that, if they find it does not do

:40:47. > :40:51.what it says on the ten bec`use they do not have a basic broadband

:40:52. > :40:58.service. I give way. .

:40:59. > :41:06.Would he agree that an like sewage and water, you can deliver broadband

:41:07. > :41:10.wirelessly so there really hs no excuse for the universal service is

:41:11. > :41:17.not being universal. I agree, of course. I try to argue

:41:18. > :41:23.that in be universal and let's bear in mind that 10 megabits per second,

:41:24. > :41:26.which is not sufficient, fr`nkly, and that is an average figure in the

:41:27. > :41:34.all know what is being done with average figures when it comds to

:41:35. > :41:38.fuel consumption for cars. Xes, ten must be taken, to a degree, with a

:41:39. > :41:45.pinch of salt and we should therefore aim higher. If we do not

:41:46. > :41:51.recognise that we are committing people who live in rural ardas do

:41:52. > :41:57.whatever playing catch up, so far as this service is concerned. The other

:41:58. > :42:02.worry I have is an unevenness is provision, not simply betwedn town

:42:03. > :42:07.and country. People I find `re bewildered, if not downright angry

:42:08. > :42:12.but whilst they are expected to wait for 10 megabits per second

:42:13. > :42:16.downloads, maybe that is all right if you only get less than two

:42:17. > :42:22.currently, which is the expdrience of many, but they are also hearing

:42:23. > :42:26.of other part of the countrx, some rural areas, receiving speeds vastly

:42:27. > :42:31.better than this, up to 100 megabits per second and they say why? Why is

:42:32. > :42:37.is happening? When will roll out ever reach us? It seems to be one of

:42:38. > :42:42.the difficulties is the supdrfast roll out is heavily dependent on

:42:43. > :42:46.BT's established network. This creates anomalies. I have one

:42:47. > :42:51.village where there are thrde boxes, two of which have been convdrted to

:42:52. > :42:57.enable decent level of broadband service. The third box mystdriously

:42:58. > :43:02.is not. And yet it serves as many people as the other boxes. That

:43:03. > :43:07.creates anger and a village which is rural and they say OK, why `ren t we

:43:08. > :43:14.all been treated the same? This is basically for historic reasons. We

:43:15. > :43:19.are seeing the growth in thd number of niche providers who are prepared

:43:20. > :43:27.to come now an offer real ddals to people in quite scattered areas I

:43:28. > :43:31.believe what is important is it they should be encouraged but I `m also

:43:32. > :43:37.hearing that embedded in thd roll out programme is if a company,

:43:38. > :43:41.commercial company, has said it will provide a service in a given area,

:43:42. > :43:48.nobody else can touch it and sold for a period of time that is almost

:43:49. > :43:51.inviolable. That cannot be right if we're talking about the urgdncy of

:43:52. > :43:56.rolling out broadband universe of it. I would like to see an dnd to

:43:57. > :44:00.the confusion and a greater degree of clarity introduced for pdople to

:44:01. > :44:05.understand what they can expect how they can go about it. I think it

:44:06. > :44:09.means more local initiatives to identify what the alternative ways

:44:10. > :44:14.of getting a superfast broadband actually are. I have got ex`mples

:44:15. > :44:18.and my constituency were concerned citizens are put together and formed

:44:19. > :44:21.a working group and started to see an opportunity to get broadband

:44:22. > :44:25.delivered. I think we should help them but that, not necessarhly with

:44:26. > :44:30.money but at the same time letting them know how to go about it without

:44:31. > :44:33.that is that the network of local authorities and so on. Not favouring

:44:34. > :44:38.one company over another silply saying these are the ways you may be

:44:39. > :44:43.able to get this faster than under the main roll-out scheme.

:44:44. > :44:48.I think it would help to dilinish the growing frustration and

:44:49. > :44:55.uncertainty and would help ts to enhance coverage if the increasing

:44:56. > :44:58.numbers of pathways to broadband was better advertised and better

:44:59. > :45:04.explained, and then I think the government would be helping people

:45:05. > :45:09.very much more than just silply the broad programme outlined. I think

:45:10. > :45:14.that everyone should feel truly part of our digital economy if that is

:45:15. > :45:21.the legislation we are putthng through under that name. Order to

:45:22. > :45:27.put it another way that we should be all in it together -- or to put it.

:45:28. > :45:32.As seems common with many business-related pieces of

:45:33. > :45:35.legislation these days, this bill has a number of unconnected

:45:36. > :45:40.disparate elements coming together purely for the purposes of providing

:45:41. > :45:44.and establishing primary legislative time. I think several of thdm can be

:45:45. > :45:49.positive, and several I think will prove problematic for the

:45:50. > :45:52.Government. The first part of the bill, bringing in a univers`l

:45:53. > :45:57.service obligation for broadband, will certainly be welcomed by my

:45:58. > :46:02.constituents, not just in rtral areas, the outlying villages to

:46:03. > :46:06.Hartlepool, like Elwick, but in the organ part of the constituency as

:46:07. > :46:10.well. I think the right honourable lady for Basingstoke made an

:46:11. > :46:15.important intervention earlx on in the debate who she said, many

:46:16. > :46:20.house-builders are not future proofing their stock. I havd

:46:21. > :46:24.buildings and houses being built in Hartlepool that are less th`n ten

:46:25. > :46:28.years old that have no broadband connection whatsoever. This seems

:46:29. > :46:35.ridiculous if we are trying to be a leading digital economy and I hope

:46:36. > :46:39.the USO provisions in the bhll help address this and I agree with what

:46:40. > :46:45.the committee said when it spoke about the "Compelling case for

:46:46. > :46:52.establishing a broadband" connection in the home. Also in underlxing

:46:53. > :46:56.online copyright infringement with off-line copyright infringelent is

:46:57. > :47:00.imported, I think. They shotld be no distinction. And the import`nce it

:47:01. > :47:03.gives to intellectual property, not just in the creative industries but

:47:04. > :47:05.actually is the real driver of economic prosperity in terms of

:47:06. > :47:11.having a comparative advant`ge through intellectual property is

:47:12. > :47:16.strong and I think that is important. I think particul`rly part

:47:17. > :47:20.five of the bill will be difficult for the Government to justify. I

:47:21. > :47:24.think in terms of sharing d`ta and using data as a means of drhving

:47:25. > :47:29.forward economic prosperity I think that is important, but I thhnk the

:47:30. > :47:33.Government has rather muddidd the waters on this patch when it comes

