Tag: Chi Onwurah

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-04-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessments he has made of the role of libraries in reducing digital exclusion.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Libraries play a significant role in supporting digital engagement, by providing computers and WiFi to enable people to access the internet and digital services, as well as offering digital skills training and support.

Thanks to Government funding, free WiFi is available in 99% of public libraries in England. DCMS and the Leadership for Libraries Taskforce are working with national partners to develop the role of libraries in improving digital engagement. From 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016, The Tinder Foundation, in partnership with the Taskforce, carried out a Libraries Digital Inclusion Action Research Project. This supported 16 library authorities across England to pilot and assess new approaches to build digital engagement in socially excluded, hard to reach groups. The Foundation published interim findings in February 2016, and a final report is due in this summer that will help inform future digital engagement activity for libraries.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-05-05.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that the membership of the Council of Data Science Ethics includes non-public sector experts and other representatives from that field.

Matthew Hancock

The Science and Technology Committee report on the Big Data Dilemma recommended that a Council for Data Ethics be established. The Government response was published on 26th April 2016 and can be found at the following link: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmsctech/992/99204.htm

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of telephone design on whether the mobile coverage detailed in Ofcom’s published maps of coverage is attainable.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Ofcom had commissioned a study in 2015 into the sensitivity of mobile handsets. The study can be found here: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/other/technology-research/2015-reports/mobile-handset-testing/

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-07-11.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the EU Unit has to recruit staff (a) from within and (b) externally to the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Davis

A new Department for Exiting the European Union has been established by the Prime Minister. The staffing requirements for the new department are now being identified.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department plans to publish the Codes of Practice for Part 5 of the Digital Economy Bill.

Ben Gummer

The Digital Economy Bill provides that Codes of practice in relation to Part 5 of the Bill should be consulted upon with the Information Commissioner, the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the devolved administrations before being issued. The Government intends to make illustrative versions of the Codes available shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether a Minister of his Department was present at the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Chief Executive of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn on 14 October 2016.

Mr Nick Hurd

Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published quarterly on the www.gov.uk website at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bis-quarterly-publications-april-to-june-2012

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of English and mathematics teachers in further education and sixth form colleges; and what effect those steps have had.

Nick Boles

Our FE Workforce Strategy[1], published in 2014, sets out the steps the government has taken to encourage more Mathematics and English teachers to take up posts in further education colleges.

Since 2013, bursaries of up to £25,000 have been available to attract new graduates with relevant degrees to teach Maths and English, and to specialise in teaching students with SEN within the FE sector. These bursaries match those offered to trainee secondary teachers. To date, over 950 bursaries have been provided to graduates.

In March 2015, the Prime Minister announced an investment of £67m in a package of measures to improve the teaching of STEM subjects, including Maths, in secondary schools and sixth form colleges. This will see an additional 2,500 new Maths and Physics teachers trained, and a further 15,000 teachers given additional support to improve their subject knowledge.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/further-education-workforce-strategy

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-11-17.

To ask the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, how many incidents of (a) hacking, (b) viruses and (c) data breaches were reported to the Parliamentary Digital Service in the last 12 months.

Tom Brake

We do not comment on matters of digital or physical security. I understand the Director of the Digital Service has discussed the matter with the hon. Member.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will estimate the proportion of libraries which have reduced their opening hours in the last five years; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such changes on (a) library users and (b) community groups who use library premises.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Each local authority is responsible for providing a comprehensive and efficient library service that meets the requirements of their communities, including consideration of opening hours.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-12-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which suppliers will accept rural satellite broadband vouchers.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Four suppliers are currently providing access to satellite broadband through the government’s subsidy scheme: Avonline, Corsat, Digiweb, and Primetech. Further suppliers are in the process of seeking to join the scheme.