UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Lucy Frazer

  • Lucy Frazer – 2023 Letter to Richard Sharp Following his Resignation

    Lucy Frazer – 2023 Letter to Richard Sharp Following his Resignation

    The letter written by Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary, to Richard Sharp, the outgoing Chair of the BBC, on 28 April 2023.

    Dear Richard

    Thank you for your letter notifying me of your decision to resign from your position as Chair of the British Broadcasting Corporation. I understand and respect your decision to stand down.

    As you have stated the BBC is a great national institution. Over the past 100 years it has touched the lives of almost everyone in the United Kingdom and plays a unique part in our cultural heritage. It is respected globally, reaching hundreds of millions of people across the world every week. No other country in the world has anything quite like it.

    I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the work you have done and the leadership you have provided as Chair of the BBC. You have been a champion for what a strong BBC can achieve, not only for audiences at home, but also for the BBC’s contribution to the economy and to the UK’s global soft power. I would like to express my gratitude for your work with the government to maintain the BBC World Service in its unrivalled status as the world’s largest international broadcaster, and supporting its crucial role in tackling harmful disinformation through providing trusted news and analysis globally.

    I know that you are held in high regard by the BBC Board. You have clearly demonstrated your commitment to public service, and I especially applaud the work you did during the pandemic. Your decision to step down in the wider interests of the Corporation is further testament to that commitment.

    Certainty and stability for the Corporation are clearly a shared priority. In this context, I have spoken to the Board and they have proposed that you stay in place until the next Board meeting on 27 June 2023, whilst an Acting Chair is appointed in line with the Charter. I have accepted this and would like to thank you for your continued service to assist in ensuring an orderly and smooth transition takes place. We will also move to launch a process to identify and appoint a permanent new Chair.

    Thank you, once again, for your service and I wish you well for the future. I am sure there will be further opportunities for you to make a significant contribution to public life.

    Yours sincerely

    Rt Hon Lucy Frazer KC MP

    Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

  • Lucy Frazer – 2023 Speech at the Council of Europe Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media

    Lucy Frazer – 2023 Speech at the Council of Europe Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media

    The speech made by Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on 25 April 2023.

    Good morning everyone, I want to start with an apology.

    I would love to be there with you for what I know will be an informed and fruitful discussion, and one that will lead to a valuable report.

    And I am hugely grateful to your President for the kind invitation to speak to you all today and to have a chance to reinforce the UK Government’s position on the participation of Russia and Belarus in international sport.

    I’d also like to extend my thanks to all the members of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media for your illuminating work in this area.

    The UK Government has been committed to the people of Ukraine from day one of Putin’s barbaric invasion and that commitment is an unwavering one.

    Any change to our position on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes representing their states in international sport would be incompatible with that commitment and incompatible with our values as a country.

    As this Council knows, the Olympic Truce – a principle that dates back to the 9th century BC to promote peace, friendship and understanding through sport – and is agreed at the United Nations – has been broken by Russia not once, but twice.

    The first time was – rather unbelievably – at their own hosting of the Winter Games at Sochi in 2014, and the second was during the Beijing Games in 2022.

    Russia has shown nothing but contempt for the values of the Olympics movement and its flouting of the rules has extended beyond the current conflict, as we saw with its involvement in doping programmes.

    The facts are incontrovertible – Russia has devastated Ukraine, Russia has killed Ukrainian athletes and Russia has smashed Ukraine’s sports infrastructure to smithereens.

    This regime does not deserve to see its athletes line up on the starting blocks of races or stand on podiums during medal ceremonies as representatives of their countries.

    As part of our absolute commitment to Ukraine and Ukrainian sovereignty, we have used the convening power of sport to bring together a coalition of 35 countries opposed to Russian and Belarusian participation in international sport.

    The collective statements we issued in March and July of last year, and February of this year, set out shared principles that all those countries agreed on.

    Our common goal is for sporting bodies to minimise the ability of Russia and Belarus to use sport for political gain.

