Mar. 30 2026
Source Page: Major breakthrough in improvised insurance products for female sports starsMar. 30 2026
Source Page: Gambling Levy Transition FundMar. 30 2026
Source Page: Gambling Levy Transition FundAsked by: Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Actors' Trust, Spotlights and Shadows: Mapping the people and pressures of stage and screen, published on 16 March.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We welcome the publication of Spotlights and Shadows: Mapping the People and Pressures of Stage and Screen by the Actors' Trust and recognise the importance of the issues it raises. We are actively engaged on many of the issues highlighted in the report, and are working with industry and partners to promote safer, more inclusive working environments across the acting profession.
The Government is clear that bullying, harassment and discrimination have no place in any workplace. We support sector-led initiatives, including the work of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, which plays a key role in establishing consistent standards on behaviour, reporting, and wellbeing. In addition, the Government’s national loneliness strategy, including campaigns to reduce stigma and encourage people to seek support, applies to those in creative sectors. Initiatives such as public awareness campaigns and the Better Health: Every Mind Matters platform promotes social connection, peer engagement, and community participation.
We are also committed to improving access and opportunity. Through the Opportunity Mission and a refreshed £9 million creative careers service, we are working with industry to broaden pathways into the sector, particularly for those from underrepresented backgrounds. A £75 million Screen Growth Package launching in April 2026 will also boost independent content and skills development, and DCMS will appoint a Creative Freelance Champion to act as an advocate for freelancers within Government and on the Creative Industries Council.
Asked by: Lord Black of Brentwood (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the introduction of an unwaivable performers' remuneration right for streaming.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ensuring that music creators are fairly compensated for their work is crucial to the ongoing success of our world-class music industry, as this is what allows them to invest their time, effort, and money into creating music.
As part of the government’s work to explore creators’ concerns related to music streaming, the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) commissioned independent research on the impacts of three potential legislative interventions, including equitable remuneration. Based on the evidence and recommendations presented in that research, the government decided not to pursue legislative intervention for equitable remuneration.
We have since worked with key stakeholders from across the music industry on the matter of creators’ pay from music streaming through the Creator Remuneration Working Group. The working group comprised senior representatives from across the recorded music sector, including record labels, music streaming platforms and creator representatives. We were delighted to welcome the new label-led principles as an output of these discussions, as well as the individual commitments made by the UK’s major labels, to deliver real benefits for UK creators. We are monitoring the progress of this work and will evaluate outcomes in 2027.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the Charity Commission has sufficient powers to suspend or remove charitable status where organisations are suspected of promoting the interests of hostile foreign governments.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Charity Commission’s recent Charity Sector Risk Assessment noted that hostile foreign states may seek to gain influence in the UK by using charities as a vehicle for promoting their worldview. The Charity Commission is alive to these threats and works with other agencies to protect the sector from the risks of being exploited.
The Charity Commission has a range of powers at its disposal to take action against abuse of charitable status, including freezing bank accounts, directing trustees to take corrective action, or disqualifying trustees. DCMS keeps the Charity Commission’s powers and charity law under regular review and is actively seeking to strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers.
The Charity Commission currently has three statutory inquiries open involving charities with alleged links to Iran: the Islamic Centre of England, Al-Tawheed Charitable Trust and Islamic Human Rights Commission Trust, as well as other non-inquiry casework.
The Charity Commission has guidance on protecting charities from abuse for extremist purposes and earlier this month published updated guidance for charities on the evolving situation in Iran.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many charities are currently subject to investigation by the Charity Commission because of alleged links with the Iranian regime.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Charity Commission’s recent Charity Sector Risk Assessment noted that hostile foreign states may seek to gain influence in the UK by using charities as a vehicle for promoting their worldview. The Charity Commission is alive to these threats and works with other agencies to protect the sector from the risks of being exploited.
The Charity Commission has a range of powers at its disposal to take action against abuse of charitable status, including freezing bank accounts, directing trustees to take corrective action, or disqualifying trustees. DCMS keeps the Charity Commission’s powers and charity law under regular review and is actively seeking to strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers.
The Charity Commission currently has three statutory inquiries open involving charities with alleged links to Iran: the Islamic Centre of England, Al-Tawheed Charitable Trust and Islamic Human Rights Commission Trust, as well as other non-inquiry casework.
The Charity Commission has guidance on protecting charities from abuse for extremist purposes and earlier this month published updated guidance for charities on the evolving situation in Iran.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to review charity law to address risks arising from foreign state influence operations.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Charity Commission’s recent Charity Sector Risk Assessment noted that hostile foreign states may seek to gain influence in the UK by using charities as a vehicle for promoting their worldview. The Charity Commission is alive to these threats and works with other agencies to protect the sector from the risks of being exploited.
The Charity Commission has a range of powers at its disposal to take action against abuse of charitable status, including freezing bank accounts, directing trustees to take corrective action, or disqualifying trustees. DCMS keeps the Charity Commission’s powers and charity law under regular review and is actively seeking to strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers.
The Charity Commission currently has three statutory inquiries open involving charities with alleged links to Iran: the Islamic Centre of England, Al-Tawheed Charitable Trust and Islamic Human Rights Commission Trust, as well as other non-inquiry casework.
The Charity Commission has guidance on protecting charities from abuse for extremist purposes and earlier this month published updated guidance for charities on the evolving situation in Iran.