:00:11. > :00:23.Order, order. Questions to be secretary of state for Culture,
:00:24. > :00:27.Media and Sport. Mr Jim Cunningham. Before I start, can I remind the
:00:28. > :00:41.house but I plan to make a statement between the merger between Sky and
:00:42. > :00:45.temp two. I won't answer any questions until then. -- 21st
:00:46. > :00:57.Century Fox. The BBC will take on the full cost of the over 75s
:00:58. > :01:04.concession. I must say that the specific statement is not referenced
:01:05. > :01:08.on the order paper at all. The is a reference to ministerial questions
:01:09. > :01:12.and that is the extent of the information bar vault, but we are
:01:13. > :01:19.always grateful for extra information. Mr Jim Cunningham.
:01:20. > :01:25.Given that the BBC was not responsible for the welfare policy,
:01:26. > :01:33.can the Secretary of State to meet when the BBC did become responsible
:01:34. > :01:39.for such a policy, such as welfare. Can I apologise. I did mean to say
:01:40. > :01:44.on being annunciator rather than the order paper. As part of the
:01:45. > :01:49.negotiations for the BBC charter, the BBC degree to take on the over
:01:50. > :01:58.75s licence fee and that was agreed as part of the 11 year charter which
:01:59. > :02:02.all parties were happy with. On the subject of concessions, she will
:02:03. > :02:07.also be aware that there are black and white television concessions and
:02:08. > :02:10.I learnt this morning that some 300 people in Wales have black-and-white
:02:11. > :02:17.television licences. Can she confirm whether or not she have any plans to
:02:18. > :02:27.change that concession? Mr Speaker, I do not have any plans to do that
:02:28. > :02:36.at this stage. Mr Tom Watson. Good to see you back in the chair Mr
:02:37. > :02:41.Speaker. The Conservative Party's manifesto set on page 66 that
:02:42. > :02:46.pension benefits including free TV licences would continue for the
:02:47. > :02:55.duration of this Parliament. That is until 2022. Is that still a
:02:56. > :03:05.commitment? Mr Speaker, the manifesto said that we won't respect
:03:06. > :03:15.any concessions and I would expect the BBC to continue with that. The
:03:16. > :03:21.government cannot guarantee free TV licences after 2022 without
:03:22. > :03:25.reopening its deal with the BBC. The Secretary of State does not appear
:03:26. > :03:30.to want to do that. This raises the question, why was it in the
:03:31. > :03:37.manifesto anyway? Was it a cynical promise she knew she would break or
:03:38. > :03:42.was it a typographical error? The manifesto is ensuring that the
:03:43. > :03:49.concessions that are available are available and I would expect that
:03:50. > :03:52.the BBC would continue with the concession post 2020. Given the
:03:53. > :03:57.grossly inflated salaries the BBC pays to some of its top managers and
:03:58. > :04:01.presenters and the appalling fact that it is still a criminal offence
:04:02. > :04:09.not to have a TV licence as opposed to a civil penalty, isn't it the
:04:10. > :04:16.very least that BBC can do is to continue that the over 75s get the
:04:17. > :04:22.TV licence free of charge. My honourable friend makes an
:04:23. > :04:34.interesting point. From now, the accounts of the BBC will show or
:04:35. > :04:39.persons who are paid over ?150,000. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. We
:04:40. > :04:43.want the best deal for Britain using the European Union. The creative
:04:44. > :04:49.industries are one of the UK's noticed strengths and we want to see
:04:50. > :05:00.them continue to strive. Given the importance of creative industries of
:05:01. > :05:03.East Lothian as a continual site for film locations, what discussions
:05:04. > :05:08.have been held with the Scottish Government regarding the impact of
:05:09. > :05:12.Brexit on the creative industries and what assurances can be given
:05:13. > :05:17.that investment in the creative industries will continue after
:05:18. > :05:28.Brexit? I have every confidence that the creative industries, I was in
:05:29. > :05:32.Scotland on Monday talking to people from the industry, I am confident
:05:33. > :05:37.they will go from strength to strength and we will get the best
:05:38. > :05:44.deal for the creative industries. People invest in creative industries
:05:45. > :05:51.because of the talent pool. Will he ensured that outside of the EU, the
:05:52. > :06:04.UK remains the leader when it comes to talent and investment. Yes. The
:06:05. > :06:08.lady has an identical question. It is a similar question. Figures from
:06:09. > :06:21.screen Yorkshire shows Yorkshire's plastic film and TV industry. The
:06:22. > :06:26.absence of a process Brexit plan creates insecurity and could lead to
:06:27. > :06:32.job losses. Can the Minister tell us what support they can give to
:06:33. > :06:37.projects that are supported by European funding are not left to
:06:38. > :06:41.wither on the vine? European funding has been a part of the success of
:06:42. > :06:45.the film industry and the ish Treasury has already made sure that
:06:46. > :06:54.that funding will continue up to 2020, but it is only one part of it.
