Government Ministers, Google and Facebook discuss the future of advertising

• Parliament TV: The advertising industry
• Inquiry: The advertising industry
• Select Committee on Communications

Witnesses

Tuesday 19 December, Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster

At 3.30 pm

Background

Google and Facebook receive over half of all online ad revenue in the UK. This session explores the role their businesses play in the value chain of the digital advertising market and whether online advertising platforms should be regulated as publishers.

In the second session with the Ministers, the Committee asks the Government how it intends to ensure that the advertising industry can continue to access the international talent and young people with the necessary skills that it needs.

At 3.30pm

• Ed Couchman, Director of Agency Partnerships, Facebook
• Simon Milner, Policy Director - UK, Middle East and Africa, Facebook
• Adam Cohen, Head of Economic Policy for EMEA, Google
• Michael Todd, Head of Advertising Industry Relations, Google

At 4.30pm

• Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, Minister of State for Digital, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
• Rt Hon Anne Milton MP, Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, Department for Education

Possible lines of questioning

Questions that the Committee are likely to ask Facebook and Google include:

• Are there any downsides to the digital advertising market of Facebook and Google's preponderance in search and social media?
• What steps have been taken to ensure that the metrics that are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of your advertising services are appropriate and transparent to advertisers?
• What steps have been taken to tackle ad fraud?
• What effect will Brexit have on Facebook and Google and, how will it affect their operations in the UK?

Questions that the Committee are likely to ask the Government include:

• What steps has the Government taken to promote advertising as a career to young people?
• What steps has the Government taken to ensure that apprenticeships work better for the advertising industry and associated creative sectors?
• What provision has been made to allow EU students to remain in the UK once they have completed their course of study?
• How will the Government ensure that the UK advertising industry continues to have access to international markets especially the EU?

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees 

Image: Parliamentary copyright