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 Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many official photographers are employed across government departments.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Government departments have official photographers to support Government campaigns and communicate delivery of our Plan for Change.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Prime Minister's Office have had with representatives of the English Football League, including from lobbying firms, in relation to football since 5 July 2024.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
It is entirely routine for Government departments, including the Prime Minister’s Office, to engage with a broad range of stakeholders, businesses, and other relevant groups.
Relevant meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk as part of the government’s transparency agenda. This follows the same approach as has been the case under the previous administration.
Sports policy making is led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what meetings special advisers in the Prime Minister's Office have had with representatives of TikTok since the 2024 General Election.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In line with longstanding process, relevant meetings are declared in the Special Advisor transparency publications.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their policy on Ministers’ claiming accountancy services on the public funds to facilitate the completion of their HMRC self-assessment tax returns.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Ministers are personally responsible for their tax affairs.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which is independent of Government, sets out what expenses MPs can claim for in support of their parliamentary duties and this applies to MPs who are also Ministers. In the House of Lords, unsalaried Ministers may choose to claim a non-taxable, flat rate daily allowance for each sitting day they attend the House of Lords which is intended for subsistence and travel only.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 24 October 2024 (HL1636), and with reference to the new Ministerial Code guidance on gifts and hospitality, whether (1) Ministers, (2) senior officials, and (3) special advisers, may accept hospitality of free tickets to the Oasis Live '25 tour.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Guidance on gifts and hospitality are set out respectively in the Ministerial Code, Civil Service Code, and Special Adviser Code of Conduct. These are available on GOV.UK.
Ministers must also follow the Code of Conduct of their respective House of Parliament.
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.