Sue Owen
Permanent Secretary of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
What were your biggest policy & delivery challenges in 2013, and how did you handle them?
DCMS handled a variety of untraditional issues, many high up on the public agenda. We need the private sector to act on internet safety in terms of children’s access, and we’ve been working with other departments and countries on the production and distribution of illegal material. Taking forward Lord Justice Leveson’s recommendations on press self-regulation involved cross-party negotiations and getting to grips with Privy Council processes. Legislation for Equal Marriage was controversial, and we’re relying on other departments to help implement it. Our creative and cultural industries contribute 12% of GDP, so working with FCO, BIS & UKTI via the GREAT campaign is important. Our other growth contribution – delivering superfast broadband to rur