It becomes the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – as Treasury launches £400 million broadband fund
What was the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has now become the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – while retaining the acronym DCMS.
The move reflects the increasing importance of the department’s responsibility for the country’s digital infrastructure, and the prominence of its ministers as the Government’s spokespeople on the relevant issues.
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Karen Bradley said: “The department has taken on significant new responsibilities in recent years, so that half of its policy and delivery work now covers the digital sectors - telecommunications, data protection, internet safety, cyber skills and parts of media and the creative industries.
“The traditional core of DCMS remains as important as ever, covering arts, culture, the creative industries, sport, tourism, heritage, gambling, boosted by responsibility for civil society, charities, volunteering and innovative financing to create an inclusive economy. This work makes an essential contribution to driving growth and enriching lives.”
The move comes as HM Treasury has launched a £400 million fund, announced in last year’s Autumn Statement, to promote investment in digital infrastructure.
Unlock £1 billion
It said the Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund should unlock over £1 billion for full fibre broadband, and kick-start better broadband connections across the country.
This follows a £1.7 billion investment for the roll out of high speed broadband across the UK.
Matthew Vickerstaff, deputy chief executive of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) and the Government’s head of project finance, said: “Full fibre digital communication networks will be a crucial part of our future infrastructure and will require substantial investment from the private sector.
“The launch of the Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund will help accelerate the roll out of ultra-fast digital networks by increasing access to private finance for companies delivering them.”
Image from GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0
