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Written Question
Horse Riding: Coronavirus
Thursday 9th July 2020

Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why covered arenas in riding schools have been included in the same category as indoor gyms and sports halls when prohibiting their reopening following their closure as part of the restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Government has published guidance on GOV.UK on the phased return of sport and recreation, in line with the latest medical advice. The guidance for the public on outdoor sport and recreation has recently been updated to clarify that equestrian covered arenas can be used, provided social distancing guidelines can be followed. These facilities are not considered ‘indoor’ for the purposes of this guidance as they are large, open and well-ventilated structures. The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation.


Written Question
Horse Riding: Coronavirus
Thursday 9th July 2020

Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will lift the restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of covered arenas in riding schools.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Government has published guidance on GOV.UK on the phased return of sport and recreation, in line with the latest medical advice. The guidance for the public on outdoor sport and recreation has recently been updated to clarify that equestrian covered arenas can be used, provided social distancing guidelines can be followed. These facilities are not considered ‘indoor’ for the purposes of this guidance as they are large, open and well-ventilated structures. The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation.


Written Question
Horse Riding: Coronavirus
Thursday 9th July 2020

Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the ongoing restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of covered arenas in riding schools; and (2) the risk that riding schools will be at risk of closure if those restrictions remain in place over the summer months.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The Government has published guidance on GOV.UK on the phased return of sport and recreation, in line with the latest medical advice. The guidance for the public on outdoor sport and recreation has recently been updated to clarify that equestrian covered arenas can be used, provided social distancing guidelines can be followed. These facilities are not considered ‘indoor’ for the purposes of this guidance as they are large, open and well-ventilated structures. The guidance can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation.


Written Question
UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Monday 7th July 2014

Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current membership of the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women; and which members and candidates for election in 2014 they consider to be able to represent United Kingdom interests.

Answered by Baroness Northover

Assessments of the current membership of and the candidates for election to the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women are made jointly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

All members and candidates for election to the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women are assessed against a number of criteria, including their moral standing, competence in the field, and ability to exercise their functions independently of the government they have been nominated by. Consideration is also given to fair representation of geographical regions, gender, and different legal systems. Candidates are elected by the 193 UN member states.

HMG is confident that the members of the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women are able to discharge their mandate.


Written Question
UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
Monday 7th July 2014

Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the financial and time costs of running an election campaign for a United Kingdom expert candidate to be elected to the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and when that assessment was last undertaken.

Answered by Baroness Northover

The Government last undertook an assessment of the financial and time costs of running an election campaign for an independent UK expert to be elected to the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women in December 2013.

It was estimated at the time that the equivalent of 108 days of work would be needed to identify a suitable candidate and support them throughout the campaign process. This estimate included running a process to identify a suitable candidate and running a campaign to support the successful candidate. In addition, financial costs would be incurred, including expenses for brochures, campaign events, and paying for the candidate's campaign travel.

Other financial costs would include expenses for brochures, campaign events, and paying for the candidate's campaign travel. Previous campaigns for similar bodies have incurred costs of between £10,000 and £33,000.