Covid-19

ISPA Weekly Update Call

ISPA continues to conduct weekly calls with the membership touching on relevant issues relating to COVID-19. They are used as a way to update members on developments and work ISPA is doing with Government, but also to gain feedback and questions to take to DCMS.

This week the call centred on:

• The extension of vulnerable consumer and NHS customer commitments to those able to do so in the industry. These include connecting NHS workers and payment holidays for those in vulnerable circumstances as a result of COVID-19
• Proposals within the B2B market for further support both within the industry and from Government.
• Continuation of some issues regarding roll-out, and experiences across different local authorities.

DCMS Chair welcomes Ofcom’s action to tackle misinformation

Chair of the DCMS Committee, Julian Knight MP, has welcomed steps taken by Ofcom to deal with misinformation around coronavirus and 5G. This follows findings that almost half of online adults in the UK said they had been exposed to false claims about coronavirus in a single week. Knight said that the committee ‘will be examining attempts to spread falsehoods about Covid-19 whether through misinformation or disinformation and will be rigorous in demanding action to deal with those responsible.’
The full text can be found here.

DCMS Committee COVID-19 inquiry

The DCMS Committee has launched an inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on DCMS sectors. It is accepting evidence until Friday 1st May 2020 and will consider both short and long-term impacts and will hear from stakeholders, arms-length bodies and Government.
The full text can be found here.

Virtual Parliament set to begin next week

The House of Commons Commission has approved plans for a ‘virtual’ parliament to maintain the work of scrutinising government. MPs must formally approve the plans when they return next week, but it would enable up to 120 members to take part in proceedings virtually at any one time, whilst 50 could remain socially distanced in the chamber. If MPs approve these hybrid measures, PMQs, urgent questions and statements will be able to take place from Wednesday 22nd April for the first two hours of each sitting day. If the proceedings are judged to be a success, there will be the opportunity to extend the measures to debates on motions and legislation in the future.

Parliamentary business for next week includes questioning of DCMS Secretary, Oliver Dowden by the DCMS Committee, as well as DCMS Questions from MPs. The Telecoms Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill around wayleaves will continue its way through the House of Lords next week.