The Government recognises the importance of free-to-air terrestrial television and is considering its longer-term future as viewing increasingly moves online. In particular, Parliament has legislated to secure the future of digital terrestrial television (DTT) until at least 2034. The Media Green Paper, Watch this space, sought views on 2034 and 2044 as possible dates for a managed transition to IPTV, and on how such a transition can be managed in a way that protects audiences and supports a sustainable broadcasting sector. The Government is currently considering the responses it received and will set out its preferred approach in due course. Affordability and national security are key considerations, and the Government is seeking views on how the TV, digital and telecommunications sectors can address these challenges. Commercial broadcasters will also have an important role in determining the future availability of their own free-to-air services on DTT, within the relevant regulatory and policy framework.

The Government recognises the importance of a diverse broadcasting landscape for communities around the country, with hundreds of channels, large and small, catering to a wide range of audiences.

The Government is committed to supporting a broadcasting sector that delivers for all audiences. On a local level, the BBC, local TV providers and commercial and community radio stations all play a crucial role in disseminating accurate news and local information, strengthening pride of place, reflecting the unique interests of the audiences that they serve, connecting communities, and helping to address social issues like loneliness and mental health.

The Government also believes that it is important that the broadcasting industry – both on- and off-screen – is representative of the country in which we live. In this context, the Government recognises the editorial and operational independence of the broadcasting sector and understands the value of smaller channels and content that caters to specific audiences.

The BBC also plays an important role in delivering this, and in the UK’s wider public service broadcasting ecosystem, with a mission to serve all audiences through the provision of impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 13 June 2023 to Questions 188295, 188296 and 188297.

The Government recognises the important contribution and impact that local TV services make to our broadcasting ecosystem, and officials from my department meet regularly with both local TV providers and platforms.

In the Broadcasting White Paper, we announced our intention to consult on our approach to the renewal or relicensing of the 34 local TV services whose licences expire in November 2025. Subject to the outcome of that consultation, the Government has no plans to change the status of local TV services under the current linear prominence regime set out in section 310 of the Communications Act 2003 (as modified by the Local Digital Television Programme Services Order 2012). Under that regime, the providers of regulated electronic programme guides must give appropriate prominence to local TV services.

The Secretary of State and I meet representatives of Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues relating to broadcasting, as do officials from my Department.

The findings of Ofcom’s review of market changes referred to in the Broadcasting White Paper will form part of our evidence base for future long term decisions for the period after 2034. My officials continue to work with Ofcom to suggest areas of potential focus for the review.

As set out in the Broadcasting White Paper, the Government has asked Ofcom to publish the findings of their review before the end of 2025.

The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the government, and decisions over its spending and services are a matter for the BBC. We recognise the BBC, just like individual households, businesses and other organisations across the UK, is having to make difficult financial decisions.

However, the government is clear that the BBC must continue to deliver its Mission and Public Purposes, which includes providing high quality, distinctive content and services. The BBC must also comply with the requirements in their Operating Licence, as set and regulated independently by Ofcom. This includes ensuring an amount of children's television is shown prominently on television.

We note that Ofcom is currently conducting a public consultation on a new Operating Licence to give the BBC greater flexibility to deliver its Mission and Public Purposes rather than having to meet specific quantitative quotas. We will continue to discuss Ofcom’s proposals with them as the consultation progresses.

The Government is supportive of a modern system of public service broadcasting that remains relevant and can continue to meet the needs of UK audiences in the future. In particular, the government believes that television audiences should continue to have access to a wide range of public service content on a free-to-air basis.

The rapid growth in the take-up of superfast broadband and the proliferation of devices capable of connecting to the internet is changing the way we access audiovisual content. For example, 79% of households with a TV set now choose to connect it to the internet, giving them access to a wide array of additional services. These include both free-to-air and subscription-based video-on-demand services.