:06:55. > :07:01.The tax credits that my honourable friend mentioned have been an
:07:02. > :07:06.important part. I would agree that just as Scotland, Yorkshire is
:07:07. > :07:15.benefiting from our booming film industry. Could the minister
:07:16. > :07:25.outlined the support he plans to give to help creative hubs continue
:07:26. > :07:30.to develop over the years ahead? Video games are doing an incredible
:07:31. > :07:34.thing for the UK. Exports right across the country in the south-east
:07:35. > :07:40.and all the way up to Scotland and we'll continue to back them. Mr
:07:41. > :07:46.Speaker, newspapers and the media are very much part of our creative
:07:47. > :07:50.industries, so as we leave the EU, could the minister explained what
:07:51. > :07:56.the department's policy is on section 40 of Leveson to, which are
:07:57. > :08:01.relevant to the industry as it also prepares for Brexit. As he knows, we
:08:02. > :08:06.on this side of the house are very strong supporters of the newspaper
:08:07. > :08:13.industry, especially local newspapers who don't need extra
:08:14. > :08:18.costs adding on to them by certain proposals and given that we are such
:08:19. > :08:22.strong supporters of been new sport industry, we have a consultation out
:08:23. > :08:32.on this issue and I am sure he will look forward to the answer. I will
:08:33. > :08:37.leave others to charge whether the question was at the site, but if it
:08:38. > :08:45.was anything, it was creative. In Scotland we have a strong and
:08:46. > :08:49.innovative vibrant sector that employs 75,000 people, many of whom
:08:50. > :08:57.are EU nationals. We Brexit looming, what assurances can he give to
:08:58. > :09:04.Scotland's and across the UK that this country will be able to attract
:09:05. > :09:10.and retain the talent that is vital to the creative industry and they
:09:11. > :09:16.can work with unnecessary barriers? We are seeking to do a deal to
:09:17. > :09:20.ensure the future of European union nationals resident here. We are also
:09:21. > :09:25.open to the brightest and the best from around the world. The single
:09:26. > :09:28.thing that is the most important thing for keeping the creative
:09:29. > :09:38.industry is thriving in Scotland is remaining part of the United
:09:39. > :09:42.Kingdom. Minister Tracy Crouch. I have not made such an assessment,
:09:43. > :09:49.but the lawn tennis Association does review events in this country
:09:50. > :09:54.working with other organisations. I'm sure you will agree and the
:09:55. > :09:57.house will agree that British tennis is in the healthiest state it has
:09:58. > :10:03.been in for many years and I'm sure the house will join me in joining or
:10:04. > :10:14.our players good luck for Wimbledon next week.
:10:15. > :10:21.Professional tennis does not begin and end at Wimbledon. A number of
:10:22. > :10:25.futures tournaments have gone down from 23 in Great Britain to just six
:10:26. > :10:31.last year. But the Minister agree with me that the number of futures
:10:32. > :10:34.tournaments up crucial for supporting British players to make
:10:35. > :10:39.it in the professional game and will she join me in urging the LTA to
:10:40. > :10:42.have the number of tournaments that most of our European competitors do
:10:43. > :10:48.and increase the number of tournaments for men and women next
:10:49. > :10:53.year? One of the frustrating things being sports Minister is that we
:10:54. > :10:56.don't get to make all of the decisions that people want is to
:10:57. > :11:01.make. I do agree that if you are going to encourage talent to play
:11:02. > :11:07.tennis at the highest level, you do need to have the right level of
:11:08. > :11:11.international events. That is an issue for the LTA, but my job is to
:11:12. > :11:16.make sure we have money going into the grass roots of that sport so we
:11:17. > :11:24.can grow the talent. Another tennis enthusiast, Rebecca Powell.
:11:25. > :11:33.I am a great believer that playing tennis can set one up well for life
:11:34. > :11:36.with all its skills including rapid reaction skills, which we see
:11:37. > :11:36.demonstrated from the speakers chair every day.