    We recognise and want to maintain the autonomy of sport, and we support those national and international sports bodies who have shown moral clarity and exceptional leadership in this area.

    Bodies like the World Athletics Council that reaffirmed their decision in March to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes.

    World Athletics President Seb Coe highlighted the substantial damage that Russia and Belarus have already done to ‘the integrity of our major international competitions.’

    It is in our collective gift to restore that integrity.

    And I want to be clear on one point which is really at the heart of this issue: this is not about punishing individual Russian or Belarusian athletes. These individuals have dedicated their lives to sport.

    What we stand against is athletes competing to represent the state of Russia and Belarus. There is a fundamental difference.

    The UK Government has from March 2022 been clear in our guidance to our own domestic sports bodies that individual Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete as ‘neutrals’ on UK soil, as long they really are neutral and are not representing their states in any way.

    And we have been equally clear on what that neutrality looks like. These athletes must not, under any circumstances, express support for the war or the Russian and Belarusian regimes.

    This extends to athlete funding – so athletes funded by their states to compete in events or who are in receipt of funding or sponsorship directly aligned to their states, such as from state controlled companies like Gazprom – cannot be considered to be neutral.

    Athletes directly funded by their states to compete in sports competitions, who would not be present at those events without that support, are de facto representatives of those states. They are only there by virtue of being funded by, trained by, selected by, supported by the Russian state.

    And, in that sense, from the UK perspective both ourselves and the International Olympic Committee, through its recommendations on ‘neutrality’ to International Federations of 28 March, are both seeking the same outcome: ensuring the Russian and Belarusian states cannot be represented in international sport.

    We have seen the IOC start to address some of the concerns our group of 35 nations raised in February and that is to be welcomed.

    But the IOC’s recommendations do not go far enough for us and they leave far too many unanswered questions. Our deep reservations extend across three areas.

    Firstly, there is no reference anywhere in the recommendations to state funding, which as I have said is a breach of neutrality. That issue is simply too fundamental to be ignored and it strikes at the heart of what neutrality is. State funding is state representation.

    Secondly, the provisions set out on military and national security agency links are currently minimal, especially when we know that the links between state, military and sport in Russia and Belarus are root and branch.

    And if you think that sounds like an exaggeration, consider the fact that the two leading Russia sports societies, the Central Sports Club of the Army (CSKA) and the Dynamo Sports Society, were founded by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Internal Affairs respectively.

    Athletes trained by those two societies consistently bring home by far the largest share of Russian Olympic medals.

    Many Russian athletes have been active in their support for Putin’s invasion.

    The limited focus of the IOC’s recommendations around people being currently “contracted” to the military or national security agencies really does not account for the intrinsic relationship between the military and security apparatus.

    Our concern also covers the potential for loopholes, with people being ‘uncontracted’ before events and then ‘re-contracted’ afterwards to allow them to compete.

    In Belarus, the Lukashenko regime maintains close control of Belarusian sport, with the Belarus Olympic Committee and Presidential Sports Club, which provides direct financial support to Belarusian athletes, led by Lukashenko’s sons.

    The scenes at the pro-war rally at the Luzhniki Stadium last year, with Putin using Olympic athletes to promote his aggression only served to underline this issue.

    Thirdly, we have ongoing serious concerns about how these provisions will be implemented effectively, robustly and consistently.

    For example, there are issues around the consistent definition of ‘teams’ and whether pairs of athletes could be allowed. This issue is one that needs further clarification.

    Let’s be clear on why this matters. You cannot compete in a team event at the Olympics other than by virtue of being the same nationality and representing your country.

    There are no options to pair up across country borders, so there can be no place for any teams, of any numbers

    We are already seeing a great deal of confusion across sports as international federations take different approaches on the issue of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes back into competition…

    And our fear is this will only escalate over coming weeks, exacerbated by the current lack of clarity on future participation at Paris 2024 for those Russians and Belarusians who may have qualified at events this summer.

