Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have provided funds to support trainee schemes operated by the Irish Language Broadcast Fund; if so, what trainee schemes are being operated; and how many people have received training through those schemes.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Irish Language Broadcast Fund was set up in 2004/5 with funding provided to Northern Ireland Screen from the UK Government via the Northern Ireland Executive’s Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Since 2011/12, Northern Ireland Screen has received UK Government funding via the British Film Institute.
The Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund was set up in 2011/12 and also receives UK Government funding via the British Film Institute.
The table below sets out the amount of money allocated to both funds since they were established.
Year | ILBF (£000s) | USBF (£000s) | Total (£000s) |
2022/23 | 3,116 | 1,038 | 4,154 |
2021/22 | 3,930 | 1,893 | 5,823 |
2020/21 | 3,180 | 1,143 | 4,323 |
2019/20 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2018/19 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2017/18 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2016/17 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2015/16 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2014/15 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2013/14 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2012/13 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2011/12 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2010/11 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2009/10 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2008/09 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2007/08 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2006/07 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2005/06 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2004/05 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
Total | 61,404 | 14,133 | 75,537 |
Figures for 2004/05 to 2010/11 have been provided by Northern Ireland Screen. Figures for 2011/12 onwards are set out in the British Film Institute’s annual reports and accounts.
As part of the allocations set out above, in May 2021 the Northern Ireland Office announced an extra £2 million in funding to mark the fulfillment of a UK Government commitment in the New Decade, New Approach agreement that was agreed in January 2020 and saw the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive. The extra funding was provided through DCMS and the British Film Institute and was split equally between both funds.
The 2023/24 and 2024/25 figures for Northern Ireland Screen’s funding for the Irish Language Broadcast Fund and Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund will be published via the British Film Institute’s annual report and accounts. The British Film Institute’s 2023/24 annual report and accounts will be published in due course.
The Irish Language Broadcast Fund offers several training opportunities for Irish speakers working or aspiring to work in the independent production sector in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Screen is responsible for the allocation of funding to such schemes, and how they are operated.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much money they have allocated to the Irish Language Broadcast Fund and the Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund in each year since each of these funds was established.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Irish Language Broadcast Fund was set up in 2004/5 with funding provided to Northern Ireland Screen from the UK Government via the Northern Ireland Executive’s Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Since 2011/12, Northern Ireland Screen has received UK Government funding via the British Film Institute.
The Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund was set up in 2011/12 and also receives UK Government funding via the British Film Institute.
The table below sets out the amount of money allocated to both funds since they were established.
Year | ILBF (£000s) | USBF (£000s) | Total (£000s) |
2022/23 | 3,116 | 1,038 | 4,154 |
2021/22 | 3,930 | 1,893 | 5,823 |
2020/21 | 3,180 | 1,143 | 4,323 |
2019/20 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2018/19 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2017/18 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2016/17 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2015/16 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2014/15 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2013/14 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2012/13 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2011/12 | 3,000 | 1,000 | 4,000 |
2010/11 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2009/10 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2008/09 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2007/08 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2006/07 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2005/06 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
2004/05 | 3,000 | N/A | 3,000 |
Total | 61,404 | 14,133 | 75,537 |
Figures for 2004/05 to 2010/11 have been provided by Northern Ireland Screen. Figures for 2011/12 onwards are set out in the British Film Institute’s annual reports and accounts.
As part of the allocations set out above, in May 2021 the Northern Ireland Office announced an extra £2 million in funding to mark the fulfillment of a UK Government commitment in the New Decade, New Approach agreement that was agreed in January 2020 and saw the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive. The extra funding was provided through DCMS and the British Film Institute and was split equally between both funds.
The 2023/24 and 2024/25 figures for Northern Ireland Screen’s funding for the Irish Language Broadcast Fund and Ulster Scots Broadcast Fund will be published via the British Film Institute’s annual report and accounts. The British Film Institute’s 2023/24 annual report and accounts will be published in due course.
