Live Culture, Media and Sport Questions House of Commons

in both houses of parliament at 11pm, but first we have questions

the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Karen Bradley, and

ministerial team. Mr Speaker, before I start, I would like to remind the

House that as per today's order paper, I plan to make a statement on

the proposed merger of 21st-century Fox and Sky. I will not be answering

any questions on subjects during oral questions but will be happy to

do so later today. We have been engaging with representatives from

across the creative industries to understand the potential impact and

opportunities of the UK's decision to leave the EU, including on

funding, the Treasury has announced it will guarantee funding for

investment fund projects between the time will you be you and 2020. Gwent

has been the film location from Doctor Who to the hitchhikers guide

to the Galaxy. Keen that the British film industry to thrive at the

Brexit, so can the government negotiate for it to stay in the

vital film funding project, which our own British film Institute helps

hold together? Can I join the honourable gentleman and praising

Gwent and all parts of Wales which are used as the locations for some

fantastic films and television programmes, but also the studios in

Cardiff, where many of the great programmes, including Doctor Who,

films. Am aware of the views about creative Europe and we are looking

at all European funds and making decisions about what is the

appropriate from United Kingdom to those funds post-leaving the

European Union. Can I welcome recognition of the importance to the

creative industries? Of their ability to be able to license on the

exclusive territorial basis. But can she ensure that message gets across

the UK permanent representation in Brussels said that whilst we are

still in the EU, they argued that plays as strongly as possible? I

think I can say categorically yes, but the point he refers to is one of

the reasons that people were concerned about our membership of

the EU, and I think one of the things that led to the vote on the

23rd of June last year. It is not only funding that could be affected

by leaving the EU but the growth of the creative industries, which

contributes ?87.1 billion, ?180,000 a minute to UK's economy. What

safeguards issue putting in place to protect this current thriving sector

of UK plc, and they can take this opportunity to put on record my

enormous thanks to her and her team for bringing forward the legislation

and taken on board all the recommendations on the Waterson

review? Can I thank the honourable lady? The two of us met three years

ago on this matter when I was a minister at the Home Office and had

responsibility for the matter, and I know she has campaigned long and

hard to achieve this. Together with my honourable friend from Selby, she

deserves great credit for the past we have reached this point. With

regard to the greater industries, which she rightly says is a great

British success story, which is one of the reasons the creative

industries are mentioned explicitly in our industrial strategy Green

paper, and I think also it is worth saying that the creative industries

are great UK success story because they are global, truly global, they

are not just looking at the European Union as a market, they are looking

across the hall of the world, and I want to make sure they continue to

have the success they do. Does the state agree there's been

cross-fertilisation of creative and artistic talent among the people of

Europe for several millennia, and there's no reason to suppose this.

Once we leave the EU? I will take the hint for brevity and say yes.

All across Europe, our competitors in the creative industries are ready

to pounce. Leaving Brexit, uncertainty is their opportunity.

Does the Secretary of State realise that by refusing to guarantee the

residency rights of EU nationals this week, the government has once

again shown itself to be a pro champion of those and in this sector

of the UK? We've had the debate about EU nationals in their cells,

and we have been clear that we want to get early certainty for EU

nationals, but very importantly, for UK nationals in Europe. It is

incredibly important we get that reciprocal arrangement as soon as

possible, so that we can give that certainty. The Secretary of State

will be aware the culture media and sport select committee visited

Belfast where we were able to visit the gamer friends said. When we

asked about EU contribution to the Northern Ireland industry, EU

funding did not come up, but access to a UK talent pool did. Does she

believe government investment should be invested in building up that

pool? The honourable gentleman is right, we need to make sure we got

the skills and talent in the UK and we attract the brightest and best

from the world, and I'm looking forward to visiting Northern

Ireland. There are a few political issues stopping me doing so, but as

soon as they are resolved, I will make that visit. The government is

assessing the impact of leaving be you on voluntary and community

sector. We are in ongoing discussions about the challenges and

opportunities that it presents. I encourage charities to raise

specific concerns were relevant departments, and we will continue to

work with the sector and devolved Administration is gone including the

Welsh Assembly, as we plan our exit from the EU. I would like to thank

the Minister puts response and place on record I'd share the group for

charities and volunteering. The Minister will be aware that this is

a serious situation. Somewhere between three and 50 million and 450

million being seen as the rector shortfall. Kammy has assurances

there will be a long-term strategy in place, not just in terms of

current funding but a long-term Sergei -- can we? -- strategy.