    In all of these discussions we must not lose sight of the issues at stake.

    More than 220 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have so far lost their lives at the hands of Russian aggression.

    Countless more have been forced to flee or defend their homeland from invading forces.

    Our countries all have the luxury of talking about our participation in future sporting events – events that will bring joy to millions and showcase our greatest athletes.

    Meanwhile Ukrainian sport facilities have been destroyed or severely damaged by this war.

    None of us should countenance the idea of a Ukrainian athlete being forced to share a pitch, a court, a field, a starting line with state sponsored athletes from Russia and Belarus.

    The IOC must clarify their position or go back to the drawing board. Resolve the issues I have set out today.

    Implement an approach that guarantees only truly neutral athletes can participate.

    Then we can get back to sport.

    Thank you all for your time today.

  • Lucy Frazer – 2023 Statement on the Draft Media Bill

    Lucy Frazer – 2023 Statement on the Draft Media Bill

    The speech made by Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 29 March 2023.

    Today the Government are publishing a draft Media Bill. This will ensure that we can deliver on key aspects of the Government’s vision for the broadcasting sector, set out last year in our landmark White Paper, “Up next”. The Media Bill will reform decades-old laws to turbocharge the growth potential of our world-leading public service broadcasters (PSBs), allowing them to better compete with global giants. It will give PSBs the tools to adapt to changing viewer habits as people now increasingly watch TV on demand via smart TVs and other connected devices, instead of traditional “linear” services such as terrestrial TV.

    The draft legislation will bring video-on-demand (VoD) services such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video under new Ofcom content rules, ensuring that children and vulnerable viewers are better protected from harmful material and that these on-demand, online-only streaming services platforms are properly accountable to the UK regulator. The draft Bill also has new rules to make streaming content more accessible to those with seeing and hearing impairments, bringing them in line with existing broadcasting standards.

    The draft Bill reflects the Government’s decisions to proceed with a package of reforms to support Channel 4 to meet the sustainability challenges it faces. Channel 4 will have greater freedom to make and own its own content, should it choose to do so. A new legal duty will also be introduced on the corporation to consider its long-term sustainability alongside the delivery of its public service remit. This will ensure that this globally renowned broadcaster can continue to produce high-impact, distinctive shows long into the future. The Government have already committed to raising the level of Channel 4’s independent production quota and will continue to work closely with industry to consider additional protections that will safeguard Channel 4’s important role supporting the production sector following these changes.

    The Bill now also includes measures that are vital to the future of UK radio services. These long called for reforms will help protect radio’s long-term position on connected audio devices, including smart speakers, and ensure the continuation of the huge public value that radio provides for listeners across the UK. It will also include legislation for radio deregulation, which will reduce burdens and the costs on commercial radio.

    The Media Bill will:

    Deliver a new public service remit for TV while making sure public service broadcasters continue to service audiences across the UK with universally available, high-quality programming;

    Make sure public service broadcast content is always carried and easy to find for UK audiences on connected devices and major online platforms, including on smart TVs, set-top boxes and streaming sticks, so audiences can easily access this content in the way that best suits them;

    Introduce a sustainability duty on the Channel Four Television Corporation (C4C) and remove the existing publisher-broadcaster restriction on C4C so it has a greater ability to produce and monetise its own content, if it chooses to do so, ensuring Channel 4’s long-term future in public ownership;

    Update the public service remit of S4C (Sianel Pedwar Cymru), the Welsh language television service, to include digital and online services. Removing the current geographical broadcasting restrictions so that S4C can broaden its reach and offer its content on a range of new platforms in the UK and beyond, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to the future of Welsh language broadcasting;

    Bring video-on-demand services such as Netflix under UK regulation, ensuring that larger, TV-like services are subject to the same high standards as broadcast TV channels, by giving Ofcom powers to investigate and take action if it considers it appropriate;

    Reduce regulatory burdens and costs on commercial radio stations that are no longer needed due to the decisive shift towards digital listening, while also strengthening protections for the provision of national and local news and local information for listeners;

    Introduce measures to protect the position of radio accessed via smart speakers—for example, “Alexa” devices—by ensuring that listeners are able to find the content they expect in an unaltered format, without additional or substituted advertisement; and

    Repeal section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, which would—if commenced—force news publishers to pay the costs of any court judgment if they were not a member of the approved regulator, regardless of the outcome of the court judgment.