:11:37. > :11:51.LAUGHTER In Taunton Deane, the tennis centre
:11:52. > :11:55.offers tennis for all abilities and wheelchair users, and holds
:11:56. > :11:59.tournaments. Whilst it is important to grade the game at the top level,
:12:00. > :12:04.it is also important to courage people in at the grassroots level,
:12:05. > :12:08.not least for the health and well-being spin offs for the whole
:12:09. > :12:16.nation. I entirely agree with my honourable friend on every point
:12:17. > :12:20.that she made. My honourable friend is absolutely right, and she is an
:12:21. > :12:26.advocate for the benefits of tennis, and that is why we have invested ?8
:12:27. > :12:30.million into the Lawn Tennis Association to grow the game, and we
:12:31. > :12:37.will continue to do so going forward. I will just say that the
:12:38. > :12:43.honourable lady regularly champions Taunton and all at sporting events,
:12:44. > :12:48.and the women's World Cup is being hosted in Taunton this weekend, and
:12:49. > :12:53.I wish them the best of luck. Excellent. The Government will
:12:54. > :12:59.maintain the licence fee funding model for the BBC for the duration
:13:00. > :13:04.of the new 11 year Charter period. I thank the Secretary of State for
:13:05. > :13:07.that answer. We welcome the additional ?30 million investment
:13:08. > :13:10.for the new digital BBC Scotland channel, but this doesn't come close
:13:11. > :13:20.to the ?320 million raised in Scotland. Is now not the time to
:13:21. > :13:27.ensure that Scotland can properly invest in our sector and talent to
:13:28. > :13:34.make more programmes such as why Paisley should be the UK City of
:13:35. > :13:38.Culture 2021. I met with the chair of the BBC on Monday to discuss this
:13:39. > :13:42.very matter with them, ensuring that the BBC does contribute to nations
:13:43. > :13:46.and regions appropriately, and he will know that the new ABC board
:13:47. > :13:50.which has a nonexecutive director from each of the home nations means
:13:51. > :13:57.it is incorporated such but that board can ensure that these voices
:13:58. > :14:00.are properly heard. Does the Minister agree with me that
:14:01. > :14:04.broadcasters, particularly those in fees of licence fee money, should
:14:05. > :14:11.confront rather than cosy up to politically motivated websites which
:14:12. > :14:15.have a fake news? My honourable friend makes a very important point,
:14:16. > :14:23.and I am sure that that will have been heard by those he is referring
:14:24. > :14:27.to. Number five, Mr Speaker. I regularly engage with the BBC on a
:14:28. > :14:31.range of issues, including its plans to serve audiences in the nations
:14:32. > :14:38.and regions, and I'm confident the BBC is committed to supporting the
:14:39. > :14:43.creative economies in each nation. The Secretary of State will be well
:14:44. > :14:49.aware how proud I am that Wales is home to the Tardis and many other,
:14:50. > :14:53.and we have fantastic support for the BBC, but would she agree with me
:14:54. > :15:00.that there needs to be more focus on ensuring that jobs and opportunities
:15:01. > :15:06.go to local people? We need to get everybody into our creative
:15:07. > :15:12.industries. The honourable gentleman is right, the creative industry is
:15:13. > :15:14.one of our great strengths, one that can bring high-quality, high value
:15:15. > :15:20.jobs to the nations and regions, and as I said in answer to the previous
:15:21. > :15:32.question, IDG meet the director-general of the BBC on that
:15:33. > :15:37.point. There are concerns that radio programmes currently produced at
:15:38. > :15:41.media city could be lost at our region. What assurances can the
:15:42. > :15:47.Secretary of State gave that regional voices will be protected in
:15:48. > :15:51.this tendering process? I agree with the honourable lady, Media City is a
:15:52. > :15:55.great success story, and more people are employed in Media City in
:15:56. > :15:59.Salford today than we in the heyday of when it was a major port is a
:16:00. > :16:06.great example of how creative industries and new industries can
:16:07. > :16:09.bring such wealth to the nations and regions, and as I said in answer to
:16:10. > :16:13.the previous question, I have discussed this answer with the chair
:16:14. > :16:18.and director-general, and will continue to do so. Northern Ireland
:16:19. > :16:24.had very minimal coverage of local constituencies, and it was felt that
:16:25. > :16:27.the regional coverage of Northern Ireland by the BBC is sparse, so
:16:28. > :16:31.what can be done to increase engagement and resources between the
:16:32. > :16:39.BBC and Northern Ireland representative to ensure
:16:40. > :16:42.representation? I refer to the answers I have previously given, but
:16:43. > :16:48.I also urge the honourable gentleman if he does have concerns about the
:16:49. > :16:52.coverage Turing the election period that Ofcom is now the regulator, and
:16:53. > :17:00.I would in courage the concerns to be put off, so that they can look
:17:01. > :17:04.into them. The Government wants everyone to have the best access to
:17:05. > :17:10.arts and culture wherever they live, that is why I am delighted that 60%
:17:11. > :17:17.of the arts Council this week and 75% of the lottery funding from 2018
:17:18. > :17:22.will be invested outside London. I begin by congratulating the
:17:23. > :17:27.honourable member on his first appearance on the front bench.
