Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the British film industry of the proposed US tariffs on non-American films.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are in active discussions with senior members of the US administration and we are clear that the deep ties between the US and UK film industries provide mutual benefits to both countries. This is a fluid situation, and we will continue to take a calm and steady approach.
We are engaging closely with industry and we are absolutely committed to ensuring our film and TV sector can continue to thrive and create good jobs across the UK.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to include events in Northern Ireland in their work commemorating Victory in Europe Day and Victory over Japan Day.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Supported by DCMS, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is running the For Evermore Tour, with more than 250 mobile exhibitions and events across the UK and a number of global commemorative sites to the Pacific, highlighting the stories of those who fought in the Second World War.
CWGC has confirmed the Tour will visit Northern Ireland in June and is in the process of confirming venues at Stormont and Carrickfergus to coincide with the week leading up to and including National Armed Forces Day.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many black and white television licences have been issued in each of the past five years.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The BBC publishes information about the number of licences in force in its Annual Report and Accounts. For the years 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023, and 2023/2024 there has consistently been approximately 4,000 monochrome licences in force.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with UEFA regarding the Football Governance Bill.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
This Government, and the previous one, has engaged extensively with a wide range of stakeholders as the policy set out in the Football Governance Bill has developed over the last 3 years. This includes engagement with UEFA.
These discussions have been constructive, and we continue to speak to the relevant football authorities on a regular basis.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what financial commitment they will be making to the building of Casement Park in Belfast.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (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.
We are 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 Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their strategy to increase and widen the opportunity for people to participate in playing cricket.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
His Majesty’s Government is committed to supporting the growth of cricket, and widening participation in the sport at all levels.
HM Government is working closely with Sport England and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to help increase participation in cricket in those parts of the United Kingdom. Since 2019, Sport England has invested more than £34 million in cricket projects, including over £11.6 million which has been awarded to the ECB as one of Sport England’s system partners.
The ECB launched its Youth Strategy in 2022, which aims to target cricket delivery in schools where the pupils are most likely to miss out on the opportunity to play. This involves delivering cricket – through Chance to Shine and the Lord’s Taverners – in schools with a high proportion of pupils qualifying for free school meals and in special educational needs schools and units. In the last academic year, the ECB reached 50,000 pupils through this programme.
The ECB is also aiming to provide equal access for women and girls by delivering 2,000 gender-balanced clubs, 6,000 women’s and girls’ teams, and recruiting 6,000 volunteers to deliver recreational cricket in time for the 2026 Women’s World Cup. Over recent years the ECB has also worked with Sport England to recruit over 2,000 female British South Asian volunteers as part of the ‘Dream Big’ programme.
Supporting participation in sport, including cricket, in Northern Ireland is primarily the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive and Sport Northern Ireland. The National Lottery supports participation in sport across the United Kingdom via its Lottery Distributing Bodies, which include Sport Northern Ireland.