Tag: Drew Hendry

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-10-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the annual revenue raised from VAT on tourism and related services was; and what proportion of this revenue was generated in Scotland for each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison

The government does not hold data on the annual revenue raised from VAT on tourism and related services in the UK and in Scotland. This is because tourism does not follow the standard classification of sectors. For example, revenue raised from travel and hotel accommodation will be a mixture of tourism and non-tourism activity.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-01-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of satellite broadband for serving rural areas; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure parity of service and cost with other types of broadband supply.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Satellite broadband can deliver download speeds of 10Mbps and above and upload speeds of 5Mbps. The subsidised offer to meet the Universal Service Commitment gives a first year only cost for a basic package of up to £400. This will make available an affordable basic broadband service to those premises unable to get a speed of at least 2Mbps. The total number of premises eligible for the universal service commitment subsidy had been substantially reduced, from around 11% in 2010 to around 1% by the end of 2015, as a result of roll-out superfast broadband by the commercial sector and through publicly-funded programmes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many premises are connected to exchange activated telephone exchanges; and if she will make funds available to upgrade such exchanges.

Matt Hancock

The information requested in not available. £121.73m has been made available by the UK Government to fund the roll out of superfast broadband in Scotland.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-10-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to review the levels of VAT paid by tourism and hospitality businesses.

Jane Ellison

The Government keeps all taxes under review, although there are no current plans to review the levels of VAT paid by tourism and hospitality businesses.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-01-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what preparations the Government is making for the auction of 5G spectrum.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Ofcom takes independent decisions on how to assign spectrum. The Government is making spectrum available – including future 5G – through its programme of public sector spectrum release.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support her Department provides to rural communities to install their own fibre networks when commercial and other Government programmes have been unable to reach their premises.

Matt Hancock

Through the Government’s investment of over £780 million, superfast broadband is now available to over 90% of homes and businesses in the UK, compared to 45% in 2010. By the end of 2017 it will be available to 95% of homes and businesses. The Government welcomes initiatives taken by local communities and others to support community fibre broadband projects.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-10-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to review the VAT threshold.

Jane Ellison

The Government keeps all tax rates and thresholds under review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-01-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for what reasons the universal service obligation for broadband was set at 10mb; and if he will make it his policy to increase the minimum universal service requirements to reflect higher levels set in other European countries.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Prime Minister’s announcement of the Government’s intention to implement a new broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) and our ambition to set this at 10Mbps, followed assessments of consumers’ broadband needs from a range of sources, including Ofcom’s annual infrastructure reports. This new broadband USO will give people the legal right to request an affordable broadband connection, at a minimum speed, up to a reasonable cost threshold, no matter where they live.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent review her Department has made of the regulatory framework for the provision of subtitles for on-demand services.

Matt Hancock

In 2015 the then regulator for video on demand services, the Authority for Television on Demand (ATVOD), published its Provision of Video on Demand Access Services Report. The Department analysed the findings of this report, and met with platform operators, content providers and broadcasters to review the provision of such services. The Department has asked broadcasters, content providers and platform operators for a progress update in Spring 2017.

Ofcom is the regulator with responsibility for on-demand programme services (ODPS). Ofcom are presently consulting on how to improve access services and ensure that providers see broadcast and ODPS accessibility as equally important.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a statutory social tariff for broadband services.

Matt Hancock

We are committed to introducing a new broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) within this Parliament. The USO will give households and businesses the legal right to request a broadband connection with speeds of at least 10 Megabits, no matter where they live or work.

Ofcom are preparing advice and recommendations for Government on the design of the broadband USO, and we have asked them specifically to consider a social tariff to make sure it is affordable for all. Ofcom will report on its findings by the end of the year and we will consider them as part of our decision.