:17:28. > :17:30.Austerity has forced midlands local authorities to cut spending on
:17:31. > :17:34.culture, so the arts Council announcement to invest extra money
:17:35. > :17:39.outside London was very welcome, and I'm delighted to see support for
:17:40. > :17:44.city arts, Nottingham Playhouse and other organisations in our city
:17:45. > :17:48.which he is welcome to visit. EU funding has also been
:17:49. > :17:52.transformational, and Nottingham Contemporary couldn't have been
:17:53. > :17:58.built without it, so will he guarantee to replace that funding
:17:59. > :18:01.when Britain leaves the EU? The value is in collaboration in terms
:18:02. > :18:05.of arts and culture funding, and she is right that the announcements this
:18:06. > :18:08.week are excellent for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, and I will do
:18:09. > :18:12.all I can working with the chief executive of the arts Council to see
:18:13. > :18:15.that the priorities in the sector are addressed across this country.
:18:16. > :18:20.And I warmly welcome the new Minister to this place, and I ask
:18:21. > :18:24.him what advice he could give to smaller regional museums like
:18:25. > :18:27.Congleton Museum which has an exciting expansion opportunity for
:18:28. > :18:35.which it needs to secure grant funding. I thank the honourable lady
:18:36. > :18:41.for her question, and I notice Konta has been done well already to be
:18:42. > :18:53.awarded 65,000 to buy the awards of Cheshire -- the
:18:54. > :19:01.hoards of Cheshire. Isn't it time that the lottery didn't just publish
:19:02. > :19:04.how much money it spends in each constituency but also how many
:19:05. > :19:08.tickets are purchased in each constituency so we can see of the
:19:09. > :19:13.poorest areas are subsidising the richest? I am grateful for that
:19:14. > :19:17.point and she makes an interesting point, I would be happy to discuss
:19:18. > :19:23.it further with her and see if we can move that forward. Mr Speaker, I
:19:24. > :19:28.welcome the announcement this week that there is more funding for arts
:19:29. > :19:32.and museums in Nottingham city, but I wonder if the Minister heard me
:19:33. > :19:36.mention this week the potential for a mining Museum in my constituency
:19:37. > :19:43.of Mansfield, and if he would meet with me to help us further celebrate
:19:44. > :19:46.that heritage and culture. I would like to welcome my honourable friend
:19:47. > :19:50.to this place, and congratulate him on his election to the House. I
:19:51. > :19:56.would point out that seven of the new joiners outside of the city
:19:57. > :20:01.itself, but I would happy to have discussions with him to see what can
:20:02. > :20:05.be done to assist him in his plans. We welcome the Arts Council's
:20:06. > :20:08.decision to increase funding outside of London, but he must be aware that
:20:09. > :20:12.there are brilliant institutions like the People's history museum who
:20:13. > :20:16.are primarily dependent on local authorities for funding. Will he now
:20:17. > :20:20.consider following the Arts Council's leading give us back some
:20:21. > :20:25.of the money that has been slashed from local authority budgets so that
:20:26. > :20:31.we can start a fund again some of the most innovative cultural
:20:32. > :20:35.institutions in this country. Some local authorities do see the value
:20:36. > :20:39.of investing in arts and culture, and alongside the arts Council
:20:40. > :20:42.grants make a massive contribution to extending the footprint. But I'm
:20:43. > :20:50.very happy to look into the case she raises. The Minister will be aware
:20:51. > :20:53.that doorstep arts as a home-grown theatre and arts company in Paignton
:20:54. > :20:58.and has just become the first organisation in Torbay to be part of
:20:59. > :21:03.the national portfolio. Will he join me in welcoming this, and the
:21:04. > :21:06.?382,000 of funding they will receive from the Arts Council
:21:07. > :21:10.following this? I would be delighted to do so, and happy to visit his
:21:11. > :21:14.constituency and see some of the excellent work he has been doing
:21:15. > :21:25.with the tourist sector as well. Question seven, Mr Speaker. I
:21:26. > :21:29.welcome high here, and also tell the House that 93.2% of premises in the
:21:30. > :21:35.country now have access to superfast broadband on track to deliver access
:21:36. > :21:37.to 95% by the end of the year, and our universal service obligation
:21:38. > :21:43.will make sure every premise can have access to high-speed board
:21:44. > :21:46.banned by 2020. Thank you, Mr Speaker. Slow and poor quality
:21:47. > :21:55.broadband is Sirius and hampering a number of businesses in my
:21:56. > :22:01.constituency of Blaydon. As I'm sure they are in other members'
:22:02. > :22:04.constituencies. What plan does he have to make sure that 100% of areas
:22:05. > :22:10.have access to high-speed, high quality broadband? I understand the
:22:11. > :22:16.frustration of people, and people running businesses in her
:22:17. > :22:21.constituency and in others, getting the access to broadband up to over
:22:22. > :22:26.93% has been a big and positive task. We clearly want to get
:22:27. > :22:30.high-speed broadband available to everybody, that is why we legislated
:22:31. > :22:34.for the universal service obligation, and I look forward to
:22:35. > :22:40.making sure that it happens. Thanks to the Government's commitment to
:22:41. > :22:48.providing high-speed board banned to rural areas, since 2015 8432 more
:22:49. > :22:51.homes and businesses in my constituency are on high-speed
:22:52. > :22:54.broadband, but 10% of homes and businesses are still not an
:22:55. > :23:00.high-speed or bad. Could my honourable friend please assure me
:23:01. > :23:02.that the cap for the very important universal broadband service
:23:03. > :23:06.commitment will be high enough to make sure that high-speed broadband
:23:07. > :23:12.reaches the most rural areas in my constituency? It is clearly an
:23:13. > :23:18.incredibly important point, to make sure that the universal application
:23:19. > :23:21.of access to broadband reaches as far as possible, but of course there
:23:22. > :23:26.are techniques and technologies that don't require a physical line, like
:23:27. > :23:33.fixed wireless broadband, which we can use in the really rural areas.