Their support in this House and outside is a great benefit to the

sector. In terms of working with the sector on funding, leaving the EU

doesn't mean we will want to make our own decisions on how we deliver

the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. For projects

signed after autumn 2016, Autumn Statement, after we leave the EU,

funding will be honoured by the Treasury. Ever provide strong body

for money and is in line with domestic priorities -- if it provide

strong value for money. Including to social change, the amount charities

get from the EU amounts to no .5% of the income. Does he agree that the

opportunity afforded by the government's proposals to access

dormant funds will go a long way to covering any shortfall in funding

from the EU and may indeed exceeded? Indeed I do. Last year, according to

the Charity commission, the sector receives about ?73 billion in

income. The government has a number of funding mechanisms it is aiding

the sector in, 5 billion pounds worth of tax relief and others

aboard is in place to make sure the charity sector can go from strength

to strength. The Scottish Council for voluntary organisations conduct

a survey last month on the impact of Brexit on the charity and voluntary

sector. 40% of the charities were concerned about the networks in

collaborations with other EU charities. I wonder what the

Minister can do to reassure Scottish charities and across the UK that

those networks will be protected post Brexit? Of course, charity

legislation is both devolved from the EU, so Charity legislation is a

UK responsibility, and within the UK, responsibility but charity

legislation is devolved to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. What I

can say is that the government is listing very closely to all parts of

civil society across the UK and we will be working very closely with

them to make sure we do have a long-term plan and do have a

long-term strategy. The Brexit secretary tells us he's done no work

to understand the implications of a new deal Brexit on the country. What

does the Minister doing to understand the implications of no

deal Brexit on charities, not just in terms of funding but also the

workforce, which is diverse? There has been an enormous amount of work

on going, we recognise civil society organisations have a wide range of

very important views on Brexit. We have chaired the number of round

tables were representatives from the sector, we are working closely with

the sector and as I said in a previous answer, we have a long-term

plan and strategy to make sure the sector is supported. I can tell how

is that independent figures show superfast broadband is now available

to 92.5% of UK premises on track to meet our manifesto commitment of 95%

by the end of the year. I'm grateful to the Minister for that answer, the

superfast roll-out in a publisher is ahead of schedule, but what

reassurance can and as they give to my constituents in the most

difficult to reach areas, those who find themselves in county

boundaries, that they will benefit from this too? The honourable

member's support the digital bill means universal service obligation

to bring high-speed broadband to every premise is getting closer to

reality, but also because of take-up of superfast broadband, every person

no publisher who takes up superfast broadband also helps to get the

roll-out to go further, because more money goes back into the system to

provide more connections. It is shameful that seven out of the ten

UK communities with the slowest broadband download speed are in

Wales, many places are bottom. BT backed out. Will the Minister join

me in asking when the Labour Welsh government will speed up their act

Is the broadband contract in Wales on broadband?

Is the broadband contract in Wales is a matter for the Welsh

Government. -- the delivery of the broadband contract. The Welsh

Government has made some progress on this recently and we have been

working together. The geography of Wales means the Reuters hard about

us -- means the Reuters hard but that doesn't mean we should not get

everyone with High Speed 3 broadband by the end of the decade. Our

contribution to the bill will make that happen. In my village, 100

houses, 12 have not been eligible for superfast broadband. Openreach

can solve this with the simple application of wireless programme.

But they have fused to do so. -- refused. Does the Minister accept

that quite often, even though the Government might say it has met its

targets and, for that matter, broadband providers will say they

have fantastic speeds, in reality, in the House or business, people

will experience speeds which are much slower and nowhere near what

the Government promises. I am not attacking the Government in this. I

am simply trying to get reality into the equation so that people in their

homes and businesses can really get proper, superfast broadband. Mr

Speaker, working with the honourable member on this subject has been

unusually enjoyable. Because he is not making party political points on

this one. He has been working very hard for his constituents. We have

been engaged in serious correspondence. The truth is that we

use independent figures on roll-out. A lot of people don't take up the

broadband that is available to them. I would call the honourable

gentleman, the member for Macclesfield, if he were standing.

