The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and
Sport ( ): I would like
to inform the House of a number of DCMS updates.
Over summer recess we also reached another key milestone in the
transformation of the UK’s broadband networks—announcing that
over 70% of homes and businesses across the country now have
access to lightning-fast, gigabit connections.
It has also been an incredible summer of sport, with my
Department helping to successfully host both the UEFA Women’s
Euros and the Birmingham Commonwealth games.
Building on the spectacular performance of the Lionesses at the
Euros final, I wish to inform the House that on 2 September, the
Government have officially launched a review of the future of
women’s football.
Launch of the future of women’s football review
The Lionesses’ Euros victory rightfully put women’s sport at the
centre of the agenda. Record numbers of viewers watched their
success: 574,875 tickets were sold at the tournament, with
sell-out crowds wherever the Lionesses played. The final also
broke the attendance record for a Euros final—in either the
women’s or men’s game. While it is right that we celebrate and
reflect on that success, we must now refocus to ensure that this
success translates to the continued growth of the women’s
game.
The fan-led review of football governance, conducted in 2021,
recognised the different issues that the women’s game faces in
comparison to men’s football. The fan-led review therefore
recommended that women’s football should receive its own
dedicated review. Government accepted this recommendation. Rather
than the issues of financial mismanagement and fit and proper
owners that the fan-led review considered, the review of the
women’s game will focus on capitalising on popularity and
continuing to grow the game.
The review will be chaired by former England and Great Britain
footballer Karen Carney MBE. Karen has extensive knowledge of
women’s football and the issues affecting it, having had a very
successful playing career and later moved on to become a
respected broadcaster and columnist on both women’s and men’s
football. Karen’s unique experience will be invaluable in
ensuring that the review makes proposals that help to continue
the growth and success of the women’s game.
The review will now commence with stakeholders and fan groups
having the opportunity to provide evidence on the issues
affecting the women’s game. There will be a particular focus on
assessing the potential audience reach and growth of the game,
examining the financial health of the game, its financial
sustainability for the long term and the structures within
women’s football.
The findings and recommendations arising from this review will be
set out in a published report next year.
We have further updates to make on the gifting of Birmingham 2022
Commonwealth games assets, and the removal of facsimile services
from the universal service order.
Gifting of assets following the conclusion of the Birmingham 2022
Commonwealth games
During the summer recess my Department has been working with the
organising committee of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth games to
prepare to donate the sports equipment assets to Sport
England for onward distribution to community
organisations in Birmingham and the west Midlands. This will
ensure maximum legacy opportunities for communities and sporting
organisations to benefit from the games.
It is normal practice when a Government Department (in this
instance an arm’s length body of the Department) proposes to make
a gift of a value exceeding £300,000, for the Department
concerned to present to the House of Commons a minute giving
particulars of the gift and explaining the circumstances; and to
refrain from making the gift until 14 parliamentary sitting days
after the issue of the minute, except in cases of special
urgency.
As the games equipment was being passed to Sport
England immediately after the conclusion of the
games, and with the games having taken place during summer
recess, DCMS wrote to as chair of the Committee of Public Accounts, and
as chair of the Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on 29 July 2022,
informing them of the proposed course of action.
Ministers at HM Treasury have approved the proposal in principle.
If, during the period of 14 parliamentary sitting days beginning
on the date on which this minute was laid before the House of
Commons, a Member signifies an objection by giving notice of a
parliamentary question or a motion relating to the minute, or by
otherwise raising the matter in the House, final approval of the
gift will be withheld pending an examination of the
objection.
I inform the House today of the Departmental minute which sets
out the detail of the decision, which has been laid in both
Houses.
The distribution of sports equipment from Sport
England onwards is expected to commence in
October.
A copy of the departmental minute will be placed in the Libraries
of both Houses.
Removal of the Fax USO
Tomorrow, the Government will amend the Electronic Communications
(Universal Service) Order 2003 to remove facsimile services from
the USO. This will come into force on 1 October 2022.
DCMS previously wrote to Ofcom to consult it ahead of potentially
removing fax from the universal service order. This was in light
of the industry-led migration from the public switched telephone
network to all-internet protocol telephony, which will mean that
fax machines will no longer work in the same way. This was in
accordance with section 65(4) of the Communications Act 2003
which states that, before making or varying the universal service
order, the Secretary of State must consult Ofcom and such other
persons as they consider appropriate.
After a public consultation, Ofcom concluded it would be
appropriate to remove fax from the USO. Ofcom noted the low usage
of fax, as well as the availability of reliable alternatives,
many of which are free of charge. DCMS officials conducted
further investigations with the healthcare, tourism, legal, and
energy sectors, and found that the use of fax was minimal and
alternatives are being sought where its use still continues.
DCMS is content that it is appropriate to remove fax from the
telephony USO. As a result, the designated providers BT and KCOM
will no longer be required to provide fax services. We are making
this change now given the ongoing changes to the UK’s telephone
networks, as well as recognising that the limited existing use of
fax services makes their inclusion in the USO unnecessary.
Fax services will remain available on existing PSTN connections
until the service is withdrawn by the industry in 2025. BT has
also indicated that fax services may continue to function over
its digital voice services, though they are not guaranteed in the
same way. Furthermore, the move from fax services to alternatives
will have already been a part of many sectors’ preparation for
migration to all-IP. DCMS has been working closely with other
Government Departments to raise awareness of this change and
others expected as part of PSTN migration.
The Government will also be making a minor clarification to the
USO with regard to the term “publicly available telephone
service”, as recommended by the Joint Committee on Statutory
Instruments in 2011.