:47:34. > :47:37.to thinking about the NHS shared data from a couple of years ago and

:47:38. > :47:43.I think that is a concern. H do not think there is any real

:47:44. > :47:47.consideration in the bill about that future technology and I think block

:47:48. > :47:54.chain as a technology has bden mentioned before. I know thd

:47:55. > :48:03.Government is aware of this. There was a report produced recently about

:48:04. > :48:06.legislative beyond block ch`in and the member here wrote the foreword

:48:07. > :48:10.to that. The Government is thinking about that and it would be good to

:48:11. > :48:14.get some idea of what that thinking looks like and translated into

:48:15. > :48:18.legislation in this opportunity here. However, as I think that, it

:48:19. > :48:22.is not necessarily a question of what is in the bill, Mr Deptty

:48:23. > :48:26.Speaker, but what is not. The question has to be posed in terms

:48:27. > :48:30.of, digital policy and whether the provisions in this bill enh`nce

:48:31. > :48:37.Britain's comparative advantage in the global digital economy , does

:48:38. > :48:41.the bill have any gaps on potential supremacy, on holding it back, and

:48:42. > :48:44.does the provisions in the bill provide a clear strategic vhsion to

:48:45. > :48:47.ensure the UK remains the destination of choice for investment

:48:48. > :48:54.and attraction of talent and ideas. In many respects, we come to a

:48:55. > :48:57.position of strength to this. The business, innovation and skhlls

:48:58. > :49:00.committee carried out an inpuiry into the digital economy and we

:49:01. > :49:06.produced the report in July. We found the UK is one of the leading

:49:07. > :49:11.digital nations in the world. Our economy has the highest potdntial,

:49:12. > :49:17.sorry, percentage of GDP invested in the digital economy of all Duropean

:49:18. > :49:22.nations, and you digital firms are growing at 2.5 times the national

:49:23. > :49:25.average and have been since 200 . This is a source of pride and

:49:26. > :49:30.strength and something I hope the whole House can come togethdr on,

:49:31. > :49:34.but I do think the bill help address the challenges. Its first rdading

:49:35. > :49:37.was on the 6th of July, onlx a fortnight after the country voted to

:49:38. > :49:40.leave the European Union and one week before the right honourable

:49:41. > :49:47.lady for maiden had became Prime Minister. Although the proposals

:49:48. > :49:50.were -- for maiden head. Although the proposals were ready, and had

:49:51. > :49:54.the Secretary of State's nale on it, it seems the bill is at odds with

:49:55. > :49:59.the two preoccupations facing the Government. Exiting the European

:50:00. > :50:03.Union and producing a new industrial strategy. Mr Deputy Speaker,

:50:04. > :50:07.yesterday the minister attended as did I and indeed the honour`ble

:50:08. > :50:10.gentleman for Gloucestershire who is in his place, a roundtable on the

:50:11. > :50:15.challenges facing the tech hndustry in the light of Brexit. The minister

:50:16. > :50:23.heard a peck entrepreneur s`ying he is hoping to raise ?500,000 this

:50:24. > :50:26.year without aim to raise a further three to ?5 million next Jahdee says

:50:27. > :50:29.investors are questioning whether the current UK domestic market is

:50:30. > :50:36.large enough to justify funding here in the UK without sufficient access

:50:37. > :50:40.to the European market -- ndxt year. He says he is facing questions from

:50:41. > :50:46.investors on basing his bushness on the US. That uncertainty from tech

:50:47. > :50:50.skills employing digital skhlls EU migrants and full access to the

:50:51. > :50:54.market, it is causing disruption. There is a risk that other centres

:50:55. > :51:00.such as Berlin will take advantage of this uncertainty to the detriment

:51:01. > :51:03.of the growing situation with businesses and business moddls in

:51:04. > :51:07.this country. We could have led the EU in terms of the digital single

:51:08. > :51:11.market. It could be made in our image but unfortunately I do not

:51:12. > :51:14.think that will be an opportunity for us. I think there are rdal

:51:15. > :51:18.concerns about access to th`t single market and I hope the minister can

:51:19. > :51:23.provide as much clarity as possible and also on access to talent. There

:51:24. > :51:29.is also, Mr Deputy Speaker, a mismatch, or certainly a disconnect,

:51:30. > :51:31.between any sort of industrhal strategy and digital strategy.

:51:32. > :51:34.Business and entrepreneurs, and we heard it on the campus yestdrday,

:51:35. > :51:39.they want to see how the Prhme Minister's welcome rhetoric on

:51:40. > :51:43.digital strategy translates into proper coordination and how this

:51:44. > :51:46.will be aligned in a constrtctive way with the digital strategy which

:51:47. > :51:50.I think the Minister will rdadily concede has been hastily redrafted

:51:51. > :51:55.in the light of events from the 23rd of June. A proper industrial

:51:56. > :51:57.strategy will need to have the implications of digitisation,

:51:58. > :52:02.technology and innovation rtnning through all of its activitids and

:52:03. > :52:04.objectives. I appreciate it is not necessarily a statutory need for

:52:05. > :52:08.such a pledge, although I think it is clear firms want to see clarity

:52:09. > :52:13.and that strategic vision. That is what they call for in the dhgital

:52:14. > :52:18.space. This has already been touched upon in respect of what my

:52:19. > :52:21.honourable friend, the membdr for Newcastle Central, on the front

:52:22. > :52:24.bench, said. The bill also fails to address one of the biggest

:52:25. > :52:28.challenges facing a digital economy and the changing structures of the

:52:29. > :52:33.workforce and the nature of work. Technology provides massive

:52:34. > :52:38.opportunity for a more effective and efficient allocation of dem`nd and

:52:39. > :52:43.supply both of labour as well as products, services and customers.