    In recognition of the importance of getting these reforms right, and delivering the best outcome for audiences, the Government are publishing the Bill in draft to facilitate a period of technical engagement with industry prior to introduction.

    The Government are today publishing the draft Bill and associated documents on www.gov.uk. I will deposit copies of the draft Bill and these documents in the Libraries of both Houses.

    Alongside publication of the draft Media Bill, I am also issuing my response to Ofcom’s report on the licensing of Channel 3 and Channel 5 submitted under section 229 of the Communications Act 2003. This response confirms that I do not intend to block the renewal of these licences, acknowledging the valuable role that ITV, STV and Channel 5 continue to play within the PSB system. A copy of my response will be available on gov.uk.

  • Lucy Frazer – 2023 Speech at the Gambling with Lives Annual Parliamentary Forum

    Lucy Frazer – 2023 Speech at the Gambling with Lives Annual Parliamentary Forum

    The speech made by Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on 1 March 2023.

    Culture Secretary speaks ahead of the publication of the gambling white paper.

    Good afternoon everyone,

    And I wanted to start by thanking Liz and Charles for inviting me to speak at this event and thank you very much for your very powerful speech.

    You have both been, as many of you have been in this room, tireless and devoted champions in this area, and I know Gambling with Lives does incredibly valuable work to support families in this room but also who are across the country.

    Shortly after I was appointed I read your response to the call for evidence and I was struck by the harrowing stories of people like Robert and Fred, whose lives were ruined by gambling, and as a mother I can’t begin to imagine the grief and sense of loss of all your families.

    And though I’ve only been Culture Secretary for three weeks, meeting all of you and hearing your experiences was one of the first things I wanted to do in this role.

    Because it’s so important to hear directly from families who have been touched by these issues, and I really value your input when looking at gambling reform.

    So thank you, Liz, thank you Charles, thank you everybody – and I’m really pleased that your hard work was honoured in the New Year Honours List.

    I have also read the House of Lords report on Gambling Harm Time for Action and I recently met with the lived experience advisory panel. I heard some really moving stories and I am struck by how diverse their experiences were.

    One person had lost over £1 million. Another never bet more than £1 on a spin.

    One young man had started gambling at the age of eleven. Many tried to self exclude but found the enticements drawing them back in just too difficult.

    I also wanted to say that I know it must be very frustrating to have yet another ministerial team leading the government’s work on gambling, and I know that you might be worried about further delays to the white paper.

    So let me reassure you that White Paper is an absolute priority for me, and for the Prime minister, and we are committed to publishing it soon.

    But I do want to give these issues justice and take some time to make sure that I do meet with you and others to really understand the issues. I am particularly conscious of the vulnerability of young people.

    And of course you know very well, gambling doesn’t just destroy the lives of the gamblers themselves, it has a devastating impact on their loved ones.

    The Review of the Gambling Act is an opportunity to make the changes we need, and to make sure we have the right protections in place for the digital age.

    Nearly every area of gambling policy is in scope, and I want to make sure your views are heard and reflected.

    I am also conscious there are a variety of views on the way forward.

    Of course, the White Paper when it is published will not be the last word on reform. I’m really keen to keep talking to you all, and to make sure we understand the drivers of gambling harm and how we can protect the public.

    So thank you so much for everything you’ve done so far.

    And for everything I’m sure you’ll continue to do in the months and years to come.

