Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
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Thursday Volume 604 21 January 2016 No. 101 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Thursday 21 January 2016 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2016 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 1527 21 JANUARY 2016 1528 strength. Will the Minister please explain why the creation House of Commons of another business like ITV and Channel 5 is in the interests of production companies in Cornwall, and why Thursday 21 January 2016 it is in the public interest for Channel 4 to be privatised? Mr Vaizey: I feel like I am taking part in an episode of The House met at half-past Nine o’clock “Just a Minute” where the subject is Cornwall. We have gone from the south-west to the heart of Westminster, where Channel 4 resides, in its headquarters on Horseferry PRAYERS Road. As the hon. Gentleman is well aware—I know there is another question on Channel 4 later—we are [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] considering all options to take this fantastic channel into the future. Oral Answers to Questions Subsidised Satellite Broadband Programme 2. Sue Hayman (Workington) (Lab): What recent progress his Department has made on the subsidised satellite broadband programme. [903141] CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT The Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): I am pleased to confirm that all was asked— those living in houses unable to get a speed of at least 2 megabits per second can now take advantage of a Small Production Companies: Cornwall subsidised satellite broadband installation, which should deliver speeds of about 10 megabits per second or more. 1. Scott Mann (North Cornwall) (Con): What steps Sue Hayman: Connecting Cumbria promised my his Department is taking to support small production constituents superfast broadband, but this has not happened companies based in Cornwall. [903140] quickly enough or to the original programme, which has denied my constituents access to vital services. The Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy What assurance can the Minister give that, under the (Mr Edward Vaizey): I hope you will indulge me, universal service obligation, they will be provided with Mr Speaker, if I briefly pay tribute to the great George a minimum of 10 megabits per second by 2020? Weidenfeld, who died yesterday. He was a great patron and supporter of the arts. Mr Vaizey: I am pleased to say that the Cumbrian The Government have taken steps to support small programme is going extremely well. About £20 million production companies across the UK through tax reliefs of Government money has been invested, and in the and grant schemes. In the last two years, Creative hon. Lady’s constituency we will reach 92% by the end England has supported 51 productions in Cornwall, of the programme, which is a fantastic result, considering which has led to 439 shooting days in the county and an that, commercially, less than half of her constituents estimated on-location spend of nearly £7.5 million. would have got superfast broadband. We will soon be introducing a consultation on the universal service Scott Mann: Tourism in North Cornwall has benefited obligation, and we intend to proceed with haste. hugely from the “Poldark” effect, but other television dramas are also produced across our beautiful coastline, Neil Carmichael (Stroud) (Con): This kind of option including “Doc Martin” in Port Isaac and “Jamaica is very important in rural areas such as mine, where we Inn”, filmed on Bodmin moor. Will my hon. Friend have technology issues getting broadband to Longney assure me that he will continue to support the film and Elmore. We have done some good work with BT, industry in my part of the country? but can the Minister guarantee that we will push ahead with all options to make sure everybody has access to Mr Vaizey: Of course. I am well aware of the “Poldark” broadband in my constituency? effect. In fact, I am often mistaken for Aidan Turner’s body double. There are 13 great production companies Mr Vaizey: Yes, I can guarantee that. We are moving in Cornwall. Our film tax relief has brought more than as fast as we can to deliver superfast broadband, and we £7 billion of film investment to the UK as a whole, and intend to reach 95% of the country by the end of 2017 I can assure my hon. Friend that we will continue to and to have superfast broadband for everyone by 2020. support productions in Cornwall. We also have to think again about what we need to do in the decade after that. Ian C. Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab) rose— Chi Onwurah (Newcastle upon Tyne Central) (Lab): Mr Speaker: Does the hon. Gentleman undertake to In early December, the Minister cast himself as Santa question exclusively with reference to Cornwall? Claus, announcing a “Christmas present” for UK homes and businesses: £60 million to provide satellite provision Ian C. Lucas: Indeed. Independent production companies for those failed by his super-slow broadband crawl-out. in Cornwall and other areas of the country benefit hugely As of Monday, a grand total of £8,000 had been spent from Channel 4’s unique not-for-profit commissioning and only 24 people had benefited from his supposed 1529 Oral Answers21 JANUARY 2016 Oral Answers 1530 gift. Was it the fear of seeing him coming down their Damian Collins: As this will probably be the Minister’s chimney that put people off or the fact that this is an last Question Time before the arrival of her new baby, inadequate stunt designed to fob off his Back Benchers may I wish her and her family well for the next few and leaving millions digitally excluded for many Christmases weeks? to come? Does the Minister agree that sporting programmes such as Kicks, run by the Premier League, and Hitz, Mr Vaizey: I thank the hon. Lady for that “Bah supported by the rugby premier league, do excellent Humbug” question. I am delighted that, thanks to our work tackling gang crime, antisocial behaviour and superfast broadband programme, we have reached around rehabilitating young offenders, and that they should be 90% of the country. We have cast aside the Scrooge-like at the heart of the delivery of the Government’s new 2 megabits target that Labour had for the country as a sports strategy? whole, but we promised everyone guaranteed speeds of 2 megabits, and that is what we have done by providing Tracey Crouch: I am a huge fan of both those schemes. subsidised satellite services. The Premier League Kicks project, which is supported by a number of partners, including my own Department Jake Berry (Rossendale and Darwen) (Con): I am and now the Home Office, shows that 75% of its sure the Minister was busy at Christmas with rehearsals participants live in the top 30% most deprived areas in for the “Poldark” Christmas special. I welcome his England. Where the scheme has been run, it has seen a announcement about enabling those in rural areas to 60% reduction in antisocial behaviour. It is exactly get satellite broadband. This is a particular issue in those kind of projects that will play a key role in Rossendale and Darwen where farmers struggle to get delivering the new sports strategy. broadband. Will my hon. Friend undertake to work with the National Farmers Union and others who are in Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab): Will the Minister touch with those working in our rural industries to reflect on the role of apps and digitalisation within the ensure that farmers find out about this fantastic offer programme she has outlined, and the way in which they the Minister made before Christmas? can turn the telescope around to project information into the most disadvantaged communities? Mr Vaizey: I will certainly give that undertaking. I am happy to work with the NFU, just as I am happy to Tracey Crouch: Certain members of society that we work with the landowners association and the Countryside are trying to reach to ensure that they participate more Alliance. in sport rely on apps and a greater use of technology. It is something that we reference with a great deal of Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): Since a commitment interest in the sports strategy. Having recently met the was given in a Westminster Hall debate to expanding hon. Gentleman’s constituents, I know that a great deal superfast broadband across Northern Ireland, I have of work is being done to increase the number of apps been contacted by many constituents who have told me and make sure that technology plays a key part in that they cannot increase their business—this is mainly ensuring that we get the nation active. small businesses and people who work from home—or start a business without it. What is the Minister doing Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con): Kettering exclusively to help people with small businesses in the Town Harriers, of which I am proud to be a member, is rural community to advance this issue? a fantastic local athletics club, which offers great opportunities for boys, girls and adults from across the borough of Kettering and further afield. Does my hon. Mr Vaizey: We had a very successful broadband Friend agree that local athletics clubs are a great way to voucher scheme, which brought superfast broadband to help people get involved in sport? something like 55,000 businesses. That scheme has come to an end, but we always review what specific help we can give to businesses.