:52:44. > :52:45.Such disruption can be a positive thing, increasing quality, choice

:52:46. > :52:49.and service for the consumer. I would like to see Britain bding the

:52:50. > :52:53.destination of choice for dhsruptive business models that help ilprove

:52:54. > :52:57.our prosperity, however somd platforms have shown that f`r from

:52:58. > :53:03.increasing competition, somd companies dominate markets `nd

:53:04. > :53:07.stifle or underlie competitors. Global in scale, these multhnational

:53:08. > :53:11.companies often avoid national tax requirements so that although they

:53:12. > :53:13.benefit from the social goods of public investment like educ`tion and

:53:14. > :53:17.infrastructure, they seek to minimise their payment towards the

:53:18. > :53:21.public purse for that good. Perhaps most concerning all, Mr Deptty

:53:22. > :53:27.Speaker, platform companies are facilitating the rise of thd gig

:53:28. > :53:29.economy in which workers ard reclassified as contractors and

:53:30. > :53:32.self-employed. This is not necessarily a bad thing as ht could

:53:33. > :53:36.provide greater Flex abilitx for workers but these workers do tend to

:53:37. > :53:40.have fewer rights to social benefits, face greater insecurity,

:53:41. > :53:42.have lower pay, receive less training and have good prospects for

:53:43. > :53:47.advancing in their career. Innovation should move people

:53:48. > :53:54.through the value chain, increasing their skills and wage levels --

:53:55. > :53:58.poorer prospects for advanchng. There is a rush to the bottom in

:53:59. > :54:01.terms of terms, conditions `nd pay. There is a need to retrain `nd

:54:02. > :54:07.improve skills throughout every worker's live and this is probably

:54:08. > :54:10.not the best and only place to consider this but the ability of

:54:11. > :54:14.Government to maintain an appropriate regime which is

:54:15. > :54:17.regulatory in the face of stch technological advances needs to be

:54:18. > :54:21.considered and then a stratdgic way. As does the impact of the ghg

:54:22. > :54:24.economy. I know the Minister has taken an interest in this btt I hope

:54:25. > :54:28.he will also look at how technology and the changing world of work needs

:54:29. > :54:32.to be addressed, so there are positive steps and provisions in

:54:33. > :54:35.this bill, but I do feel thhs is a bill that is rooted in the 20th

:54:36. > :54:41.century when we should be thinking more about what is required in the

:54:42. > :54:46.22nd century. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. There is much to wdlcome in

:54:47. > :54:51.this bill. The honourable mdmber for Hartlepool was mentioning the EU and

:54:52. > :54:56.we should perhaps not forget it was only in 2012 that this superfast

:54:57. > :55:00.government roll-out was stuck in state aid bureaucracy. One of my

:55:01. > :55:03.first meetings of Secretary of State was actually with the Brussdls

:55:04. > :55:07.officials who were deciding to stand in our way and I think you will

:55:08. > :55:12.recall it took quite a largd handbag to get that moving but the tenacity

:55:13. > :55:17.of the department and particularly in the cases then, it means we now

:55:18. > :55:21.have 90% having access to stperfast broadband and the measures hn the

:55:22. > :55:24.bill will give everyone the right to have fast broadband in the future

:55:25. > :55:27.and that deserves all of our support and I'm glad you're from thd front

:55:28. > :55:30.bench they will be doing th`t. At the heart of this bill, as the

:55:31. > :55:34.Secretary of State said when she opened, is the importance of shaping

:55:35. > :55:39.our digital world for the ftture. And the importance of a dightally

:55:40. > :55:43.engaged citizen. We cannot `llow this to be a missed opportunity if

:55:44. > :55:48.we are to have a healthy digital economy in the future, for that we

:55:49. > :55:53.need to tackle digital constmers' real concerns and those real

:55:54. > :55:57.concerns about online abuse. If we do not, then some people will choose

:55:58. > :56:01.2% of themselves from the online world and I do not believe that is

:56:02. > :56:12.right -- choose to advent themselves. -- absent. I believe

:56:13. > :56:16.this bill needs to include ` clear definition on the face of the bill

:56:17. > :56:21.about what constitutes online abuse. Criminal law is trying to t`ckle

:56:22. > :56:25.online abuse with a complex set of laws which are already in place that

:56:26. > :56:30.predate the digital age. Thd number of convictions under the first part

:56:31. > :56:34.of the Malicious Communicathons Act has increased tenfold over the past

:56:35. > :56:41.decade but we have required proof of an intention to cause distrdss and

:56:42. > :56:44.there was a -- that there w`s a cause of gross offensiveness before

:56:45. > :56:48.prosecutions can be successfully brought and therefore I think the

:56:49. > :56:52.current level of prosecutions probably very much underesthmated

:56:53. > :56:55.the real problem that is thdre. It is right we protect freedom of

:56:56. > :57:01.expression and I know that hs an argument that is made very strongly

:57:02. > :57:06.when it comes to legislating in this space. But there has never been an

:57:07. > :57:10.unfettered right to freedom of expression. With that comes

:57:11. > :57:15.responsibility and we need to recognise that in law. The CPS has

:57:16. > :57:19.used guidelines to help clarify the situation which probably indicates

:57:20. > :57:22.to us there are some causes for concern here. Because there is no

:57:23. > :57:26.substitute for making sure the statutory provisions are cldar.

:57:27. > :57:30.There is, as the Law Commission said, a clear public interest in

:57:31. > :57:35.tackling online abuse. That has to be done through clear predictable

:57:36. > :57:38.legal provisions. This bill provides an opportunity for such

:57:39. > :57:42.clarifications to tackle online abuse more effectively and H hope

:57:43. > :57:44.the Minister who is in his place now will be responding and that he will

:57:45. > :57:48.include in his remarks what the response of the Government will be

:57:49. > :57:52.on that. Secondly, Mr Deputx Speaker, I think there is an

:57:53. > :57:59.opportunity for better support for victims of online abuse as well I

:58:00. > :58:01.speak about the work of honourable member there today on victil support

:58:02. > :58:06.and others who have been tackling this and it is right that the

:58:07. > :58:11.Government has taken really, I think, a leading position on making

:58:12. > :58:17.illegal the posting of revenge pornography online, but we need to

:58:18. > :58:20.go further. We have seen more than 200 prosecutions regarding revenge

:58:21. > :58:28.pornography, but hundreds more are not coming forward because victims

:58:29. > :58:32.are fearful of doing it. Cases have been reported to the police in the

:58:33. > :58:39.last year but revenge pornography victims are three times mord likely

:58:40. > :58:42.to withdraw or withhold support from police action than victims of other

:58:43. > :58:47.crimes. This bill should be recognising online abuse and the

:58:48. > :58:52.appalling offence of revengd pornography is affording to victims

:58:53. > :58:55.the same right of anonymity as victims of other sexual offdnces.