The Irish Language Broadcast Fund offers several training opportunities for Irish speakers working or aspiring to work in the independent production sector in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Screen is responsible for the allocation of funding to such schemes, and how they are operated.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what funding they provide to the Commonwealth Games associations in each nation of the UK.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government does not provide direct funding to any of the UK’s Commonwealth Games associations. We provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England. In this financial year, Sport England awarded £1.5 million to Commonwealth Games England.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what financial commitments they have made towards the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department for Communities in Northern Ireland is responsible for the procurement process for the redevelopment of Casement Park. Funding decisions are therefore for the Northern Ireland Executive to consider.
His Majesty’s Government is working closely with partners in Northern Ireland to make sure that EURO 2028 leaves a lasting legacy across the whole United Kingdom.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the safety and security of spectators at future major football events.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
The safety of all those who attend sporting fixtures is a priority for the government. We fund the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) whose purpose is to ensure sports grounds are safe for everyone. While it is the responsibility of individual clubs and venue owners to take the necessary steps to put in place reasonable protection for spectators at events, the SGSA provides support to minimise risk and help deliver safe events. It does this by setting high standards for safety in its internationally-renowned Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds, and through its expert team of inspectors who provide first-rate advice across all areas of sports grounds safety to individual clubs and grounds.
Additionally, the SGSA enforces the Government’s all-seater policy by issuing annual licenses to all grounds of clubs in the Premier League and Football League along with Wembley and the Principality Stadium. Under the Football Spectators Act 1989, the clubs of these grounds are unable to admit spectators without a licence issued by the SGSA.
Following incidents of public disorder at the UEFA EURO 2020 finals held at Wembley on 11 July, all key local partners and expert bodies, including the FA, UEFA, City Hall, the Metropolitan police, local authority and SGSA are investigating the events that took place in and around the stadium to ensure that robust plans are in place to prevent a recurrence.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive about the joint bid for hosting the FIFA Men's World Cup in 2030.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
We regularly engage with the Northern Ireland Executive, as well as the other Devolved Administrations, on a range of sporting matters. This includes discussions around a potential UK and Ireland bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup which is being coordinated across the five Football Associations in the UK and Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what schemes his Department has allocated funding to for the purchase or hire of (a) uniforms and (b) instruments by (i) musical and (ii) marching bands in the last five years.
Answered by Michael Ellis
My Department does not hold this information. In England, funding decisions in this area are made by Arts Council England. As culture is a devolved matter, questions regarding funding decisions made in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales should be directed to the devolved administrations.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what interim arrangements are in place to ensure that the interests of Northern Ireland are fully represented on the BBC Board in the absence of Northern Ireland executive.
Answered by Margot James
The BBC Board has implemented interim arrangements to ensure that Northern Ireland interests are fully represented. This includes the Chairman acting as a member of the Northern Ireland sub-committee and feeding these views into the main board. Elan Closs Stephens, the BBC non-executive director for Wales, is also a member of the Committee which is chaired by Board member Ken MacQuarrie, the Director of Nations and Regions.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the BBC Trust contains a member from Northern Ireland in accordance with the Royal Charter.
Answered by Margot James
In April 2017 the BBC Trust was replaced by a new unitary BBC Board. Under the Charter, no appointment can be made for the Board member for Northern Ireland without the agreement of the Executive Committee. Interim arrangements are in place to ensure that the interests of Northern Ireland are fully represented.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of public monies received by the (a) community and (b) voluntary sector came from the EU.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Government is continuing to assess the impact of leaving the EU on the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, including around funding. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations estimate that in 2014/15 the UK voluntary sector received between £350-450 million of EU funding. Estimates for 2016 are not yet available.
There are a wide range of EU funds that community and voluntary sector organisations access. Government is actively listening to the views of community and voluntary sector organisations as we develop successor funding schemes to EU programmes