I'm glad to say that he is! It is very good to be able to ask this

question. Thank you for the opportunity. The Secretary of State,

and welcome his steps to improve broadband across the country. Can my

right honourable friend tell us more about the fibre connection vouchers

and how they will assist businesses in rural communities? Yes, I can. In

the budget, we announced we are going to have a full five business

venture. -- fibre business connection.

We will be implementing that was the end of this year and I look forward

to doing that. This super-duper broadband, which is relatively new

to me, will be able to expose, even more so, the Tory election fraud.

What a wonderful idea! Mr Speaker, I thought even he was going to join in

this nonpartisan celebration of connectivity. But unfortunately, you

can resist. I do not know which century the Minister had in mind.

Data from the House of Commons Library shows that in my

constituency, there is some of the worst levels of broadband with a

quarter of residents experiencing pathetic download speeds. Will my

right honourable friend get his department to sit down with

Openreach to away from Adam Ward? Yes, we're making some progress in

Lancashire. -- to help the problem in that ward? We want to connect

everybody with a decent speed in Lancashire in the next few years.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We are firmly committed to improving diversity and

social mobility in broadcasting, as in other areas of the trades and

industries. Next week, we will host the first-ever formal diversity for

Abbey Road Studios, bringing together people from music, film,

broadcasting and sport to build a country that whatsoever one. I am

grateful for that. Can you update the House on discussions he is

having an progress with securing minimum levels of access to

subtitling, signing and audio description in on demand services?

Yes, we have made some progress in terms of on demand services. The

broadcasters, I think, do a very good job of making sure that

subtitling is available. Obviously, technology has changed the way that

people consume video and a lot more of it is on demand. So we are

introducing rules to make sure that on demand gets the same sort of

subtitling. In October last year, the BBC Look

North reporter Dan Carpenter, suspended for making vile comments

regarding... I have written several letters to the BBC to find out what

their investigations are and they haven't given me an answer. Does he

agree that although we agree with diversity of opinion within

broadcasting and views, the BBC should take action in relation to Mr

Carpenter but also to prevent re-occurrence of such ridiculous

bias. We rightly don't have direct Government regulation of the BBC in

this area. I think that is appropriate. We are introducing,

through the new charter, off, as the regulator. That will come in once

the digital economy bill becomes law. -- Ofcom. It will be Ofcom and

the BBC's board that should ensure they get his judgment is right.

Previously, the Minister of state-owned house that he had chosen

for white males for the four board rejected a well-qualified bay in a

woman because he rejected tokenism. The Secretary of State filled to

appoint a... Isn't the only diversity year that between

Secretary of State and the Minister of the, who thinks he should be the

Secretary of State? No. On the Welsh appointment to

Wales, it is a great pity that when the Welsh Government had a

representative on the panel who signed off the appoint ability of

the candidate, that the Welsh minister decided not to appoint, it

would be far better, given the Welsh Government agreed that the candidate

in question was a point double, that the appointment should be made. --

point. I have regular discussions with

Cabinet colleagues about the UK's native industries and I am pleased

that the creative industries are that the heart of the Government's

work in building our industrial strategy. The green paper includes

an LA sector review of the creative industries. It is critical that our

world-leading creative industries have access to skills they need and

this is one of the three themes of the review. I do not know she is

aware, but there is an acute skills shortage in trade of industries and

the simple way to change this is apprenticeship. There are

insufficient training establishments and not enough support for relevant

skills, compared to structural engineering. And no history of

training apprenticeships in this industry. As the minister aware and

what is she doing about these problems? I am very aware of these

problems. There are structural problems with creative industries

that have prevented apprenticeships being set up in the past. But we do

have a specific works and looking at skills and I am in discussions with

the Department for Education to make sure we get those apprenticeship

opportunities. Mr Speaker, number six. I have been reforming the

sector and widening the strength and depth as part of a long-term plan

for the charity sector. Then -- there has been a recent report that

there could be up to ?2 billion of additional dormant assets that could

be transformational. I am grateful for that reply. In Suffolk, there

was great success in grass root causes, so will the Minister meet

with the Suffolk committee foundation and myself to discuss how

such a challenge might be reading just? -- might be reintroduced? I am

very pleased to read of the Suffolk foundation's success.