:58:56. > :59:00.The third area which I am rdally pleased to see in this bill, which

:59:01. > :59:04.was obviously in the Conservative Party manifesto as well, a

:59:05. > :59:07.commitment to tackle access to underage pornography, is a welcome

:59:08. > :59:08.provision and I applaud the Government for the stand thdy are

:59:09. > :59:19.taking here. There is not planning to go into the

:59:20. > :59:25.details but I hope the Minister could carefully consider thd NSPCC's

:59:26. > :59:32.call for lower split-mac more robust sanctions in this space. We must --

:59:33. > :59:36.more robust sanctions. We mtst move beyond looking at just commdrcial

:59:37. > :59:41.sites to include peer to pedr and other communication products where

:59:42. > :59:46.pornography is routinely distributed. I realise therd are

:59:47. > :59:50.problems here with regard to those who are legally accessing these

:59:51. > :59:55.products but we must take account of the fact that now by the tile a

:59:56. > :59:59.child reaches the age of 12 more than one in four will have `lready

:00:00. > :00:04.accessed online pornography and this is not the sort of stuff th`t is

:00:05. > :00:10.maybe on the shelves of our local newsagents, it is what others would

:00:11. > :00:15.call hard-core pornography. This is an issue we have tackled in the

:00:16. > :00:19.woman and equality select committee and the report was published today

:00:20. > :00:24.on sexual harassment in schools where experts are citing increased

:00:25. > :00:28.access to pornography by chhldren fuelling an increase in sextal

:00:29. > :00:33.harassment and abuse in schools and this must be taken seriouslx.

:00:34. > :00:36.There is one other area I would hope to encourage the Minister to think

:00:37. > :00:43.about and that is the impact on the police. The police college chief

:00:44. > :00:49.Alex Marshall said social mddia complaints now make up half of all

:00:50. > :00:52.calls to the police. That is an extraordinary fact yet this bill

:00:53. > :00:56.makes the mention of how we might try and make those that are

:00:57. > :01:01.producing products that are eliciting that sort of illegal

:01:02. > :01:05.activity and concern from otr constituents, it makes the lention

:01:06. > :01:09.of how we can perhaps lay off some of the charges being incurrdd by the

:01:10. > :01:16.police onto those making a healthy profit out of their activithes.

:01:17. > :01:27.We have to look at the slush pile of action to put in place a levy to pay

:01:28. > :01:33.for additional police costs. The industry is healthy, online

:01:34. > :01:38.industry, but they need to be tackling these sorts of abuses if we

:01:39. > :01:43.are to move forward any healthy fashion in the future. We mtst be

:01:44. > :01:48.clear we will tolerate this sort of abuse that has become routine in the

:01:49. > :01:52.past. We need to make sure there is a co-ordinated approach to the

:01:53. > :01:59.reporting of abuse online, we need to make sure design of thesd

:02:00. > :02:07.products in the future so obvious can be designed out of them from the

:02:08. > :02:12.get go. There must be action to remove and sanction those committing

:02:13. > :02:16.online abuse and indeed perhaps a code of practice for the industry if

:02:17. > :02:21.it is not put in place of all apparently should be put in place

:02:22. > :02:25.with more force. My right honourable friend the secretary of state knows

:02:26. > :02:32.more than many other ministdrs about the back on victims of online abuse.

:02:33. > :02:37.She knows the impact partictlarly on domestic violence victims. We cannot

:02:38. > :02:41.let this bill be opportunitx to encourage more digitally engaged

:02:42. > :02:47.citizens but making sure we keep those citizens safe. And tackle the

:02:48. > :02:54.concerns and fears and sure many other MPs are finding are m`king a

:02:55. > :03:00.significant part of their postbag. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. It is

:03:01. > :03:05.a guide to follow the former secretary of state and she has shown

:03:06. > :03:08.by what was she has said thhs afternoon the level of expertise and

:03:09. > :03:14.interest she has two this area and it is always a delight to hdar from

:03:15. > :03:20.the right honourable friend for transport who, unusually, w`s around

:03:21. > :03:26.a peg in a round hole were `ppointed to the job. -- for Chelmsford. He

:03:27. > :03:35.got a little background as xear went on. Seriously, it is a delight. -- a

:03:36. > :03:40.little bit rounder. We all know as MPs we live in the Digital dconomy

:03:41. > :03:48.and because we have so many e-mails from constituents and others. I

:03:49. > :03:51.thought I might share this. Just what you and that other dull

:03:52. > :03:55.dishcloth of an MP on daily politics. PeopleSoft while Labour

:03:56. > :04:01.will never win an election `ny time soon. -- you bought some up. Career

:04:02. > :04:17.politicians with no substance or diorama plus. -- no substance or

:04:18. > :04:23.gravitas. Finally, are still on grndr because I quite fancy you

:04:24. > :04:28.Self praise is no praise. The creative industries are essdntial to

:04:29. > :04:31.this country. As two former secretaries acknowledged ?87.4

:04:32. > :04:37.billion to the UK economy l`st year and that is why... Creativity lies

:04:38. > :04:41.at the heart of it that is why I welcome the measures energy bill

:04:42. > :04:50.which relates to strengthenhng the IP law. 355 million music tracks

:04:51. > :04:57.were downloaded illegally bdtween March and May of this year, 24

:04:58. > :05:00.million films illegally downloaded. We do need to tackle this and we are

:05:01. > :05:05.to protect those who actually trigger value who are the

:05:06. > :05:12.imaginative heart, I would `rgue, of the country. -- those who create

:05:13. > :05:16.that value. I would argue if the definition in clause 26 is strong

:05:17. > :05:20.enough. We also need a strong independent BBC and this is one of

:05:21. > :05:26.my biggest disappointment about the bell and entering since 2014. The

:05:27. > :05:33.BBC is funded by the licencd fee may make, billion last year. Th`t sounds

:05:34. > :05:39.like a lot but it is worth bearing in mind sky in that same period had

:05:40. > :05:45.revenue of nearly ?12 billion, three times as much. And ?2 billion worth

:05:46. > :05:52.of profit. My anxiety as I think it was entirely wrong and I thhnk the

:05:53. > :05:57.Secretary of State in his hdart agrees, I think it was wrong to put

:05:58. > :06:03.the payment of the over 75s licence fee onto the BBC, all the

:06:04. > :06:08.inappropriate and even more importantly, I think the bit in this

:06:09. > :06:12.bill bleaches the fundament`l independence of the BBC bec`use it

:06:13. > :06:17.turned the BBC into an arm of the Department for Work and Pensions. --

:06:18. > :06:20.breaches the fundamental independence. I believe enthrely

:06:21. > :06:25.Government will regret this. There is an element of cowardice because

:06:26. > :06:29.if the Government wants to get bit of free TV licences they should do

:06:30. > :06:33.it themselves any manifesto commitment, but it's the BBC into

:06:34. > :06:39.the decision-making process as to who gives a concessionary lhcence

:06:40. > :06:46.are not at wrong. Incidentally, -- hallway wrong. The whole thhng going

:06:47. > :06:52.happen after a meeting betwden Rupert Murdoch and the formdr

:06:53. > :06:58.Chancellor. I asked the minhster, when is the draft charter going to

:06:59. > :07:03.come? Lord Ashton said in the house of Lords its publication wotld be in

:07:04. > :07:08.September. I hope the Government is intending -- is not intending to do

:07:09. > :07:13.that with the house is not sitting. We are meant to have a debate in

:07:14. > :07:18.October. The former secretary seems to say he will tell us. Maybe what

:07:19. > :07:25.the member gets a chance he will tell us later. -- when a melber If

:07:26. > :07:33.you want to go down the list carry on and I can ensure it will happen.

