§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of her Department's role in facilitating and promoting the competitiveness of UK broadcast-related industries and the early take-up of digital broadcast services; and if she will make a statement. [83742]
§ Dr. HowellsMy Department continues to encourage the competitiveness of the UK broadcast-related industries through its wide-ranging support for the creative industries, working in partnership with all stakeholders within Government and the industry to examine ways of enhancing performance at home and overseas. As part of this work, in November 1999 DCMS published the report of the UK Television Exports Inquiry which specifically looked at how Government and the industry could work together to enhance export performance, to lower barriers to investment and to increase the international attractiveness of UK television programmes. DCMS continues to work with the industry and with Skillset in taking forward the recommendations of the Audio Visual Industries Training Group to meet future skills needs.
We are also promoting competitiveness through targets set for BBC commercial income and through the promotion of digital broadcasting, where the UK has maintained world leadership, with 40 per cent, of households having access to digital television across the platforms. We have approved new digital BBC services which enhance the digital proposition. With the Department of Trade and Industry, and in consultation with broadcasters, manufacturers and consumer representatives, we have published the Digital Television Action Plan. This sets out what needs to be done by whom and by when in order to meet the criteria for full switchover. We have also taken steps to encourage digital radio development by aligning the licence period for digital and analogue licences. The Communications Bill provides the framework for enhancing competitiveness further and extending the take-up of digital television.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals she has for a future regulatory system for broadcasting which recognises market and technological developments; and if she will make a statement. [83743]
779W
§ Dr. HowellsOn 19 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State introduced the Communications Bill, which will establish the new regulatory framework for broadcasting and the communications industries. This framework recognises, both within Ofcom's general duties and the detail of the regulatory provisions, the importance of competition, of investment and of innovation in delivering the dynamic market for communications services which we want to see in the United Kingdom. A dynamic, competitive market will encourage the development and take-up of new technologies, to the benefit of business, consumers and the UK economy. The proposals in the Bill also address the challenges of technological convergence, in providing for regulation by a single body and for a flexible regime capable of accommodating further change.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of levels of(a) standards and diversity of broadcasting output, (b) broadcasting content being socially inclusive and (c) access to broadcast material; and if she will make a statement. [83753]
§ Dr. HowellsIt is the responsibility of the broadcasters and the broadcasting regulatory bodies, that is the BBC Governors, Independent Television Commission, Radio Authority and Broadcasting Standards Commission, to ensure that broadcasters meet their obligations for quality, diversity, social inclusion and accessibility, in accordance with the regulatory requirements agreed by Parliament. They report on these in their Annual Reports and, in establishing new regulatory requirements as set out in the Communications Bill, we have also had the benefit of wide-ranging consultation.