There was a permanent endowment raised of ?130 million, which has

provided ?5.8 million in grants to local groups up to the end of 2015

and it will continue to support local community groups and projects

across England in the future. There are no plans to expand this

programme in the current Parliament, however I am happy to discuss this

father and in due course to see if there might be some consideration of

a dormant assets are spent. Number 10, please, Mr Speaker. We seems to

move on very quickly there. The Government is committed to ensuring

that the arts are accessible to everyone, regardless of background

and not just the privileged few. That is why the Government's paper

published this month set out a range of commitments to increase access

and participation, including a new cultural citizens programme for

young people. I wonder if the Secretary of State could read the

social mobilities report... We heard a great deal about hope a lot of

people were completely denied access to the arts and they are not

prepared cannot afford to take unpaid work placements. Additionally

limiting access. Can I suggest she takes into consideration banning

unpaid internships lasting more than one month? I pictured it to the

rural gentleman for what he does annual Parliamentary group. -- I pay

tribute to the honourable gentleman. I will look at the points he has

made. But this Government has done much to change the culture when it

comes to unpaid internships. I never have taken on an unpaid intern for

one and make sure there should be proper recompense for people who

work in my office. My right honourable friend will obviously be

aware that the Royal Opera house, particularly the ballet, which I am

most familiar with, is regularly screened around the country so that

anybody can see it and see it locally without having to come to

London. She makes a very important point. The screening of the Royal

Opera house's productions across the country has widened access to this.

And I feel very strongly that we should have fantastic regional arts,

including the fantastic art site visited at Hull, City of Culture,

last Friday. I saw some amazing work being done to make sure arts reach

everyone. Will the Secretary of State look at some of the work we

did without shared the Education Committee about young people's

access to the arts? Daesh middle-class children would go with

parents to the arts. It is vital that we encourage schools to take

kids to the arts and those things. He makes an important point. That is

why it was a manifesto commitment that we would keep the access to

museums to make sure there is access available to young people, whatever

their background. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Local

authorities should recognise the huge benefits that investing in the

arts and culture can bring and many already do, building successful

partnerships to deliver arts and culture and developing new models

and ways of working together. The Government really ought to recognise

the importance of investing in local authorities to deliver these

services. Given the crisis in local authority funding, philanthropic

giving is playing an increasingly important role. The Minister will be

aware, I think, of the success of going public. Such as Sheffield's

initiative of private giving. Would he be prepared to meet to discuss

what more can be done on that front? I would be delighted to. The best

local authorities and increasing investment in arts and culture

because the value of it in strengthening the sense of place and

in making sure arts are available to all. There's no excuse for not doing

so. A new organisation called artist

Taunton has been established, including the new guard in town.

Would he agree this sector should have equal weighting of other

sectors and can not only raises spirits, but benefit the economy?

She is right, and I commend Art Taunton, and initiatives like it,

for embedding arts and culture in all aspects of life. It is important

that people of all ages have the opportunity and are encouraged to

participate. I'm aware the concerns relating to

youth football contracts in Scotland's and have followed up with

the English authorities. In relation to youth football, I understand the

Scottish Government is discussing these matters with stakeholders,

including the football authorities, PFA Scotland. Dug god I thank her

for that answer. I presume she is aware of the fact the real

grassroots campaign group has highlighted some purple groups are

paying as little as ?1 a week for you football players who are doing

30 hours work. Can the Minister confirmed what she will do? This is

a devolved issue, but I do understand the Scottish Government

has emphasised strongly to the Scottish FA that concerns must be

taken seriously. We take the duty of care for youngsters incredibly

We are on track to deliver 95% We are on track to deliver 95%

access to the UK homes and businesses were superfast broadband

and by 2020 will introduce our universal negotiation to ring

broadband to all parts, including the most far-flung. Like London, if

you start your journey in Orkney? We have a bald improvable to boost

productivity, but we are fraught it at every turn by off, regulation.