  • Lucy Frazer – 2023 Speech at the Creative Coalition Festival

    Lucy Frazer – 2023 Speech at the Creative Coalition Festival

    The speech made by Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on 28 February 2023.

    I’m absolutely delighted to be here – and I want to thank Caroline and Creative UK for inviting me to speak at today’s event.

    As you might have realised, it’s been a whirlwind few weeks in government and during that time we’ve seen departments being broken up, and new ones created.

    But I think those changes have left my department, DCMS, in really a strong position.

    We can now dedicate all of our energy on the sectors at the heart of our portfolio – particularly the creative industries.

    They are a key priority for the Prime Minister.

    They are a priority for the Chancellor, who has highlighted the creative industries as one of his key growth sectors for the UK economy.

    And they are a priority for me as Culture Secretary.

    In my first few weeks in the role, I’ve been lucky enough to go on a whistlestop tour of Britain’s creative landscape.

    I’ve been up to the Corrie set, and to the Brits.

    I’ve sat on the front row at London Fashion Week, and cheered on UK filmmaking at the BAFTAs.

    And during those last few weeks I’ve seen with my own eyes just how much talent we have in this country:

    the writers, the musicians,

    the lighting and sound technicians, the designers and the producers.

    But those people aren’t just making nice things.

    They are the workforce powering our country – pumping £116 billion into the national purse every year.

    The creative industries enrich our lives in every sense of the word.

    When they thrive, the country thrives.

    And while I’m new to DCMS, as a minister in other departments, I’ve seen just how much the arts can affect lives.

    As prisons minister I saw firsthand how pivotal drama and art can be to rehabilitation,

    in helping people find purpose, meaning and hope, and improve their skills for life outside their four walls.

    As the housing minister, we constantly talked about the importance of “place”…

    …how the quality of the buildings we inhabit and the beauty of the architecture around us affects the way we feel about our home towns and cities.

    And at the Treasury I saw how we can support companies to grow, expand and recruit.

    I am going to bring that experience to bear in this role, to push the creative industries to a new level of growth in the coming years.

    Now, it’s worth noting the huge level of support that the government is already giving to the creative industries.

    We are currently spending:

    Over £21 million through the UK Global Screen Fund, to promote the independent screen sector.

    Over £8 million to support new video games businesses to develop new products and talent through the UK Games Fund.

    £17 million to boost creative investment in six regions across England.

    Over £100 million in funding from UK Research and Innovation, to help us become world leaders in virtual production, and support smaller businesses to experiment and innovate.

    And today I can announce that we are spending another £2.5 million to support R&D in the creative industries in different places across the UK.

    Those are the things we are already doing to get the sector firing on all cylinders.

    But to push things to the next level, I’m going to focus on at least two things:

    People.

    Places.

    On people, I know that a key challenge for the sector is skills.

    Our film and TV industries, for instance, are booming.

    They’re creating thousands of jobs. Now we need people to fill them.

    Yet a recent survey of young people by the BFI and careers app ERIC found only 6 per cent believed a career in the screen industries, for example, was achievable.

    So we need to work together to give people the right skills and awareness from a young age, so that they can join these booming industries and enjoy fulfilling, well-paid jobs.

    On places, I want to use the creative industries to drive growth in every corner of the UK.

    Right now, more than half of creative jobs are in London and the South East.

    And we can do so much more.

    This is one of our strongest industries, and we need the entire country to feel its benefits.

    And there’s a clear route to doing that.

    Right now, there are certain hotspots outside London and the South East where creativity is absolutely booming.

    Where certain creative industries form natural “clusters”.

    So Leamington Spa, for instance, has become one of the video game capitals of the UK,

    While Belfast is a hub for film and TV production.

    I’m very interested in how we can boost those clusters,

    And a need to work across government so that we build homes and train stations in areas where our creative industries are thriving.

    I’m interested in how we can give businesses in those areas even more opportunities to innovate, to access investment, and to export the best of British creativity abroad.

