Schools: World War II Anniversary
Debate between Earl of Effingham and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I am not going to comment on how many noble Lords were children during the Second World War. I still have my great aunt’s ration card, which is one of my very valued family memories of the Second World War. I agree with the noble and learned Baroness that the stories of children from the Second World War, as told to children, will help them understand the full experience of what war was like. There are children still going through war situations now, including, very sadly, some of the children who may be in our schools. I will not go into the story about my mother talking about the first time she managed to eat chocolate and a banana and hated them, but all of this adds flavour and colour to the stories that we would all want children to learn from and understand.
The Earl of Effingham (Con)
My Lords, I am proud to say that my father was president of the Royal British Legion. He loved his time working under the direct command of Admiral Lord West—the noble Lord, Lord West. So I must declare an interest: for them, and for the honorary captain of the Royal Navy Reserve, the noble Baroness, Lady Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent, and every other reservist, active and retired Armed Forces personnel, I want this to be an amazing anniversary. Does the Minister agree that one of the best ways of doing this is via the cadet force, which encourages children between the ages of 12 and 18 to be the best they can be?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I pay tribute to the noble Earl’s father’s role and to all those in your Lordships’ House who have served or are serving in various capacities in our Armed Forces. I am happy to agree with the noble Earl about the cadet forces. The Combined Cadet Force programme will continue to receive £3.6 million in government funding through the Ministry of Defence for this academic year. This funding supports the ambition for it to grow to 600,000 cadets in 500 school cadet units across the UK. It is in addition to the annual cost to the MoD of the Combined Cadet Force, which is estimated at over £42 million per year. I ought to note that my nephew benefits hugely from being a member of one of the cadet forces.
National Trust Acts
Debate between Earl of Effingham and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
One of the ways that the trust is trying to ensure that the countryside, peatland and so forth are available for future generations is through its work to help the UK reach net zero by 2050. This Government have committed to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than that in which we found it. We are very supportive of the work that the National Trust does, as the biggest conservation charity in Europe, to ensure that future generations can enjoy what many of us enjoy on a regular basis.
The Earl of Effingham (Con)
My Lords, in 1895 the visionary Octavia Hill co-founded the National Trust because she believed in the life-enhancing virtues of clean air and blue sky. In 2025, the positive correlation between that exercise and mental and physical well-being is medically proven. However, the latest Government data reveals that well over 40 million people do not have access to a green space a short walk from home. Can the Minister say what the DCMS strategy is to address this urgently?
Listed Historic Buildings
Debate between Earl of Effingham and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I am very happy to agree with my noble friend about the value of heritage. Indeed, in preparing for this Question I read a fascinating list of properties, buildings and even high streets—including one I lived very close to until quite recently—that have benefited from investment and restoration. This benefits local communities and contributes to economic growth and preserving heritage for present and future generations.
The Earl of Effingham (Con)
My Lords, I believe that every one of us has the incredible privilege to work in this listed historic building, but there are 4,891 listed buildings on the Heritage at Risk Register. Does the Minister agree that there really should be a successor scheme to the one she just referenced: Historic England’s high streets heritage action zones programme, which ran from 2020 to 2024? It unlocked the potential of 67 historic high streets, created social cohesion and drove economic growth, which is precisely what the Government want. Will she please commit to a successor scheme?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
That programme is a fantastic example of the value of heritage as an investment in our communities. As someone who felt very strongly that the South Norwood area, which is where I previously lived, could really benefit from this sort of investment, I absolutely recognise its value. The noble Earl will be aware that the initial £95 million of public investment unlocked more than £140 million of further private and public investment. On future commitments, as previously referenced, we are going through the business planning process, so any future funding for individual programmes is currently being assessed and will be announced soon.
BBC: Impartiality
Debate between Earl of Effingham and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I agree with the noble Baroness’s first point; everyone across your Lordships’ House will get frustrated at some point, which is probably a sign that the BBC is on the right track. On news and current affairs, as the Question suggests, all broadcasters have a responsibility to be duly accurate and impartial. It is for Ofcom, as the regulator, to ensure compliance. We believe it takes that responsibility seriously.
The Earl of Effingham (Con)
My Lords, we live in a world where social media has a huge impact on public discourse. Can the Minister explain how the Government will monitor the activity of all BBC employees on social media and ensure that it does not undermine the perception of the BBC’s required impartiality?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I assume that, like all organisations in the public sector, the BBC will have internal processes to monitor this, and a social media policy.
National Youth Strategy
Debate between Earl of Effingham and Baroness Twycross(2 months, 2 weeks ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I thank my noble friend for that question. It is important to us that the strategy is a co-production. We will set up a youth advisory board as well as running a series of youth-led round tables. There will be a wide consultation, reaching and engaging young people across the country through surveys and focus groups.
On top of that, the UK Youth Parliament is DCMS’s key mechanism for engaging with young people and ensuring that their voices are heard in policy and decision making. I know that a number of noble Lords here are particularly interested in the work of the Youth Parliament, so I will just note that it is Parliament Week.
The Earl of Effingham (Con)
My Lords, the Statement says that young people today
“are at the sharp end of a revolution in social media”
and that there are now one in five young people with a mental health problem. The research shows that everything points to social media and smartphones. At the moment, I understand we are just giving guidance that smartphones should be banned in schools. My question for the Minister is simple: when are we going to legislate so that smartphones are banned? They must be a huge distraction and they should not be in the classroom.
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I refer the noble Earl to the debate on precisely this issue in your Lordships’ House next Thursday. I think that question will be explored in a lot of detail in that debate.