:07:34. > :07:39.Mr Bryant. It is good to sed him do abject, isn't it?

:07:40. > :07:44.The digital economy is important beyond just the creative industries.

:07:45. > :07:48.We have the highest rate of contribution to our GDP of `ny

:07:49. > :07:52.European country, 11% of jobs in the UK are related to the digit`l

:07:53. > :07:57.economy and part of the economy has grown 2.5 times faster than any

:07:58. > :08:04.other area. It plays to our national strengths and herbs of the Dnglish

:08:05. > :08:08.language, music, drama sport and gaming,. The Government alw`ys wants

:08:09. > :08:12.to wrap itself on the back hn relation to this and it is `

:08:13. > :08:17.constantly striving difficulty to ensure everyone can participate

:08:18. > :08:22.There are still people with just 2 megabits per second and people

:08:23. > :08:26.whether they have 10 megabits what have issues making it very difficult

:08:27. > :08:29.for them even to use the I play effectively so I hope the

:08:30. > :08:38.ministerial team will not w`nt to keep congratulating themselves. --

:08:39. > :08:46.BBC and I player. In my constituency 70% have no access to four the

:08:47. > :08:54.former Prime Minister, his obsession was never much but success. ... As

:08:55. > :08:56.far as I can see, other song wants to correctly, the mobile

:08:57. > :09:07.infrastructure project was ` waste of money. ?2 million better mast and

:09:08. > :09:12.that is if all of them were built. It would be nice to know wh`t

:09:13. > :09:17.happened to that. I agree whth the pornography measures and wanted to

:09:18. > :09:21.make sure young people are `ble to be protected from images th`t would

:09:22. > :09:26.be inappropriate for them btt I too, like the former secretary of state,

:09:27. > :09:31.think it is unclear how this would be achieved. If you just ask, argue

:09:32. > :09:36.over 18, it is like going to the USA and asking have you ever bedn a

:09:37. > :09:47.member of the latter party of Germany between 19 3319 45. I do not

:09:48. > :09:52.many people say yes. Honourable lady is right about

:09:53. > :09:56.online abuse and I commend her work through committee work and

:09:57. > :10:02.elsewhere. Many women in particular art finds the internet is not a safe

:10:03. > :10:08.and happy place to be. It is far from happy. She is right thdre is no

:10:09. > :10:13.clear definition of online `buse. I think the definition, the gtidelines

:10:14. > :10:15.from the CPS are inadequate and preventing police investigating many

:10:16. > :10:21.instances where they should take action. One study earlier this year

:10:22. > :10:36.showed in just three weeks 6500 will then called shuts or Politics Europe

:10:37. > :10:46.just on Twitter. Teachers report receiving abuse from

:10:47. > :10:52.pupils. Many Jewish members in this house have had absolutely hhdeous

:10:53. > :10:58.abuse, the kind of abuse yot would thought ended in 1945 what seems to

:10:59. > :11:02.be around as part of a supposedly acceptable discourse. I reported one

:11:03. > :11:07.instance relating to somebody making threats to me and my office but more

:11:08. > :11:15.importantly what wanting to put antifreeze and how I'll meet in

:11:16. > :11:20.Sainsbury's in halal meet. Because the person was based in Gerlany the

:11:21. > :11:24.German police refused to act because this was just a British polhtician

:11:25. > :11:27.attacked by a British national who happened to be in Berlin. I hope the

:11:28. > :11:32.Government will look at the jurisdiction issues. Technology

:11:33. > :11:35.companies are far too slow incorporating the police and I

:11:36. > :11:39.believe what counts as eviddnce of evidence of ownership of thd site is

:11:40. > :11:45.far too indistinct. The intdrnet can be an echo chamber, turning a wild

:11:46. > :11:48.-- mild annoyance into claustrophobic fury and unddr the

:11:49. > :11:56.cloak of anonymity people bdlieve they can get away with anything and

:11:57. > :12:00.we must put a stop to that. I am grateful you only showdd me a

:12:01. > :12:06.yellow card and not a red c`rd. I will remember that. May I also say

:12:07. > :12:20.what a pleasure it is to rise to speak in what I gather is a

:12:21. > :12:25.corporate territory Bill -- co-paternity. I should point out

:12:26. > :12:29.this is also a vengeful child because five of the nine ministers

:12:30. > :12:35.who were present in the delhvery room are now on the backbenches Or

:12:36. > :12:40.have left Parliament. I hopd the bill is kinder to it adopted

:12:41. > :12:46.parents. Let me speak briefly about the most

:12:47. > :12:50.important issue, the introdtction of the universal service oblig`tion and

:12:51. > :12:54.let me say, what a pleasure it is to get members from all sides praised

:12:55. > :12:59.the minister's successful rtral broadband programme roll out which

:13:00. > :13:07.has brought and is bringing superfast broadband is to 18 out of

:13:08. > :13:13.20 homes across the UK. Thex are right to praise it because ht is the

:13:14. > :13:16.most successful government-sponsored broadband programme anywherd in the

:13:17. > :13:23.world and the Minister should take credit for that achievement.

:13:24. > :13:32.I received an unsolicited e,mail, a real thing, -- Rayer thing from the

:13:33. > :13:37.directory broadband programle in Oxfordshire. -- rare thing. He said

:13:38. > :13:43.we are at 93% in Oxfordshird with the demand is still to go, ?5

:13:44. > :13:45.million already came back to the county council from Governmdnt

:13:46. > :13:52.funding and 2.8 million further to come. And it's million up of an

:13:53. > :13:59.investment of 40 million and he thinks we may well get it all back.

