Oral Answers to Questions

Caroline Voaden Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Nandy]

The hon. Lady mentions the case of Lucie Kon, which I have discussed directly with the director general of the BBC. I will also meet Lucie in the coming weeks to discuss the matter directly with her. The BBC has done an enormous amount of work on the issue with the Board of Deputies and other Jewish organisations, but I firmly recognise that there is more to be done. We want the BBC to be an exemplar of how the Jewish community is treated in this country. I say this too: this Government do not believe that antisemitism is just a problem for Jewish people to solve. It is a test of the society that we are seeking to build together and we all have to step up and be counted.

[Caroline Voaden (South Devon) (LD)]

12. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of levels of community green spaces on women’s sport.

[The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)]

We know that safe and accessible, high-quality community green spaces and local sports facilities are vital to helping more women and girls to get active. Through Sport England, we are helping local areas to target investment and supporting local authorities to create playing pitch strategies and opportunities for women and girls to take part in sport. Women and girls belong on every pitch that they choose to play on, and we are determined to ensure that we do more to support them.

[Caroline Voaden]

A school in Totnes in my constituency is planning to sell part of its grounds, including playing fields that are widely used by the community, including by many women, for sport and outdoor exercise. A campaign group is working on a proposal to buy the site, yet despite the site being registered as an asset of community value there is no guarantee that the bid would be accepted and that the playing fields would remain. A community right to buy fund was announced earlier this year, but there was no clarity about how it would work in practice. Does the Secretary of State agree that the right to buy scheme must be clarified to give groups such as the Friends of Lower Field a legal right to purchase playing fields such as these at market value to keep them in the community?

[Lisa Nandy]

I am aware that there are ongoing discussions between the school’s trust and community groups to explore options for preserving the facilities for community use, while recognising the importance of raising much-needed revenue for the school. Ultimately, this is a decision for the trust as the landowner, but we support ongoing efforts to find a workable solution for all concerned. The hon. Lady also raises a wider question about the way in which we approach cases such as these. I am happy to arrange for officials from my Department to reach out to her to discuss that further.