Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what financial support UK Sport is offering to squash, baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse and T20 cricket in the build-up to the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 for the preparation of potential Team GB members of these sports.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is fully committed to our elite sport system and enabling our athletes to achieve their potential and excel on the world stage. The Chancellor has confirmed that a multi-year investment will mean a total of £344 million is invested into UK Sport for Olympic and Paralympic success ahead of the Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.
UK Sport made their funding decisions following a long and detailed investment process which included extensive discussion and consultation with each of the National Governing Bodies involved, and assessment against their investment principles.
UK Sport have made the following awards for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics:
Squash: £500,000
Baseball/Softball: £700,000
Flag Football: £500,000
Lacrosse: £700,000
T20 Cricket, as a sport with established alternative revenue streams, does not currently receive UK Sport funding.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of lowering the proposed cap on ticket resales.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has published a consultation on introducing new consumer protections on the resale of live events tickets. We are seeking responses on a range of proposals, including a price cap on resales and new requirements on resale platforms.
The consultation invites views about what the most suitable level would be for a price cap on ticket resales, ranging from the original price of a ticket to an uplift of up to 30% on that original price to cover admin costs. We will consider these views in determining the best route forward, once the consultation has concluded on 4th April.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, following Committee Stage of the Football Governance Bill, they intend to continue with plans to provide the Secretary of State with legislative powers to define the beginning and end dates of the season for football competitions.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This power is required so that in the case of any potential future changes to a football season and how it is calculated, the Secretary of State is able to quickly make corrective amendments to the definition.
This power is not about amending the industry’s definition of a season. The current definition of a football season within the Bill is accurate for the current situation. If the current situation were to change, the Secretary of State should have the ability to alter this definition to ensure the regime is still operational.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the meaning is of “exercises a higher degree of influence or control over” club, as set out as part of the proposed Owners’ and Directors’ test in Clause 3(2)(b) of the Football Governance Bill.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
A club’s ultimate owner is defined as the owner who has the highest degree of influence or control over the activities of the club.
A club can have more than one ultimate owner if those owners - all have the same degree of influence or control.
The definition of “significant influence or control” by owners will be set out in Secretary of State guidance, which will be published in due course.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will place copies of all correspondence with UEFA, FIFA and the International Olympic Committee regarding the proposal to introduce a Football Regulator in the Library of the House.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As has been reiterated throughout the Committee stage of the Football Governance Bill, it would not be appropriate to publish private correspondence with any stakeholders in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will list all the appointments made to date to the Shadow Football Regulator, setting out how many were previously employed in the DCMS during the last five years as employees, advisers, or appointees to DCMS-appointed Sports Advisory Groups, and where the Shadow Football Regulator’s office is based.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Shadow Football Regulator is a transition team within DCMS that is working to set up a new Independent Football Regulator. Staff are currently located across DCMS’ sites in Manchester and London.
As of 19th December 2024, the Shadow Regulator comprises 38 Full Time Equivalent staff, 36 of which are at grades below senior civil service (SCS) level - as is usual practice regarding the civil servants we are unable to comment further on these appointments due to the risk of identifying the individuals who have been appointed.
The remaining two appointments are at SCS level. Of these, one returned to DCMS following a secondment to the Sports Ground Safety Authority. The other was recruited from an independent regulator.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Twycross on 18 December (HL Deb col 370), whether it is their intention to seek assurances from UEFA that the introduction of backstop powers to the proposed Football Regulator does not impact on the autonomy and independence of football’s governance as required by UEFA.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As set out during the House of Lords Committee Stage debate on 18 December, UEFA raised no concerns about the backstop in its most recent meetings with DCMS and the Minister for Sport. The Department continues to engage with UEFA and other relevant stakeholders as the Bill progresses through Parliament.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government which of the Premier League of English Football League Clubs were consulted on the proposal to include parachute payments in the Football Governance Bill and on which dates those meetings took place.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Football Governance Bill is the culmination of almost five years of work. During this time, there has been extensive engagement with key stakeholders by the department (which included regular meetings with the Premier League, where policy such as parachute payments were discussed) and by the Minister for Sport, whilst she was in Opposition.
Ahead of the introduction of the Football Governance Bill, DCMS Ministers met with Brentford, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Brighton and Hove Albion, Crystal Palace and Everton and parachute payments were discussed. A significant number of meetings also took place with the Premier League executive, who represent their members and have advocated on behalf of clubs. Similar meetings were also held with the EFL and National League executives and clubs.
The Secretary of State and Minister for Sport invited all clubs to meet on 23rd October where the Bill was again discussed.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether staff at UK Sport were told they would be entering a period of consultation in advance of the staff and budget reductions for the 2028 Olympic Games cycle and Olympic and Paralympic athlete programmes.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
UK Sport’s change process is ongoing, but has been subject to a full and comprehensive consultation with staff.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with governing bodies of sports on the inclusion of hyperandrogenous athletes in national and international competitions.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
It is for domestic national governing bodies of individual sports to determine their own rules regarding the eligibility of athletes, including hyperandrogenous athletes, to compete in the UK.
Similarly, all sports which compete internationally must comply with their international federation rules at that level, with the rules determined by the relevant international federation.