But the Minister meet with me to discuss how we could actually use of

calm as an enabler, rather than an abstract? Yes, I am more familiar

than I would have expected with telecoms policy because of how they

have managed to roll-out connectivity to the Hall of those

islands and to see whether we can do that to some of the islands in

Scotland. The roll-out of superfast broadband in Scotland is done

through the Scottish Government, they have been much, much lower than

almost every other part of the UK. At much lower than the Labour Welsh

government, but I'm sure that together we can make sure we bring

the country together by delivering good connectivity. I am delighted to

as question number 14. We'll wondered whether the honourable

gentleman would get there. Brevity. The question of privatisation is is,

we see ITV profits at 26% of turnover, Channel 4 has ?1 billion.

Is the government considering privatising Channel 4 and taken a

quarter of that income for programming away? The honourable

gentleman knows that in the fast changing and challenging

broadcasting environment, the government wants to ensure Channel 4

as a strong and secure future, and can provide for audiences and

support the credit industries around the UK. I am looking at a broad

range of options and I will report in June course. -- due course. The

government announced a review of gaming machines and social

responsibility measures, which included machines and we expect to

publish our findings in the spring. Can the Secretary of State reassure

this House that action will be taken gets fixed odds betting terminals,

the so-called crack cocaine of gambling? In my own constituency,

135 of these machines are in operation, which a vulnerable player

can lose ?100 in a mere 20 seconds. Will the government protect the

vulnerable by capping the maximum stake on these machines at ?2? This

is all part of the review. The lady does not have long to wait to find

out what we will be recommending as part of that review. Mr Speaker,

since last oral questions, my department has launched a

government's Digital strategy which will ensure we have the

infrastructure, regulation and skills we need to build a world

leading digital economy that works for everyone the commission

identified a potential ?2 billion in assets, which could open up new

streams of funding the good causes, and we are considering the best way

to proceed. I visited South Korea for the third greater industries

Forum and loans UK year of culture and signed a statement. And finally,

I am sure at least most of the House will join me in wishing the England

team well this weekend in their attempt to break New Zealand's

record for the most consecutive wins in top-level rugby. Thank you, Mr

Speaker. And he echoed my honourable friend from North Ayrshire, the

Secretary of State will be well aware the maximum stake and fix odd

betting terminals is 50 times the permitted gap. It impacts

particularly in areas of high deprivation with high streets. Will

she recognise there is an anomaly in gambling regulations and requires

part of regulations? As she has just said, we will be making an

announcement on this in the spring. I know women's cricket is going from

strength to strength. Would my right honourable friend join me in

congratulating Somerset County Council aground in being selected as

one of just four locations to host the International women's World Cup

this year? The big match to get to is July the 2nd, Sunday, England

again Sri Lanka. I will be there, and you are warmly invited, as are

all the ministerial team. I'm sure we all share my right

honourable friend's excitement the Cricket World Cup is returning the

summer. We are not alone in the report of this tournament because a

record number of tickets have been sold for the final at Lord's, which

is great news. Members may be interested in the first games of the

tournament will coincide with women's sport week, which will

provide further opportunities to celebrate women's sport. She is

permanently excited, not just matters of sport, but all matters

under the sun, I can tell. Does the Secretary of State feel bound by the

2015 Conservative Party manifesto? Yes. Very good, that is very

interesting because that manifesto promise to lift the women, to let

the number of women on sports governing bodies to 25% by 2017. But

it is 2017 already and we haven't achieved that. Does she think nobody

would notice, or like the Chancellor and national insurance, she didn't

bother to read the manifesto? Mr Speaker, we will be at 30% in 2017,

which exceeds the manifesto commitment because other with this

government has done on reforming sport governance and work of

governing bodies, to make sure we have that right diversity and right

representation on governing bodies. Suicide is a leading cause of death

in young people and the biggest killer of men under 50. The

Secretary of State will know their clear links between certain types of

media reporting and an increase in suicide rates. Will she join me in

commending the work of the Samaritans and the media guidelines

suicide rates, and will she meet suicide rates, and will she meet