:23:34. > :23:38.On Monday, we were all pleased to learn that the people of Northern
:23:39. > :23:43.Ireland are to benefit from another ?150 million of investment in
:23:44. > :23:47.digital infrastructure necessary for the development and growth of their
:23:48. > :23:51.economy, very welcome news indeed. On Tuesday we learned from the
:23:52. > :23:57.consumers Association Which that the poorest connectivity speeds in the
:23:58. > :24:02.whole country are in Orkney and Shetland. When will we get our cash?
:24:03. > :24:09.We put enormous investment into the North of Scotland and the islands in
:24:10. > :24:13.order to expand both fixed broadband and mobile phone connectivity, and
:24:14. > :24:18.he knows that. It is a great pity that the contracts signed to get
:24:19. > :24:22.broadband to Scotland were signed more slowly than with England or
:24:23. > :24:28.with Wales, and that is I'm afraid because we devolve responsibility
:24:29. > :24:31.for that to the Scottish Government. Despite superfast broadband access
:24:32. > :24:39.being a requirement of new estates such as an willow road in Norton
:24:40. > :24:44.Keynes, residents who have speeds of a decade ago are not being upgraded.
:24:45. > :24:49.What measures are being put in place to ensure that new estates have
:24:50. > :24:51.superfast broadband? It is simply ridiculous of any new estates to be
:24:52. > :24:58.built without decent broad and connectivity. It ill behoves any
:24:59. > :25:02.developer to put in a development without the very best connectivity.
:25:03. > :25:07.The big developers have said that for any group of houses, more than
:25:08. > :25:11.30 houses, they will put in fibre broadband, and it is now the law
:25:12. > :25:15.that big new developments need to have superfast broadband. But I'm
:25:16. > :25:22.very happy to work with her and others to make this happen, because
:25:23. > :25:24.it must happen. Begu, Mr Speaker. Given the increasing intensity of
:25:25. > :25:27.cyber attacks and threats to national infrastructure, it is
:25:28. > :25:32.shocking to see no mention of cyber security in the Queen's Speech. Can
:25:33. > :25:35.the Minister confirm that the Government's cyber Security strategy
:25:36. > :25:38.relies on a scheme which claims to be a badge of assurance for
:25:39. > :25:41.thousands of businesses and institutions, but is in fact based
:25:42. > :25:45.on outdated technology, redundant hacking approaches, and
:25:46. > :25:53.astonishingly was itself hacked last week? No, I dead recognise what she
:25:54. > :25:56.says. Cyber security is incredibly important, which is why we brought
:25:57. > :26:00.in a put together the national cyber Security Centre which has been
:26:01. > :26:04.leading all these issues. The laws we have other laws that we need
:26:05. > :26:07.largely on cyber, and that is why there wasn't a need for a mention in
:26:08. > :26:11.the Queen's Speech. What we do in Government is not only the
:26:12. > :26:12.legislative programme, it is also protecting people in terms of cyber
:26:13. > :26:22.security. I will give the Minister the chance
:26:23. > :26:28.to correct the record. Is it not the case that the cyber security scheme
:26:29. > :26:32.makes no reference to encryption or the hacking of passwords. The
:26:33. > :26:36.take-up of both schemes have been low and neither makes reference to
:26:37. > :26:42.the cloud and that the cyber essential scheme was hacked last
:26:43. > :26:47.week. The honourable lady ill behoves what is normally a
:26:48. > :26:52.reasonable approach because the cyber essentials scheme is
:26:53. > :26:56.incredibly important for improving cyber security. All businesses
:26:57. > :26:59.should look at it and I would say it should implement it and for the
:27:00. > :27:05.Labour Party to try to make party political noises out of something
:27:06. > :27:16.that is incredibly important for our country shows that they simply
:27:17. > :27:22.haven't got what it takes. Thank you, Mr Speaker. With permission I