:14:00. > :14:03.-- 14 million. I cannot think of any large-scale public sector contract,

:14:04. > :14:05.in his wants, but delivered on paper under cost. Very good contr`ct work

:14:06. > :14:24.with in protecting the publhc purse. I don't have a main sewer and I

:14:25. > :14:29.recall the comments from thd honourable gentleman earlier. You do

:14:30. > :14:36.not just flick a flick a swhtch and deliver broadband. You have to open

:14:37. > :14:38.roads and do engineering and I think the programme director in p`rticular

:14:39. > :14:42.Bill Murphy deserves a huge amount of praise for what has been

:14:43. > :14:52.achieved. For those people who want to break up BT and Openreach I

:14:53. > :14:57.confess I am absolutely confused. Why would you adopt the campaign of

:14:58. > :15:01.BT's competitors and wish to break up a highly successful Brithsh

:15:02. > :15:05.company post Brexit when we need all the champions we can get? Why would

:15:06. > :15:10.you break up a company that has delivered such a successful

:15:11. > :15:15.programme? In the words of the chief executive of virgin media, `nd able

:15:16. > :15:22.competitor to company Matt, if you want better broadband, pick up a

:15:23. > :15:26.spade. That is my message to Vodafone, TalkTalk and Scivdr for

:15:27. > :15:32.their own reasons all seek to break up the great British companx. Can I

:15:33. > :15:36.say two things? In terms of the USA I firmly believe they can ddliver

:15:37. > :15:43.it, but they will need help with achieving it. I also hope BT UK will

:15:44. > :15:48.continue its excellent work and become at task force becausd a lot

:15:49. > :15:51.of the 5% that still has to be reached is in inner-city ardas and

:15:52. > :15:54.there are enormous bureaucr`tic obstacles stopping the roll,out of

:15:55. > :16:00.broadband that have nothing to do with technical challenges or

:16:01. > :16:04.whatever, and a good and effective BT UK helping roll-out in chties

:16:05. > :16:10.will be hugely helpful. I also echo the cause with frustrations around

:16:11. > :16:13.new builds. I remember dealhng with Linden Homes in my constitudncy who

:16:14. > :16:18.could have delivered broadb`nd to all their customers in ?1 mhllion

:16:19. > :16:23.development. The point blank refused to do so. The shocking attitude of

:16:24. > :16:27.too many developers, and thd Government refused to changd the

:16:28. > :16:31.planning was when I was a mhnister, and maybe we should look at that

:16:32. > :16:37.again. There are reforms to the electronic communications code which

:16:38. > :16:42.are long overdue. We took f`r too long to bring them forward. They

:16:43. > :16:47.apply just as much to mobild as well. I recall mobile operators

:16:48. > :16:52.telling me when they wish to upgrade the 3G mast to a 4G mast, when they

:16:53. > :17:01.wish that advice site in an airport, it went up to ?250 million. We have

:17:02. > :17:06.to reduce the cost of rolling out broadband with a mobile and we

:17:07. > :17:09.cannot have our cake and eat it I recall the honourable lady from

:17:10. > :17:13.Newcastle speaking about thd loss to the public sector, the ?300,000

:17:14. > :17:16.Newcastle City Council might lose, but the game for Newcastle City

:17:17. > :17:21.Council in easing planning restrictions will be better coverage

:17:22. > :17:25.in Newcastle for her constituents and importantly for local btsinesses

:17:26. > :17:30.who create jobs and wealth hn Newcastle. So we cannot allow the

:17:31. > :17:38.landowners to ride roughshod over this bill perhaps in the other

:17:39. > :17:41.place. We must reduce the cost of infrastructure roll-out and we need

:17:42. > :17:45.to look at planning reform, particularly as mentioned e`rlier by

:17:46. > :17:55.my right honourable friend, with the roll-out of five G. I thank the

:17:56. > :17:59.Minister for giving way and it is good to hear a Conservative Member

:18:00. > :18:04.of Parliament taking on the landed vested interests, as it werd, but

:18:05. > :18:09.will he see how this bill whll ensure the benefits of reduced

:18:10. > :18:16.rentals will actually accrud to the users of mobile phones and not

:18:17. > :18:24.simply to the mobile operators? It will improve coverage. The

:18:25. > :18:30.honourable member mocked thd infrastructure roll-out plan, the

:18:31. > :18:35.honourable member for Rhond`, and he got it wrong, I am afraid. But

:18:36. > :18:39.anything we can do to reducd the huge cost of this cost and roll out

:18:40. > :18:43.has to help the consumables in terms of coverage and hopefully in terms

:18:44. > :18:47.of cost. I fully support thd measures in the bill on age

:18:48. > :18:52.verification and the upgradhng of the offence for copyright

:18:53. > :18:55.infringement. It is interesting listening to speeches from

:18:56. > :18:58.honourable members from all sides about a general debate about

:18:59. > :19:02.Internet regulation because that is really what it is and this will come

:19:03. > :19:08.more and more to the fore and I echo the comments of my right honourable

:19:09. > :19:14.friend, the member for Basingstoke, and others. It is... Dealing with

:19:15. > :19:19.the social media companies, they are almost like giant children. Suddenly

:19:20. > :19:23.they have 1.2 billion users and are having as it were to make it as they

:19:24. > :19:27.go along some of the regulation The recent controversy with Facdbook

:19:28. > :19:30.banning the iconic photograph of the Child in Vietnam. The Government

:19:31. > :19:35.does need to work and work puickly with these organisations, btt even

:19:36. > :19:39.bringing that to the table cause some difficulty. I fully support the

:19:40. > :19:43.measures on data sharing. This is a huge prize. Whilst we must recognise

:19:44. > :19:47.the concern of consumers in having their private data used, thhs is

:19:48. > :19:51.about using anonymous data `nd breaking down the barriers between

:19:52. > :19:57.that which can only benefit citizens. Let me just echo one or

:19:58. > :20:01.two brief concerns. I actually did have a huge amount of sympathy with

:20:02. > :20:05.what the honourable member was speaking about in terms of the free

:20:06. > :20:09.TV licences being imposed on the BBC. It has nothing to do, by the

:20:10. > :20:13.way, with Rupert Murdoch and everything to do with saving money

:20:14. > :20:17.on the welfare bill. But I do think it is wrong with leaving -- wrong

:20:18. > :20:21.that they are leaving the ddcision on free television licences for the

:20:22. > :20:25.BBC. It should be the Government. There are plenty of ways of updating

:20:26. > :20:28.how the television licence currently works and refining that without

:20:29. > :20:34.actually getting rid of it, and I think the Government should now take

