Minister(UK) Gone-New one - who cares

Subject: Minister Gone-New one - who cares
From: ET
Date: 22 May 06 - 07:19 AM

064/06
8 May 2006

Shaun Woodward Is New Minister For Creative Industries And Tourism


New Creative Industries and Tourism Minister Shaun Woodward today pledged to harness his first hand experience working in broadcasting to understand and promote Britain's outstanding creative industries

Mr Woodward said his 10 years in the broadcasting industry ideally placed him to tackle challenges such as the switch to digital television between 2008 and 2012, the completion of the BBC Charter Review and licence fee settlement and positioning the UK's creative industries at the heart of our economy.

He also looked forward to working with the tourism and hospitality industry, in particular to ensure the potential benefits of staging the 2012 Olympics were fully realised.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said:

"I'm very pleased to welcome Shaun to DCMS. He arrives at an important time. I look forward to working with him on everything from digital switchover, to licensing, to keeping our film and music industries healthy and vibrant."

Shaun Woodward said:

"Ten years of working in the broadcasting industry will undoubtedly help me both understand and promote the creative industries within Britain and across the world.

"This is a massively expanding part of the UK economy and represents a collective set of industries for which the Government must create a climate to enable further growth and expansion. Whether it's television, film, computer games or the music business we have a fantastic set of opportunities with which I am thrilled to engage.

"Tourism is a vital part of the UK economy employing more than two million people. The tourism industry rightly wants Government to create a climate for further growth and promotion and I hope to be a vibrant champion in the months ahead

"Undoubtedly the 2012 Olympics will offer a unique opportunity to the UK tourism industry and I want to ensure that we seize this moment."

Mr Woodward replaces James Purnell who has been appointed Minister of State for Pensions at the Department for Work and Pensions.


THIS IS FROM DCMS WEBSITE. I HAVE WRITTEN TO DCMS AND JAMES PURNELL SO MANY TIMES THAT, TO QUOTE HIM "WE MUST AGREE TO DIFFER".   I AGREED TO NOTHING. IS IT WORTH TAKING UP MUSIC LICENSING WITH NEW BLOKE? I DOUBT IT.

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An explanatory phrase was added to the thread title so that it could be understood by readers outside the UK. If you wish to discuss the title change, discuss it elsewhere (click) and allow this discussion to stay on-topic.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Minister Gone-New one - who cares
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 22 May 06 - 07:32 AM

There is only one way to find out how a new face reacts to your questions. Perhaps this one might actually understand what he is supposed to be doing - not common in politicians, I agree, but there might be an exception.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Minister Gone-New one - who cares
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 06 - 11:50 AM

Yes, there is only one way to find out and that is by writing to him.

* I note we seem to be managing in this thread with the originator's chosen title. And do not seem to have incurred an imposed change this time to make it clear that it not a man-of-the-cloth being referred to in the thread's title - so far anyway...........That is a hopeful sign.

Subject: RE: Minister(UK) Gone-New one - who cares
From: The Shambles
Date: 22 May 06 - 01:19 PM

The following from Hamish Birchall.

Interesting to note, Woodward was a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) when the Licensing Act was a Bill
.
The JCHR published five reports during 2002/3 criticising the live music reforms. Their reasons included risks to people's right to freedom of expression and discrimination against secular premises (because of the exemption for places of public religious worship).

In their fifth and final report, published on 21 July 2003, the JCHR wrongly concluded that the Act covers amplified and unamplified music in the same way (para 5.6). This basic mistake seems to have been the result of DCMS representations. The Act did not, and does not, treat live and recorded music equally.

During the licence conversion period in 2005, bars and restaurants were allowed to keep recorded sound systems automatically, but their automatic right to one or two live musicians was taken away. The exemption for broadcast entertainment (inevitably amplified), as against the potential requirement to licence even one unamplified musician, is another obvious example of unequal treatment.

Subject: RE: Minister(UK) Gone-New one - who cares
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 May 06 - 03:20 AM

An explanatory phrase was added to the thread title so that it could be understood by readers outside the UK. If you wish to discuss the title change, discuss it elsewhere (click) and allow this discussion to stay on-topic.
-Joe Offer-

Not really the full story - This thread was also moved to the BS section and now (with (UK) added to it has now been returned to where its originator placed it.

Various other posts have been removed from it and from another thread Mudcat Help&Trouble Forum (which has now been closed) and been moved to the following 'mongrel thread'.

Title change discussion (moved from another thread)

Subject: RE: Minister(UK) Gone-New one - who cares
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 24 May 06 - 09:43 PM

The removal of the former minister might have significance. Any assumption that a new minister will (unless his back is really against the wall like John Reid at the Home office) savage his same-party predecessor probably assumes way too much honesty.

The press is commenting with astonishment on how frank John Reid is being (or is seming to be). This is not a good value judgement on our democracy.

Of course, if we were speaking of the Reverend Dr Ian Paisley we could speak of him as a minster in the less important sense as well.