Contributions
2,569 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBBC: FundingThat is fitting for a Question begun by the noble Lord, Lord Morse. The noble Lord, Lord Bassam, is right. So many of the world’s democracies go to the polls this year, and this…17 Jan 2024HANSARDBBC: Royal CharterThe listed events programme is a particular piece of work, but I will take my noble friend’s point back to Ministers, who, I am sure, hope for this to bring some joy and warmth…15 Jan 2024HANSARDBBC: Royal CharterThe BBC has a licence remit and there are quotas for the number of hours of current affairs and news programming that it must show. What it fills its channels with outside of that…15 Jan 2024HANSARDBBC: Royal CharterThe increase has been calculated based on the annual rate of CPI inflation in September. That is the same measure that we use for the increases to the pension and to those in…15 Jan 2024HANSARDBBC: Royal CharterThe royal charter sets out clear expectations for how the BBC impartially delivers news output. It is for the BBC to decide how it does this and through which programmes, however…15 Jan 2024HANSARDBBC: Royal CharterThe BBC is indeed a beacon that shines brightly around the world, reflecting British values and doing great credit to us as a nation. I pay tribute to the noble Lord for the work…15 Jan 2024HANSARDBBC: Royal CharterOfcom has a role under the current royal charter to see how the BBC is meeting its obligations. It does this independently but will have heard the point made by the noble…15 Jan 2024HANSARDBBC: Royal CharterIt is important to begin with the fact that the BBC will benefit from more than £3.8 billion of licence fee income per year; that is a considerable amount of money. We froze the…15 Jan 2024HANSARDBBC: Royal CharterAlthough it is up to the BBC to decide how to deliver its services, the Government are clear that it must make sure that it continues to deliver its remit as set out in the royal…15 Jan 2024HANSARDBBC: Royal CharterThe Government have made it clear—I am happy to say it again—that continued investment in the World Service is necessary to reflect the UK, its culture and its values to the rest…15 Jan 2024HANSARDBBC: Royal CharterMy Lords, the BBC has a duty under its royal charter to deliver impartial and accurate news and current affairs programmes. It decides independently how to deliver these services.…15 Jan 2024HANSARDElgin MarblesMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Lexden for securing today’s debate on what he rightly describes as magnificent treasures of civilisation, objects that, as he said…14 Dec 2023HANSARDLoot Boxes in Video GamesI point my noble friend to the response the Government issued to the extensive call for evidence on loot boxes. We were very clear that loot boxes should not be purchased by…13 Dec 2023HANSARDLoot Boxes in Video GamesYes, we are committed to ensuring that video games can be enjoyed safely and responsibly by everyone. To support that, we are working closely with the Games Rating Authority,…13 Dec 2023HANSARDLoot Boxes in Video GamesUnder the terms of the Gambling Act, gambling is defined as “playing a game of chance for a prize” of money or something of money’s worth. The prizes that can be won via most loot…13 Dec 2023HANSARDLoot Boxes in Video GamesI am not, but I shall take my noble friend’s very good question back to the gambling team at the department and encourage it to make sure that we are pursuing research that will…13 Dec 2023HANSARDLoot Boxes in Video GamesYes, we have taken action including strengthening the land-based age-verification regime; we have taken steps to target online adverts away from children; and, of course, we have…13 Dec 2023HANSARDLoot Boxes in Video GamesAs the noble Viscount will know, we have taken action more widely to ensure that people at risk of gambling harm, including children and vulnerable people, are protected. We want…13 Dec 2023HANSARDLoot Boxes in Video GamesI thank the noble Lord for those comments. As I said in both my original and subsequent replies to the noble Lord, Lord Foster, we are working closely with academics to support…13 Dec 2023HANSARDLoot Boxes in Video GamesMy noble friend is right to point to the huge success of the UK consumer games market. It is currently valued at more than £7 billion, which is more than double its size in…13 Dec 2023