:27:23. > :27:27.would like to group this question the question 17. Government is
:27:28. > :27:33.committed to ensure that young children have the best opportunities
:27:34. > :27:41.to engage in physical activities. We are investing over ?194 million into
:27:42. > :27:45.schemes to make sure they ensure physical activities. Sporting
:27:46. > :27:48.participation has a number of health benefits and also for learning
:27:49. > :27:53.outcomes for our young people. What work is being done with the
:27:54. > :28:00.Department for Education to further access sport in schools? Given my
:28:01. > :28:05.brazen attempts to steal school sport from the Department for
:28:06. > :28:12.Education, I can only tell the house that we have a very strong cross
:28:13. > :28:16.governmental approach to this matter. The last 18 months has seen
:28:17. > :28:20.two landmark strategies published and we continue to work very closely
:28:21. > :28:31.with the Department for Education on a range of other strategies. If the
:28:32. > :28:36.?400 million sugar tax is spent wisely, we can open our schools in
:28:37. > :28:40.the holidays, transforming sport for young people. Will the Minister
:28:41. > :28:52.visit Draycott sports camp to see how they have opened so that 250
:28:53. > :28:58.young people can participate in physical activities. If he has an
:28:59. > :29:03.opportunity over the course of the next week, I encourage him and other
:29:04. > :29:06.members to find out where the local school games are and to go along and
:29:07. > :29:11.visit them because they really are providing a real way of changing
:29:12. > :29:18.attitudes towards sport and physical activity. Disabled young people in
:29:19. > :29:22.Wrexham benefit from the Wrexham disabled viewing platforms at the
:29:23. > :29:28.football ground there. The premiership really means to learn
:29:29. > :29:31.from Wrexham. What progress is being made in providing excellent
:29:32. > :29:37.facilities for young people to view football matches who are disabled? I
:29:38. > :29:42.thank the honourable gentleman for his question. We believe that in the
:29:43. > :29:45.sports strategy that people with disabilities having access to sport
:29:46. > :29:49.is a way to get them engaged with sport and I can tell him and the
:29:50. > :30:00.House that I expect the final report from the Premier League towards the
:30:01. > :30:04.end of August, early September. The Minister like me is passionate in
:30:05. > :30:09.helping young women participate in sport. Can I ask as part of her work
:30:10. > :30:16.to do something entirely cost free and tell headteachers to stop making
:30:17. > :30:20.young women wear ridiculous school uniforms for school sport. Let them
:30:21. > :30:25.wear something comfortable and they will do sport. I don't have the
:30:26. > :30:28.power to tell headteachers anything, but I'm sure the Secretary of State
:30:29. > :30:32.for Education will have her comments. I do know from the
:30:33. > :30:37.analysis that has been done about women and girls in sport that we do
:30:38. > :30:41.see a drop off in girls at around age of 14. It's where they become
:30:42. > :30:45.more body conscious and having flexibility in what they whilst Bob
:30:46. > :30:53.participate in sport may well be an answer to that. Harlow gymnastics
:30:54. > :30:57.club is an outstanding sports club that helps many young disadvantaged
:30:58. > :31:06.people. They suffer because they are a limited company with the VAT
:31:07. > :31:09.rates. Will the Minister visit the club and make sure that it continues
:31:10. > :31:15.to give young people a great service? My honourable friend is far
:31:16. > :31:21.better at lobbying the Treasury than anybody else in this House. I would
:31:22. > :31:26.like to congratulate Harlow gymnastics on its tenth anniversary.
:31:27. > :31:31.I see they run a number of exciting initiatives, including the head over
:31:32. > :31:43.heels programme for under the age of four.