with me to discuss the findings today's select committee report on

preventing suicide because of the role of the media and social media

and the role of the Internet and what we can do to reduce rates? I

commend my honourable friend for her work, and look forward to reading

the report. But she is right that the role media can have in helping

to prevent suicides, and not call suicides, is important, and I will

of course it down and discuss that matter with her. Is the Secretary of

State aware that more than 300 local newspapers have closed in the past

ten years? And whilst members may enjoy it enjoy reading about

skateboarding dogs, it is a critical part of our democracy. As such, will

she join is affording the National Union of Journalists and make local

news matters week campaign week, and which she meet with them and

discussed is critical part of our democracy? Absolutely, local

newspapers are incredibly important. We all engage with them as MPs and

obviously at a national level. I'm happy to meet with them as he

suggests. Ely Cathedral has benefited from funding for essential

building work from the World War I all fun. It makes a significant

conjuration to community life. What long-term funding is there for

Cathedral going forward? I was delighted recently to announce

additional funding to both Ely Cathedral and too many of our other

cathedrals around the country. They play an important part of our

appreciation of heritage within the eye ticking down, and therefore we

continue to support the national, the Heritage Lottery Fund -- within

the community. I'm sure you watch S4 C. What is the

government doing to safeguard it, especially with regard to nations

services? Of course, the prominence is important is, and we are also

ensuring S4 C gets funding it needs with more than 6 million last year,

more than 6 million next year. We support S4C, we made that clear

repeatedly. It was a great Tory invention and we will support it. In

a woeful performance in front of the home affairs select committee,

managers from Google and Twitter and Facebook admitted they do nothing

virtually to reduce hate speech, extremism or child abuse being

hosted on their sides. Not time we proactively pursue German proposals

that would see social media companies fined if they fail to take

down site within 24 hours, or prevent them in the first place? I

saw his comments on this in the newspapers this morning and I can

reassure him that government is attempt to everything we can to

stamp out hate crime, which has no place in society. We do have some of

the strongest legislation on hate crime and do expect social media

companies to respond quickly to instances of abusive behaviour on

their networks, but we also know we have much more we can do, which is

why we have just announced work and Internet safety structure, which I

have taken forward, aimed at making Britain the safest country in the

world for children and young people online. Many of my constituency have

contacted me about concerns that young people accessing extreme

Internet pornography. Could the Minister tell me what the government

are doing to work with calm and viewed the Internet service

providers to protect young people and children? This is an important

point and in the Digital economy Bill, we are bringing age

verification processes so that all pornography cannot be accessed by

those under the age of 18, and they will be required to block sites that

don't put this age verification in place. It is important, it will be

coming, it is in the Lords at the moment, and will be coming back to

the House shortly. I would like to add to the excitement of my

honourable friend from Taunton because we have the world Cricket

launched in Derby. I would like to say that having recently discovered

might in a worry are playing rugby with England rugby and local derby

team, and having my first tackle, I would like to ask the Minister what

we are doing in terms of encouraging more women to play sport? Derby has,

I know from personal experience, fantastic sporting opportunities for

everyone and it is incredibly important we see more women playing

sports and feeling they can take part. The yes girl campaign campaign

is part of that, as is the fantastic women's World Cup, and I know one of

the matches is in Derby, I think I'm going to the one N Nestor, I have to

confines. Following on from the question -- Leicester. They have

been campaigning on the issue of exploitation within football to the

2010, and Scottish Parliament is investigating it. Will he meet with

me to discuss it further and commit to ensure football clubs meet the

enforcement rules? I'm always delighted to meet with honourable

colleagues and I will be delighted to meet him. Questions to the

Attorney General. I have regular discussions with

ministerial colleagues, and we will publish the great repeal Bill

injured course. That will determine the process to take it forward.

Last month, the Secretary of State for Scotland confirmed that a

legislative consent motion would be required from the Scottish

Parliament for the great repeal bill. In