Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the loss of funding from Creative Europe on music festivals in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
In its final year of eligibility for Creative Europe, the UK received approximately £13.4m in funding (an annual average based on the estimated total funding received through the UK’s eligibility period).
This Government takes the potential of our Creative Industries seriously – the Creative Industries Sector Plan announced the Government's Music Growth Package of up to £30m over three years from 2026, which more than doubles current government funding from £4.1 million to up to £10 million annually.
Music festivals are crucial to the UK's music culture: they provide a platform for artists, and support local economies and creative jobs. The Music Growth Package recognises this – it will deliver concrete benefits for festivals, artists, and venues through support with touring, performance and mentoring. Independent festivals will be eligible to apply for this funding once the programme officially launches.
The Government regularly reviews international funding opportunities, prioritising participation where it delivers clear value for money and economic impact. We also understand the importance of UK–EU cooperation through EU programmes, which is why we have associated to Horizon Europe, Copernicus, and Erasmus+. The Government has no plans to rejoin Creative Europe at this time.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much funding the UK received from Creative Europe in the final year for which it was eligible.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
In its final year of eligibility for Creative Europe, the UK received approximately £13.4m in funding (an annual average based on the estimated total funding received through the UK’s eligibility period).
This Government takes the potential of our Creative Industries seriously – the Creative Industries Sector Plan announced the Government's Music Growth Package of up to £30m over three years from 2026, which more than doubles current government funding from £4.1 million to up to £10 million annually.
Music festivals are crucial to the UK's music culture: they provide a platform for artists, and support local economies and creative jobs. The Music Growth Package recognises this – it will deliver concrete benefits for festivals, artists, and venues through support with touring, performance and mentoring. Independent festivals will be eligible to apply for this funding once the programme officially launches.
The Government regularly reviews international funding opportunities, prioritising participation where it delivers clear value for money and economic impact. We also understand the importance of UK–EU cooperation through EU programmes, which is why we have associated to Horizon Europe, Copernicus, and Erasmus+. The Government has no plans to rejoin Creative Europe at this time.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to rejoining Creative Europe.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
In its final year of eligibility for Creative Europe, the UK received approximately £13.4m in funding (an annual average based on the estimated total funding received through the UK’s eligibility period).
This Government takes the potential of our Creative Industries seriously – the Creative Industries Sector Plan announced the Government's Music Growth Package of up to £30m over three years from 2026, which more than doubles current government funding from £4.1 million to up to £10 million annually.
Music festivals are crucial to the UK's music culture: they provide a platform for artists, and support local economies and creative jobs. The Music Growth Package recognises this – it will deliver concrete benefits for festivals, artists, and venues through support with touring, performance and mentoring. Independent festivals will be eligible to apply for this funding once the programme officially launches.
The Government regularly reviews international funding opportunities, prioritising participation where it delivers clear value for money and economic impact. We also understand the importance of UK–EU cooperation through EU programmes, which is why we have associated to Horizon Europe, Copernicus, and Erasmus+. The Government has no plans to rejoin Creative Europe at this time.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 24 November (HL Deb col 1154), whether severely contaminated brownfield sites will not be developed due to the cost of remediation, and whether they plan for those sites to remain contaminated and derelict.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework states (attached) that planning policies and decisions should support appropriate opportunities to remediate derelict and contaminated land. It also states that where a site is affected by contamination, responsibility for securing a safe development rests with the developer and/or landowner. Planning Practice Guidance on viability (attached) recognises abnormal costs, including those associated with treatment for contaminated sites.
To unlock previously developed land for housing, the Government provides capital support to local authorities through the Brownfield Land Release Fund. The funding enables councils to undertake necessary remediation works, including decontamination.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the brownfield land register includes an assessment of the impact of the level of contamination on the viability of the land for development.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Town and Country Planning (Brownfield Land Register) Regulations 2017 require local planning authorities to prepare, maintain, and publish a Brownfield Register. When including land on the register, local planning authorities must consider that land is suitable, available, and achievable for residential development. This will involve assessing a range of factors and constraints including any known land contamination and viability issues.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether Platform4 is required to consider the need for future railway expansion on existing railway land before allocating land for commercial or housing development.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
Network Rail are required to consider the need for future railway expansion on existing railway land before allocating land for commercial or housing development, under condition 17 of their network license (LC17). LC17 is an industry process, and most railway partners have the opportunity to respond to any current, future and integrated transport proposals.
Establishing Platform4 has not changed this process. Platform4 will continue to work with Network Rail on the LC17 process as part of their support to the development for major stations and regional schemes.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning on 24 November (HC Deb col 20), whether the call in process for sites capable of accommodating 150 or more housing units near railway stations will include railway stations in rural areas.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the Noble Baroness to the Written Ministerial Statement published and attached on 18 November 2025 (HCWS1062)– noting the statement contains several discrete measures.
The Department intends to publish a consultation in due course which provides further detail on the announcement on a new Consultation Direction.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage on 24 November (HL Deb cols 1154-1155), whether all land around railway stations and capable of accommodating 150 or more housing units can be categorised as brownfield sites.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the noble Lady to the Written Ministerial Statement published and attached on 18 November 2025 (HCWS1062) – noting the statement contains several discrete measures.
It will be for planning decision-makers to determine whether land around train stations meets the definition of brownfield (previously developed land) as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what statutory responsibilities ensure that the remediation of contaminated land is achieved safely for adjacent residents, those working on site, and future residents.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the importance of managing land contamination to protect human health and the environment. Under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities have a statutory duty to inspect their areas to identify contaminated land and, where necessary, require its remediation. A risk-based approach is used to define contaminated land, with regulators required to intervene in cases where land poses an unacceptable risk to human health, property or the environment.
The Contaminated Land Statutory Guidance sets out the legal framework for risk assessment and decision-making under Part 2A, and the Land Contamination Risk Management framework, recently updated by the Environment Agency, provides technical guidance on assessing, managing and remediating land contamination in line with current best practice.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to Guidance for Mayoral Strategic Authorities on developing Local Growth Plans, published on 11 June, whether councils and councillors will be included as stakeholders in developing local growth plans.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Yes. The guidance states that Mayoral Strategic Authorities should work with relevant stakeholders when preparing and delivering their Local Growth Plan which will include constituent councils.