Copper Wire Telecoms — [David Mundell in the Chair]
John Whittingdale The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) 10:32, 13 December 2023 I share the pleasure of the Opposition spokesman, Sir Chris Bryant, in seeing you in the Chair this morning, Mr Mundell. Let me start by congratulating Mr Carmichael on securing this debate on a very important issue, […]
Broadband: Rural Communities — [Peter Dowd in the Chair]
John Whittingdale The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) 3:48, 13 December 2023 It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Dowd. I thank all hon. Members who have taken part in the debate. The fact that we have had such strong attendance […]
“Buy British” Campaign – Promoting British Food
A number of constituents have contacted me about promoting British produce in the UK. I recognise the crucial role our farmers play in supporting food security, driving economic growth, and helping us achieve our net zero goals. I know that the Government is proud to celebrate our British farmers and growers who work to produce […]
Sir John Whittingdale, MP for Maldon, switches on Heybridge Cemetery Christmas Lights
Sir John Whittingdale OBE, MP for Maldon, was hugely grateful for the opportunity to switch on the Christmas Tree lights in the chapel at Heybridge Cemetery in his constituency. The event was organised by the Friends of the Cemetery, a number of local residents attended and refreshments with mulled wine were provided. As has become […]
Clause 10 – Power to create additional quotas for qualifying audiovisual content
John Whittingdale The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) Clause 10 inserts proposed new section 278A into the Communications Act 2003. This will establish a mechanism for the creation of additional quotas for audio-visual content that has not been made available by one or more providers […]
Clause 6 – Enforcement of public service remits
John Whittingdale The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) As the hon. Member for Barnsley East has already set out, section 270 of the Communications Act gives Ofcom enforcement powers to use in the event that it believes the provider of a licensed public service channel has failed […]
Clause 8 – Quotas: independent productions
John Whittingdale The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) Clauses 8 to 17 make amendments to the current system of quotas, which I will discuss in this group and the next. Quotas are an important tool to ensure that public service broadcasters produce an […]
Clause 4 – Statements of programme policy
John Whittingdale The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) Section 266 of the Communications Act 2003 puts a duty on Ofcom to require providers of licensed public service channels to prepare statements of their programme policies that set out how they intend to fulfil their individual channel remits. […]
Clause 3 – Public service remits of licensed providers
John Whittingdale The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) I want first to make it clear that the Government remain committed to the future of digital terrestrial television. We absolutely accept that millions continue to rely on it. We have already legislated, as hon. […]
Clause 1 – Reports on the fulfilment of the public service remit
John Whittingdale The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) 10:00, 5 December 2023 I thank the hon. Members for Barnsley East and for Aberdeen North for speaking to their amendments and allowing us to debate the importance of the Gaelic language. It is something we spent a little bit […]