As set out in our Broadcasting White Paper, the government is taking steps to support public service broadcasting and to protect audiences who cannot (or choose not to) access these additional services. In particular, we facilitated the extension of the DTT (“Freeview”) platform until 2034, in recognition of the important role it will continue to play as a means of watching both public service and commercial television. This includes programmes intended to contribute to the learning and development of young people.

In addition, support is available for low-income households to access affordable broadband. A range of low-cost, broadband social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK. BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, and other providers offer broadband social tariffs starting at £15 per month for households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means tested benefits. In addition, on 27 June, all the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators agreed a set of public commitments to support households with their connectivity costs.

For these reasons, the government has not undertaken an assessment of the effect on the learning and development of young people of TV channels only being available over the internet to those families who can afford to pay for those services.

The Government is committed to the future of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform (better known as “Freeview”) which remains popular with UK audiences and which plays an important role in supporting the delivery of public service broadcasting. It is our expectation that DTT will continue to be an important content distribution channel at least into the early 2030s. In recognition of this, the government has facilitated the long term renewal of DTT licences until 2034.

As set out in the Broadcasting White Paper, the government will ask Ofcom to undertake a review of market changes that may affect the future of content distribution before the end of 2025. Next steps in relation to this will be set out in due course.

No Parliamentary Press Gallery passes are currently on issue to RT or Russia TV.

We have not discussed this issue with the Palestinian Authority (PA). The UK does not have any contact with the administration in Gaza. The UK retains a policy of no contact with Hamas in its entirety. We encourage the PA to fully resume its government functions in Gaza, and ensure that the reconciliation process is compliant with the Quartet Principles.

The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf.

No assessment has been made of the advantages and disadvantages of establishing separate television channels throughout the day for both the House of Lords and the House of Commons. As is the case in a number of European countries, the UK Parliament does not own or fund a television channel dedicated to its own proceedings and as a result our knowledge of the costs involved is limited. The BBC Trust reported the total cost of the BBC Parliament channel, funded through the licence fee, to be £9.9m per annum. It is not anticipated that the House of Lords would establish or maintain such a service.

All of the sittings of the Lords Chamber, Grand Committee and public committee meetings are available to the public as live streams online and are available to watch on demand at any time on the Parliamentary video service at www.parliamentlive.tv. The Parliamentary Broadcasting Unit also makes feeds of all House of Lords proceedings available to all regional, national and international broadcasters. The House of Lords net revenue spend for audio/video coverage and distribution of House of Lords proceedings and for its online video service is £1.41m.

As with many other countries, Bangladesh has suffered from an increase in violent extremism in recent years. In part this may be motivated by broadcasts and online material of an extremist nature. The British Government has not discussed Peace TV with either the Government of Bangladesh or the Government of Dubai. However, we are in regular dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh about how we can assist and share best practice in combating extremism and in understanding the root causes of why young people in particular are vulnerable to such messaging. In November 2015, the former Prime Minister, my Right Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), commissioned a review into the funding of Islamist extremism in the UK. The review will improve our understanding of how extremists operating in the UK sustain their activities.

We have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities. However we are aware of reports of closure of the Palestine Today television channel and are investigating the background.

The capital costs for the installation of the analogue transmitter at the Divis site to carry Telefis na Gaeilge (TG4) services are as set out in the reply by Baroness Rawlings on 25 January 2011 (Column WA132). The operational costs of broadcasting TG4 services in analogue from the Divis site were met by Foras na Gaelige. These arrangements ended with digital switchover on 23 October 2012.

Since 23 October 2012, TG4 services in Northern Ireland have been carried on the new Northern Ireland Multiplex. These arrangements were made under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Governments of UK and Ireland in February 2010

which sets out a framework for co-operation on broadcasting issues in Northern Ireland. Under this arrangement, the Northern Ireland Multiplex carries RTE 1 and RTE 2 services as well as TG4. DCMS meets one third costs of the multiplex (including transmission services) with RTE meeting the remaining two thirds of costs. The costs since October 2012 are shown in the table.

2012-13—£149,984.84

2013-14—£264,211.45