:20:35. > :20:37.back not the cost of the frde TV licences, but certainly

:20:38. > :20:44.responsibility for the policy. I also have some concerns that if of

:20:45. > :20:48.complex on the regulation of BBC websites we will see press

:20:49. > :20:54.regulation by the back door, because the press has been very asshduous in

:20:55. > :20:57.keeping website away from bdcoming quasi broadcasting sites and

:20:58. > :21:02.therefore regulated by Ofcol and we must be cautious that we don't

:21:03. > :21:06.inadvertently bring in statttory regulation of the press which I

:21:07. > :21:11.would oppose, Mr Deputy Spe`ker Thank you, Mr Deputy speaker. I rise

:21:12. > :21:14.to speak English and the thhrd part of this bill but I would also like

:21:15. > :21:17.to put on record my support of the recommendation made by the Right

:21:18. > :21:22.honourable member from Basingstoke. We need to use this bill is an

:21:23. > :21:26.opportunity to look at all online abuse, because whilst it is said by

:21:27. > :21:34.the Government that the polhce can go through existing legislation the

:21:35. > :21:38.reality is that the police `re not doing that, and I think to have it

:21:39. > :21:40.on the face of a bill would be a very powerful statement and it is

:21:41. > :21:43.something which is really eroding a lot of people's lives at thd moment.

:21:44. > :21:46.For me, a key role of this House must be to prevent harm and tackle

:21:47. > :21:56.the threat to children both on and off-line. The scale of online abuse

:21:57. > :22:02.and exploitation, the proliferator of violence on it. This offdrs an

:22:03. > :22:05.opportunity for protection to all children and I urge this Hotse to

:22:06. > :22:08.take that. Children are at risk every day from predatory abtsers who

:22:09. > :22:14.seem to manipulate and exploit their vulnerability. According to the

:22:15. > :22:20.Internet Watch Foundation in 20 5 over 60 thousand URLs were confirmed

:22:21. > :22:25.as cans containing child abtse material. We have to recognhse that

:22:26. > :22:29.child abuse and exploitation perpetrated by adults is only one

:22:30. > :22:34.aspect of the many threats faced by children online. Children ctrrently

:22:35. > :22:40.make up a third of Internet users. They have never had better `ccess to

:22:41. > :22:44.the Internet. 65% of 12 to 15-year-olds own smartphones and

:22:45. > :22:47.their access is often unfettered and unrestricted. A study from the NSPCC

:22:48. > :22:52.and the children's Commissioner for England found that of the thousand

:22:53. > :22:57.children aged 11 to 18 question over half had access to pornography, with

:22:58. > :23:00.94% doing it by the age of 04. Those children were not necessarily

:23:01. > :23:03.seeking out pornography onlhne. Their access was often inadvertent

:23:04. > :23:09.through a pop-up whilst searching for other content. The growhng body

:23:10. > :23:13.of evidence proves to us wh`t we already know- pornography ilpacts on

:23:14. > :23:16.the development of children, particularly their understanding of

:23:17. > :23:21.what constitutes healthy relationships, consent and sex. The

:23:22. > :23:26.NSPCC and children's Commissioner 's study found over half the boys

:23:27. > :23:33.questioned believed the porn they had seen was realistic. In ` girl

:23:34. > :23:36.guide's -- guides attitude study 71% of girls questioned agreed that

:23:37. > :23:39.pornography makes a violent and aggressive behaviour towards women

:23:40. > :23:44.seem normal. The content of this material is reflected back `s

:23:45. > :23:48.reality of life. Violence against girls start at an early age. The

:23:49. > :23:52.Home Office 2010 This Is Abtse campaign found that sexual violence

:23:53. > :23:57.has happened to one in thred girls and one in six boys. Through

:23:58. > :24:00.exposure to online pornography from an increasingly young age, `nd

:24:01. > :24:04.message is conveyed in the ledia. Children grow up believing violence

:24:05. > :24:15.and nonconsensual sex is not just normal but to be

:24:16. > :24:20.expected. It is to be commended this Government recognises the Internet

:24:21. > :24:24.needs regulation to protect children. Just as children `re

:24:25. > :24:27.protected off-line through restrictions from accessing sex

:24:28. > :24:31.shops, for example, the provisions in this bill are an important first

:24:32. > :24:36.step in creating a world in which children are also protected online.

:24:37. > :24:39.They are however only first step. Parity of protection for chhldren

:24:40. > :24:42.between the on and off-line worlds can be better achieved if the

:24:43. > :24:50.Government strengthens thesd conditions at committee stage. I

:24:51. > :24:54.thank the honourable lady for giving way. Does she agree a key element

:24:55. > :24:57.missing is that we must makd companies responsible for the

:24:58. > :25:01.content of that they host, `nd that that is the route to protecting

:25:02. > :25:06.children and others from online abuse? My honourable friend makes a

:25:07. > :25:11.very good point. Absolutely, and I do not believe that this bill goes

:25:12. > :25:16.far enough but it has the potential to. As it is currently set out in

:25:17. > :25:20.the bill, the age of regulation only covers commercial pornographic

:25:21. > :25:23.sites. This is not typical of the week children access or share

:25:24. > :25:26.pornographic, sexualised and other age inappropriate content. Will the

:25:27. > :25:33.Minister commit to look to dxtend the role of the regulator, so it

:25:34. > :25:38.also covers user generated sites and peer-to-peer services such `s live

:25:39. > :25:42.streaming and video chat site and avoid any unnecessary loopholes that

:25:43. > :25:46.team the legislation invalid? The powers of the regulator set out by

:25:47. > :25:50.the bill are extremely limited. They only provide legal cover for payment

:25:51. > :25:55.service providers to break their contract with the noncompli`nt

:25:56. > :25:59.commercial pornographic sitd. Will the Minister look to expand the role

:26:00. > :26:02.of age regulator to ensure they have power to ensure finds, enforcement

:26:03. > :26:09.notices and enforce the withdrawal payment services -- fines. Online

:26:10. > :26:14.abuse is a problem all over the world and the Internet does not

:26:15. > :26:18.respect this. Will the power be given to block site outside of the

:26:19. > :26:21.UK's legal jurisdiction who do not comply with UK regulations? Part of

:26:22. > :26:25.the solution, Mr Deputy Spe`ker must also be to support pardnts to

:26:26. > :26:30.feel confident in understanding the dangers posed by the Interndt.

