Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will be participating in and engaging with the bid by the European Federation of Cluniac Sites for UNESCO World Heritage status of its sites, and whether they will ensure that relevant agencies are involved in the process.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
DCMS and Historic England, as our statutory advisers on heritage, regularly discuss sites and places we know to be interested in UNESCO World Heritage status, and have previously met and written to representatives from UK Cluniac sites.
With the large number of UK World Heritage Sites and our commitment to supporting UNESCO’s ambition for a more globally balanced and representative World Heritage List, the UK Government does not currently have plans to consider additional sites for nomination to UNESCO, beyond those already included on the UK’s Tentative List.
No recent formal assessments have been made by Historic England of sites for inclusion on the UK’s Tentative List. Applications to the 2022/23 Tentative List Review were assessed by an independent expert panel and the Government response was published in July 2023.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to meet representatives from UK Cluniac sites to discuss the progression of the European Federation of Cluniac Sites UNESCO World Heritage bid, and the inclusion of those sites on a UK tentative list.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
DCMS and Historic England, as our statutory advisers on heritage, regularly discuss sites and places we know to be interested in UNESCO World Heritage status, and have previously met and written to representatives from UK Cluniac sites.
With the large number of UK World Heritage Sites and our commitment to supporting UNESCO’s ambition for a more globally balanced and representative World Heritage List, the UK Government does not currently have plans to consider additional sites for nomination to UNESCO, beyond those already included on the UK’s Tentative List.
No recent formal assessments have been made by Historic England of sites for inclusion on the UK’s Tentative List. Applications to the 2022/23 Tentative List Review were assessed by an independent expert panel and the Government response was published in July 2023.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what conclusions were drawn from any recent assessments by Historic England of sites for inclusion on the UK's UNESCO tentative list, and whether they will publish those assessments.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
DCMS and Historic England, as our statutory advisers on heritage, regularly discuss sites and places we know to be interested in UNESCO World Heritage status, and have previously met and written to representatives from UK Cluniac sites.
With the large number of UK World Heritage Sites and our commitment to supporting UNESCO’s ambition for a more globally balanced and representative World Heritage List, the UK Government does not currently have plans to consider additional sites for nomination to UNESCO, beyond those already included on the UK’s Tentative List.
No recent formal assessments have been made by Historic England of sites for inclusion on the UK’s Tentative List. Applications to the 2022/23 Tentative List Review were assessed by an independent expert panel and the Government response was published in July 2023.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings and discussions they have had with Historic England regarding the bid by the European Federation of Cluniac Sites for UNESCO World Heritage Status of their network of European sites.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
DCMS and Historic England, as our statutory advisers on heritage, regularly discuss sites and places we know to be interested in UNESCO World Heritage status, and have previously met and written to representatives from UK Cluniac sites.
With the large number of UK World Heritage Sites and our commitment to supporting UNESCO’s ambition for a more globally balanced and representative World Heritage List, the UK Government does not currently have plans to consider additional sites for nomination to UNESCO, beyond those already included on the UK’s Tentative List.
No recent formal assessments have been made by Historic England of sites for inclusion on the UK’s Tentative List. Applications to the 2022/23 Tentative List Review were assessed by an independent expert panel and the Government response was published in July 2023.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect and promote Cluniac sites; and what discussions they have had with the European Federation of Cluniac Sites about their UNESCO World Heritage bid.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I recognise the important contribution that Cluniac sites make to our country’s heritage - many of which are already well protected, such as the Grade I Listed Ruins of Lewes Priory amongst others included on the National Heritage List for England.
DCMS and Historic England have had discussions about Cluniac sites and the European Federation and the importance of these places receiving the recognition they deserve. I am pleased to see the network of Cluniac Sites in Europe, which includes sites in the UK, already has international recognition, being designated a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe in 2005.
With the large number of existing UK World Heritage Sites and our commitment to supporting UNESCO’s ambition for a more globally balanced, representative World Heritage List, the UK Government does not currently have any plans to consider additional sites for nomination to UNESCO, beyond those already included on the UK’s Tentative List.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential benefits of a "Smart Fund" for the arts given its impact in 45 countries world-wide.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has made no recent assessment of the impact of a private copy levy scheme.
The 3rd Trade Specialised Committee on Intellectual Property under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement discussed Private Copying Levies on 23 October 2023 and the Minutes were published on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/specialised-committee-on-intellectual-property
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their policy on ensuring financial redistribution between the leagues and clubs in English football.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Despite the global success of English football, the game has fundamental governance problems that have led to excessive and reckless risk-taking at too many clubs. Ineffective regulation poses very real dangers to our national game, threatening the stability of the football pyramid, impacting fans across the country. The King’s Speech set out our plans to address this with legislation to establish an independent football regulator.
We will introduce this legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of current structures to protect the long-term financial sustainability of football clubs in England.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Despite the global success of English football, the game has fundamental governance problems that have led to excessive and reckless risk-taking at too many clubs. Ineffective regulation poses very real dangers to our national game, threatening the stability of the football pyramid, impacting fans across the country. The King’s Speech set out our plans to address this with legislation to establish an independent football regulator.
We will introduce this legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay published on 28 March (HL6443), when the next review of the Governing Body Endorsement will take place; how long the review will run for; what criteria will be deployed as part of the assessment; and what consultation will take place with interested parties, and in particular Premier League clubs.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
The reviews of each sport’s Governing Body Endorsement criteria are led by the Home Office. Regular reviews are a common and integral part of this work.
The Government is currently carrying out a supplementary rapid review of the competitiveness of English football in attracting the best global talent while maintaining strong support to enable young domestic players to develop from the grassroots level. The scope of the review includes the Governing Body Endorsement criteria for English football. The Football Association, the Premier League, the English Football League, and the Professional Footballers’ Association have been asked for written contributions to the review.
Asked by: Lord Bassam of Brighton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration, if any, they have given to using funds derived from dormant assets in England to combat loneliness; and whether using funds for this purpose will be included as an option in the first public consultation under section 18A of the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
Until the Dormant Assets Act which has just received Royal Assent, dormant assets funding in England had to be spent on youth, financial inclusion, and social investment. Given this restriction, which was set in primary legislation, the Government was not able to consider other causes such as loneliness.
We have now expanded the Scheme, and new primary legislation enables greater flexibility to consider evolving social and environmental needs in England. In line with the Dormant Assets Act [2022], the first consultation launched for the expanded Scheme will include youth, financial inclusion, social investment wholesalers, and community wealth funds as options. As part of the consultation, which will be launched as soon as this Summer, respondents will be able suggest formally alternative causes for which the English portion could be used, including loneliness.