:31:44. > :31:49.Mr Speaker, since the last oral questions the Department has lost an
:31:50. > :31:53.excellent minister in Rob Wilson and I would like to publicly express my
:31:54. > :32:00.thanks for all his work. He is very sadly missed. We have however gained
:32:01. > :32:07.another excellent member. I welcome him to the team and I commend his
:32:08. > :32:14.stellar performance at the dispatch box. We are midway through a huge
:32:15. > :32:20.year for sporting events in the UK and I wish all competitors well. I'm
:32:21. > :32:24.sure all honourable members will join me in wishing happy birthday to
:32:25. > :32:32.the Edinburgh Festival which turns 70 this summer. Can I check that the
:32:33. > :32:41.honourable member of Mole Valley is in his face. I'm sure you will all
:32:42. > :32:55.join me in wishing the Lions well for the match on Saturday. Regarding
:32:56. > :33:01.the VAT, is the Secretary of State discussing this? It wasn't something
:33:02. > :33:05.that was in our manifesto, it was in the DUP's. I have been lobbied on
:33:06. > :33:14.this matter on a number of occasions. It is a matter for the
:33:15. > :33:24.Treasury, but we continue to have conversations. Will my right
:33:25. > :33:28.honourable friend welcome the appointment of the new chief
:33:29. > :33:35.Executive of Channel 4. Will bid distinctiveness of Channel 4 be
:33:36. > :33:43.enhanced by being relocated outside of London? Mr Speaker, yes I do, and
:33:44. > :33:51.yes I can. Victims of phone hacking were given a cast iron promise to
:33:52. > :33:55.have a full enquiry into the offences and now they are
:33:56. > :33:59.second-guessing Leveson two. Why should people have confidence in the
:34:00. > :34:02.government if they can't give the promises? The first part of the
:34:03. > :34:07.Leveson enquirer took place six years ago. Many things have happened
:34:08. > :34:18.since then. The manifesto was clear, but there is a consultation process
:34:19. > :34:22.which I have to go through. This has never discussed or intended that
:34:23. > :34:30.vulnerable people in less well off areas would lose ?100 a minute on
:34:31. > :34:39.fixed odds betting terminals. When will the stake be brought down to
:34:40. > :34:41.?2? May I just apologise for what will be a tedious response because
:34:42. > :34:56.although we launch the review in October 2016, the internal approval
:34:57. > :35:02.and sign off means we are back at the start of the approval. I would
:35:03. > :35:10.not expect any further announcement until October at the earliest.
:35:11. > :35:14.Croydon with its vibrant tech city and the redevelopment of Fairfield
:35:15. > :35:18.Halls and its unique street art scene is fast becoming the new
:35:19. > :35:21.cultural hub of the south-east. Has the Minister lobbied for continued
:35:22. > :35:30.access to or equivalent funding for for the ?1.1 billion creative Europe
:35:31. > :35:36.font post Brexit which is important to the creative arts? I have myself
:35:37. > :35:41.visited Croydon and I can agree with the analysis that it is extremely
:35:42. > :35:47.exciting and we are working on the question that she raised. A number
:35:48. > :35:51.of parents in my constituency are worried about the safety of their
:35:52. > :35:54.children online. Can I asked my honourable friend to update the
:35:55. > :36:00.house on what steps are being taken to make the Internet a safer place?
:36:01. > :36:05.As he knows this is an incredibly important area. Any parent knows the
:36:06. > :36:10.plural of young people growing up in the Internet age, as well as the
:36:11. > :36:13.massive opportunities as it brings. The digital charter that Her Majesty
:36:14. > :36:17.announced as part of the Queen's Speech will bring together these
:36:18. > :36:20.concerns and issues and make sure we can lead the world in providing the
:36:21. > :36:26.right balance between freedom and security online. This month is the
:36:27. > :36:30.tenth anniversary of the floods in Hull when the local BBC radio and
:36:31. > :36:35.television plays such an important part in communicating with the local
:36:36. > :36:39.public. I understand there are further discussions of cuts of up to
:36:40. > :36:43.?15 million to be busy services in England and I wonder whether the
:36:44. > :36:49.Secretary of State was as worried as I was regarding the effect it could
:36:50. > :36:54.have on a local community and a democratic resource in all our
:36:55. > :37:01.communities. I've visited Hull recently and it is a fantastic place
:37:02. > :37:05.and I would encourage all members to visit this year. Maybe I can speak
:37:06. > :37:11.to her outside this Chamber about the specific issues she raises.
