Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, whether they will issue guidance to sports public bodies about the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling; and whether they plan to withdraw grants from sporting organisations that do not comply with that ruling.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have always been clear that when it comes to women's sport, biology matters. Our sports bodies need to come up with policies that protect fairness and safety, whilst ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate in some form.
It is for each sport's National Governing Body to set their own policies for who can participate in domestic competitions. Our Sports Councils produce guidance to provide domestic sports bodies with the framework and support to determine the right position for their sport. Our Sports Councils are considering the implications of the Supreme Court ruling for their guidance.
A public consultation on the EHRC’s Code of Practice is now underway. We would encourage people to ensure their views are heard by submitting a response to the consultation. The Government will consider the EHRC's updated draft Code of Practice once it has been submitted and engage the EHRC to ensure it provides the certainty and clarity service providers need, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, whether they will lay before Parliament a report setting out the implementation of the ruling by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the agencies and public bodies that work with that department, within six months.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, what plans they have to include the biological sex of staff in reports about those employed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its agencies and public bodies.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, what plans they have to issue guidance to organisations and other stakeholders that interact with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about implementing the Supreme Court ruling.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the decision of the Supreme Court in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16, what guidance they will issue to (1) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and (2) agencies and public bodies that work with the Department, about updating their policies and written guidance; whether they will consult the organisation Sex Matters in doing so; and whether the revised policies and written guidance will be laid before Parliament.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Supreme Court ruling made it clear that the provision of single-sex spaces is on the basis of biological sex. Service providers and those delivering public functions should note and follow the ruling. It is important that we ensure dignity and respect for all. Trans people should have access to services they need but in keeping with the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), as Britain’s Equalities watchdog, is developing updated guidance to support service providers and is currently consulting on its code of practice for services, public functions and associations. This consultation will close on 30 June 2025. The Government is considering the implications of the Supreme Court's judgment.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (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 resources and investigative expertise to examine complaints against charities accused of being influenced by hostile foreign states, including the Abrar Islamic Foundation and the Dar Alhekma Trust.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Charity Commission for England and Wales ('the Commission') has a statutory function to identify and investigate misconduct and mismanagement in charities, and we are confident that it has the expertise to do so effectively. The Commission assesses concerns in accordance with its published regulatory and risk framework, and has a wide range of powers to investigate and remedy the abuse of charities. Any evidence that a registered charity is engaged in misconduct or mismanagement should be referred to the Commission.
The Commission has open regulatory compliance cases into both the Abrar Islamic Foundation and the Dar Alhekma Trust, and will determine if there is a need to take action.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the actions of the charity Mermaids; and what steps they intend to take as a result of any such assessment.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
Protecting people and adhering to safeguarding responsibilities should be a governance priority for all charities. It is a fundamental part of operating as a charity for the public benefit.
Following concerns raised about Mermaids’ approach to safeguarding young people, the Charity Commission has opened a regulatory compliance case into the charity and has contacted its trustees. The opening of a compliance case is not itself a finding of wrongdoing.
As an independent regulator, the Charity Commission carries out its functions independent of ministerial or government control. It would therefore not be appropriate to comment further whilst the Charity Commission's investigation is ongoing.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is legislation which stipulates that TV licences can be paid for only (1) by cheque for the full amount, or (2) Direct Debit for quarterly payments.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
The regulations which set the frequency and amount of instalments by which TV licence fees can be paid are the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004. The Communications (Television Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 amended instalment amounts for the period beginning 1 April 2021.
The Regulations allow for a range of payment options. For example, the TV Licensing website sets monthly, quarterly and annual payment options for direct debit plans: https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/pay-for-your-tv-licence/ways-to-pay/direct-debit.
It also sets out that licence fee instalment amounts for a weekly or fortnightly payment licence are set out in an individual payment plan when a customer signs up for a Payment Card: https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/pay-for-your-tv-licence/ways-to-pay/payment-card.
There is no provision in the Communications (Television Licensing) Regulations 2004 which specifies payments must be made by a certain method. The BBC is responsible for the collection and enforcement of the licence fee, including methods of payment.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to defend British (1) history, (2) culture, and (3) values, from individuals and organisations that see themselves as 'woke'.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
Government does not condone airbrushing of our history by removing memorials to our complex past. Government has been clear that rather than erasing objects, we should seek to contextualise or reinterpret them in a way that enables the public to learn about them in their entirety, however challenging this may be. This position is supported by the government’s statutory advisor on heritage matters, Historic England.
Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the introduction of a mandatory news media bargaining code by the government of Australia, what plans they have, if any, to introduce legislation to compel social media companies to pay for news content taken from other news outlets.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
The UK government is committed to supporting the sustainability of trusted journalism.
We have announced plans to introduce a new code of conduct to govern the relationships between powerful online platforms and the businesses which depend on them. It will cover the relationships between publishers and platforms to ensure they are fair, and help support the sustainability of the press. The code will be overseen by a new Digital Markets Unit and we will consider all options as we consult on its form and function later this year. No decisions have yet been taken.
We are also engaging with the Australian government to develop our understanding of the progress they are making, and are closely monitoring the reaction from both publishers and platforms.