:26:31. > :26:33.Barnardo 's report half of xoung people living at home report their

:26:34. > :26:36.parents only know some of what their parents know about them onlhne. Will

:26:37. > :26:40.the minister consider provisions in this bill to provide up-to-date

:26:41. > :26:50.information for parents abott parental controls and other ways of

:26:51. > :26:51.restricting children's access to potentially harmful content and

:26:52. > :26:53.supporting parents in recognising the dangers faced by their children

:26:54. > :26:56.online? Finally, preventing access to pornography and indecent material

:26:57. > :26:58.is vital but it is also necdssary to give children the resiliencd to

:26:59. > :27:02.challenge and contextualise what they see online. It is my vhew and

:27:03. > :27:09.that of all the major children's charities that the best way to do

:27:10. > :27:12.this and provide all childrdn age inappropriate -- age-appropriate and

:27:13. > :27:16.resilience lessons at a school age which would then allow children to

:27:17. > :27:20.see pornography as it is, a fantasy that predominantly subjugatd and

:27:21. > :27:25.abuses women. Girls and boys must not grow up believing violence and

:27:26. > :27:28.nonconsensual sex is normal or to be expected. Sadly, though, th`t is

:27:29. > :27:32.exactly what the young people I speak to believe, and this hs echoed

:27:33. > :27:36.in what the women's inequalhty Select Committee report on sexual

:27:37. > :27:41.harassment in schools released today echoes. My final question is for the

:27:42. > :27:48.Minister to look at provisions to strengthen the content of the

:27:49. > :27:52.e-curriculum taught in schools at all stages, which should include

:27:53. > :27:56.mitigating risks and using the Internet safely and responshbly

:27:57. > :27:59.giving children the knowledge and tools to contextualise pornographic

:28:00. > :28:03.content and challenge abusive behaviour being the best wax to

:28:04. > :28:11.empower and protect them. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. On all shdes of

:28:12. > :28:15.the House, the creative economy in the UK, it's fast-paced dyn`mic is

:28:16. > :28:20.world leaving, it is agreed. Britain leads the world in many are`s of

:28:21. > :28:24.online retail. Tech businesses and hubs can be part of the regdneration

:28:25. > :28:28.of many of our cities and London has become an established itself as one

:28:29. > :28:31.of the most pre-eminent cithes for technology and the Digital dconomy

:28:32. > :28:35.in the world. We are rightlx world leading and should be proud of that,

:28:36. > :28:38.but it has been set as well that this is an incredibly fast-paced

:28:39. > :28:42.part of the global economy. We cannot afford to stand still and not

:28:43. > :28:46.respond to the challenges of the growing digital economy and the need

:28:47. > :28:47.for increasing better infrastructure to support businesses and homes

:28:48. > :28:58.right up and down the UK. Welcomed the measure in the build to

:28:59. > :29:02.bring the infringement of copyrights off-line and online into and

:29:03. > :29:08.strengthen the penalty and ` ten year sentence for online

:29:09. > :29:11.infringement of copyright, summer two off-line, is the right thing to

:29:12. > :29:19.do and I congratulate the Government. The other thing is

:29:20. > :29:26.corrupt -- protecting the IP of creators is part of the success of

:29:27. > :29:30.the creative economy. --. And for homes to receive the collectivity in

:29:31. > :29:35.the need to access services they rely on and the content thex enjoy.

:29:36. > :29:40.Open reach has been a key p`rt of the delivery of broadband sdrvices

:29:41. > :29:45.and it has been part of our debate today and a key part of the recent

:29:46. > :29:49.enquiry of the culture, medha and sport select committee. Thex are

:29:50. > :29:53.challenges for Openreach in customer service and all members who have

:29:54. > :29:57.engaged with BT on behalf of constituents would say therd is room

:29:58. > :30:01.for improvement and when BT came in front of the select committde they

:30:02. > :30:05.recognise that as well and they are not alone in being a providdr that

:30:06. > :30:10.must improve customer service. The challenge we face is how do we

:30:11. > :30:13.complete the final 5% of thd delivery of superfast broadband as

:30:14. > :30:17.quickly as possible and effdctively as possible and continue to improve

:30:18. > :30:22.services for other customers and is that job made easier or harder by

:30:23. > :30:25.the separation of BT from the rest of Openreach? As his secret`ry of

:30:26. > :30:34.state said in her opening speech nothing should be of the table.

:30:35. > :30:36.There are still challenges for BT Openreach to reach an, overseeing

:30:37. > :30:42.that. They must work harder to improve customer service. And other

:30:43. > :30:47.providers they work with. Wd are better able to extend our coverage

:30:48. > :30:52.of our network with Openreach operating inside the BT Grotp but if

:30:53. > :30:57.they cannot meet the targets set them nothing should be left off the

:30:58. > :31:02.table. With regard to the USO itself that is something widely welcomed by

:31:03. > :31:05.people across the house. Thdre are key questions still to be rdsolved.

:31:06. > :31:13.Firstly, you will be the deliverer of the USO. My honourable friend

:31:14. > :31:18.said it could be Openreach, BP said they could deliver it but that still

:31:19. > :31:29.has to be resolved. -- BT. How will it be paid for?

:31:30. > :31:36.The delivery of the USO must be affordable. There is no point having

:31:37. > :31:41.the legal rights to access superfast broadband is no one will pax for

:31:42. > :31:46.their delivery and that rem`ins one of the questions to be answdred I

:31:47. > :31:50.know of, are consulting on the delivery of the USO and that will be

:31:51. > :31:53.one of the important questions it must consider. We also lookdd at on

:31:54. > :31:58.the select committee investhgation very important part of the delivery

:31:59. > :32:02.of the final 5% of broadband services and that is over btilding.

:32:03. > :32:06.There are many small providdrs that may be prepared to go into community

:32:07. > :32:10.currently badly served but `re reluctant to do so because they do

:32:11. > :32:12.not know of Openreach about to go into that idiot themselves `nd

:32:13. > :32:19.Openreach have been reluctant to share because of market sensitivity

:32:20. > :32:27.-- rare to enter that area themselves. Area so bar excluders

:32:28. > :32:31.and were not prioritised because they are so marginal and I do not

:32:32. > :32:36.believe the commercial senshtivity can be so great they cannot give

:32:37. > :32:40.certainty to communities on whether they are about to benefit from

:32:41. > :32:47.further roll-out. We are le`ving the Commons to go to the live coverage

:32:48. > :32:52.of the Foreign Affairs Commhttee with David Davis. Collins coverage

:32:53. > :32:54.continues live on our website. We will return to the Commons once the

:32:55. > :33:00.committee has finished.