:37:12. > :37:15.Further to the question from my right honourable friend the member
:37:16. > :37:19.for Maldon, would the Secretary of State agreed that moving Channel 4
:37:20. > :37:23.from London to Bradford or Leeds would give it a much better
:37:24. > :37:29.perspective on life instead of it being stuffed full of London Labour
:37:30. > :37:35.luvvies, it might actually benefit from being moved to gritty west
:37:36. > :37:40.Yorkshire? Mr Speaker, I think my honourable friend has made his pitch
:37:41. > :37:43.for a location for Channel 4 and perhaps he would make that same
:37:44. > :37:52.pitch to the board and management of Channel 4. I'm sure he will require
:37:53. > :37:56.no encouragement whatsoever! Kate Green. Further to my earlier
:37:57. > :37:59.question to the Secretary of State there are concerns that the
:38:00. > :38:11.tendering process for BBC radio could lead to a weakening in pay and
:38:12. > :38:15.conditions. Can this be reviewed? We are determined that it will have the
:38:16. > :38:22.opposite effect, but I will meet with the honourable lady to discuss
:38:23. > :38:27.this. Were the Minister join me in not only sending good luck to the
:38:28. > :38:30.British Irish Lions this summer, but the Scotland women's football team
:38:31. > :38:34.who have done what the men's team have failed to do from 19 years and
:38:35. > :38:41.qualified for an international football tournament where we will
:38:42. > :38:45.meet England the 19th of July. I hope the women's football match
:38:46. > :38:51.between Scotland and England will be far more thrilling than the men's
:38:52. > :38:55.much was. Further to the point from the honourable gentleman opposite,,
:38:56. > :39:03.asked the Minister to get a move on with the crack cocaine of gambling.
:39:04. > :39:07.My constituency is awash with bookmakers and we need an end to
:39:08. > :39:10.this sooner rather than later. Can I welcome the honourable gentleman to
:39:11. > :39:17.the house. I share the frustration of many people. I have been dealing
:39:18. > :39:22.with this issue since I walked into the Department in 2015. We do have
:39:23. > :39:27.to make sure that we have a proper evidence -based response to the
:39:28. > :39:38.issue of stakes and prizes and we are in the process of analysing
:39:39. > :39:45.that. I should point out that the issues regarding this were devolved
:39:46. > :39:55.to Scotland. On Sunday I will be in Dodington where an Olympic champion
:39:56. > :40:01.will be opening a cycling path to allow young people to get out.
:40:02. > :40:06.Georgie Twigg and the rest of the hockey team have achieved success,
:40:07. > :40:14.but what is a Secretary of State doing to make sure more women can
:40:15. > :40:19.get into sport? I share the enthusiasm of the women's hockey
:40:20. > :40:26.team, having been there in Rio. The initiative my honourable friend is
:40:27. > :40:28.also about sound exciting. The Stockton International Riverside
:40:29. > :40:33.Festival attracts thousands of visitors and is growing into one of
:40:34. > :40:42.the country's it is street art events. This year it celebrates its
:40:43. > :40:52.30th year. Will the Minister join me in congratulating Stockton Council?
:40:53. > :40:59.It gives me great pleasure to applaud Stockton Council. It is an
:41:00. > :41:03.example to other local authorities that when they interested in the
:41:04. > :41:07.arts, they get a good return. The announcement this week that ?15
:41:08. > :41:18.million of lottery funding is going to Hull in support of the fishing
:41:19. > :41:20.heritage is welcome, although in the Grimsby Cleethorpes area, the
:41:21. > :41:24.returns for funding has been rejected. Could the Minister look at
:41:25. > :41:25.the share out and balance of lottery funding?
:41:26. > :41:31.I would be very happy to look at that matter. I have to say that
:41:32. > :41:35.there are challenges with the lottery funding. I have met with the
:41:36. > :41:41.chief executive already and I shall have further conversations and be
:41:42. > :41:44.happy to meet with him, too. I wish the International Edinburgh Festival
:41:45. > :41:48.happy 70th anniversary. That shows that the UK has some of the best
:41:49. > :41:52.sporting and entertainment events of the world, but what plan so the
:41:53. > :41:55.Government have to control ticket prices and make sure the resellers
:41:56. > :41:58.market doesn't rip off ordinary fans? The honourable gentleman is
:41:59. > :42:03.right to celebrate the Edinburgh Festival, it is written's biggest
:42:04. > :42:07.festival and I am looking forward to visiting it later this year, as is
:42:08. > :42:12.my honourable friend the Minister. He will know that in the digital
:42:13. > :42:23.economy act the Government legislated to outlaw the use of
:42:24. > :42:29.bots, and making sure that consumers are treated equally. The Winsford
:42:30. > :42:35.Colts are the first-ever Cheshire team to play play in the Costa
:42:36. > :42:39.Blanca cup this year. They have fund raised ?8,000 to get there. Will the
:42:40. > :42:43.Minister wish them luck and thank all of those who have supported them
:42:44. > :42:50.in trying to achieve and represent Cheshire out in Spain? I would be
:42:51. > :42:54.very happy to congratulate the Colts in their endeavours and I wish them
:42:55. > :43:01.all the very best of luck in their competition in Costa Blanca. I wish
:43:02. > :43:05.them very well and I hope we will get an update from the honourable
:43:06. > :43:11.lady in due course. I feel sure that we will! Questions to the Attorney
:43:12. > :43:20.General. Thank you, Mr Speaker, question one.
:43:21. > :43:22.The Government has committed to the United Kingdom remaining a signatory