    And finally, I want to understand how the tax system can best support the creative economy, and how it can encourage people all over the country to start and expand their own creative businesses.

    And I will set out how I intend to deliver them through the upcoming Creative Industries Sector Vision.

    DCMS has worked very closely with industry on the Sector Vision, and last week I met with some of the leading voices of the sector to discuss that project,

    during the first face-to-face meeting of the Creative Industries Council since before the pandemic.

    And when the Sector Vision is published, it will kickstart a whole new round of engagement together.

    It will outline how we will continue to work together, both government and industry, on a range of issues affecting creative businesses.

    It will give us the framework to partner up with the new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on research and development…

    …and to work with the Department for Education on building a highly skilled and innovative workforce.

    And it will lay out how we intend to capitalise on this really exciting era for the creative industries…

    …An era where film and TV alone are now worth more than the entire car industry in the UK.

    This is where the jobs are, this is where growth is.

    So I want to capitalise on that moment, and use it to drive the sector to new heights, for the benefit of the entire country.

    So look out for its publication.

    And in the meantime, I want to thank everyone in this room for all the dedication and passion you bring to your work every single day.

    I know creative work can be a real labour of love.

    And it’s one of the reasons why I’m looking forward to working with all of you in the coming months.

  • Lucy Frazer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lucy Frazer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Frazer on 2016-10-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent steps his Department has taken to help rough sleepers and homeless people.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    One person without a home is one too many. That is why we launched a new £40 million Homelessness Prevention programme to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.

    This will enable authorities to support vulnerable people, preventing them from becoming homeless, and ensuring those who do have somewhere safe to stay.

  • Lucy Frazer – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lucy Frazer – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Frazer on 2015-11-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential savings to the public purse offered by biosimilars.

    George Freeman

    A biosimilar sub group of the Pharmaceutical Market Support Group is working to help the National Health Service achieve benefits from the new biosimilar molecules and to encourage uptake. This work is supported by other activity including the Hospital Pharmacy and Medicines Optimisation Project work stream of the Lord Carter NHS Productivity & Efficiency Programme and initiatives from NHS England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and manufacturers. Work has focused on identifying efficiency opportunities for specific molecules and as a result a collective assessment of potential savings to the public purse has not been compiled.

    In an era of significant economic, demographic and technological challenge it is crucial that patients get the best quality outcomes from medicines. Recent research has given clear evidence that competition between different biological medicines, including biosimilar medicines, creates increased choice for patients and clinicians, and enhanced value propositions for individual medicines. As the range of biosimilar medicines increases, it is important that the NHS plans for their timely, appropriate and cost effective introduction. NHS England in its role as system leader is undertaking a programme of work to support decision makers, such as commissioners, clinicians, pharmacists, patients and others in their consideration of the optimal use of biosimilar medicines.

  • Lucy Frazer – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Lucy Frazer – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Frazer on 2015-11-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to reform the allocation of funding to increase participation in sport.

    Tracey Crouch

    The funding model used to date has not delivered the sustained increase in participation we want to see across the country. The new sport and physical activity strategy will ensure that funding is clearly targeted at those organisations that can best deliver results.

  • Lucy Frazer – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Lucy Frazer – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Frazer on 2015-12-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to ensure that the Deaflympics are recognised as equal to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

    Tracey Crouch

    Government recognises the importance of deaf sport to those who take part at both grassroots and elite level. Sport England is investing £365,872 in UK Deaf Sport between 2014 and 2017 in recognition of this.Questions of official recognition at an international level are a matter for the International Olympic Committee.

  • Lucy Frazer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Lucy Frazer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Frazer on 2016-03-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support the Government is providing to enable developing countries to harness mobile phone technology.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    Our partnership with mobile phone operator group, the GSMA, has used mobile technology to improve the reach, delivery and affordability of basic energy, water and sanitation services for 1.3 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and many of our other programmes in health, education and other sectors use mobile technology.