Contributions
2,569 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMedia BillThat the Bill do now pass.23 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillThe noble Lord will not be surprised that I do not agree with his final points. But I agree on the importance of local television, which we have heard about in our debates. Local…23 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillMy Lords, I am grateful to noble Lords for their understanding and flexibility today. This is my first wash-up.23 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillYes, I feel very clean at the end of it—thoroughly washed. I am grateful to noble Lords who have given this Bill considerable scrutiny in pre-legislative scrutiny and during our…23 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillHe can frame it, indeed. I commend him for his presence in these debates and his occasional contributions, which have been very helpful. It has been extremely valuable to have him…22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillMy Lords, an afternoon is certainly a long time in politics and the noble Lord, Lord Bassam, is probably right that this is a good moment to thank all noble Lords who have given…22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillCertainly—to make the noble Lord, Lord Grade, blush. He will, I am sure, read the tiny portion of Hansard covering the part of the debate that he missed.22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillMy Lords, I turn first to Amendments 83 and 86 tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Hollins, which, if taken together, would intend not only to keep Section 40 on the statute book…22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillThe Bill sets out the ability for Ofcom to assess the state of the market with the Digital Radio and Audio Review. We will do our own assessment of it and, through the Bill’s…22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillYes. We recognise, and the provisions of the Bill acknowledge, that an increasing amount of listening is taking place online. It is not yet clear, however, what form the evolution…22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillAs I said in relation to the amendment tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, we are heartened by the progress made by the radio industry in the UK and in Europe in securing…22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillAs the noble Lord always does.22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillI thank the noble Lord and the noble Baroness. I will address Amendment 88 first. The noble Lord, Lord Foster of Bath, brought up an important point about Ofcom’s impartiality and…22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillMy Lords, I am pleased that we are now at the section of the Bill dealing with radio and able to say that the state of radio in the UK is in good health. The medium continues to…22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillI will happily write to the noble Lord with more detail on that, but we think the Bill strikes the right balance.22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillI will certainly read the correspondence. I was grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Hollins, for quoting from it. I think it bears reading in its entirety, which I will be glad…22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillI will write on that point, having consulted the noble Lord, Lord Grade, to make sure that I give the correct definition. I am afraid that, as the noble Lord, Lord Foster of Bath,…22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillAs noble Lords have recognised, the provisions in Part 6 of the Bill are designed to secure the ongoing availability to listeners of UK radio services and will help to maintain…22 May 2024HANSARDMedia Bill22 May 2024HANSARDMedia BillI thank the noble Lord for his kind words; he might be getting a little ahead of himself. It has been a pleasure to serve as Minister and I hope to continue to do so. I look…22 May 2024