Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Charlie Dewhirst and Lisa Nandy

Thursday 26th February 2026 Commons Chamber

[Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) (Con)]

3. What steps her Department is taking to support grassroots sport.

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

I feel all warm and happy after that lovely little exchange. This Government believe in the power of grassroots sport and that everyone should have access to quality sport and physical activity. The hon. Member will know that we recently committed a further £400 million to grassroots sport facilities so that every child and young person have the chance to live out their dreams.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lisa Nandy]

We have just announced the first allocations of the £400 million that we are investing in grassroots sport, but I would pay a lot of money to see the hon. Gentleman at a dance academy. May I take the opportunity to wish Thamesmead—both teams actually—the best of success in what should be a fantastic competition.

[Charlie Dewhirst]

Swimming is not just a sport, but a very important life skill, particularly for those of us who represent coastal communities. Unfortunately, over 1,600 swimming pools across the country are now more than 40 years old. The previous Government committed £80 million to renovating those swimming pools. What are the plans of the Secretary of State or Minister to continue the legacy of the previous Government and improve our swimming facilities?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Charlie Dewhirst and Lisa Nandy

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Nandy]

I thank my hon. Friend for the question. The Government are very committed to protecting and supporting our minority languages, which are a vital part of the cultural fabric of our country. When we launched the charter review, it was intended to give space to consider how the BBC can best support minority language broadcasting, including Cornish, and I would be delighted to arrange a meeting for him.

[Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) (Con)]

T4. My local county football association has contacted me, deeply concerned about plans to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee on planning, a point raised earlier by my hon. Friend the Member for Droitwich and Evesham (Nigel Huddleston). I am not entirely sure that he got a full response, so in the spirit of charity may I ask once again what protections will be put in place to ensure that we do not lose our sports facilities?

[Lisa Nandy]

I point the hon. Gentleman to the fact that the Government have just announced £400 million for grassroots sporting facilities across the country. We are keen to make sure that we can build the homes that we need, and that those homes have good facilities, whether that is sporting facilities or cultural facilities, which people want, and I am working closely with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to make sure that happens.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Charlie Dewhirst and Lisa Nandy

Thursday 27th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Nandy]

I became aware of the particular issue that the hon. Lady raises last night, and I will discuss it with the BBC chairman at our next meeting on Monday. Obviously it is absolutely essential that our broadcasters can broadcast a full range of voices without fear or favour, whether it is pressure from Governments of any political persuasion in the UK or from Governments overseas. This Government will always fiercely defend that.

[Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) (Con)]

11. What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on gambling duties.

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

As the Secretary of State responsible for the gambling industry, I have obviously been working closely with the Chancellor to ensure that the measures she announced yesterday protect people who gather great joy from an industry that is worth huge amounts to the UK economy and enjoyed by millions. In particular, the measures are to protect bingo halls, dog tracks, racing tracks, pubs and coastal communities. The measures we announced yesterday will start to make a significant dent in the numbers of children living in poverty—a legacy disgracefully left by the last Government—but the hon. Gentleman can be confident that we have made fairer choices to ensure that we protect things that millions of people in this country enjoy.

[Charlie Dewhirst]

The Chancellor’s announcements in yesterday’s Budget in relation to gambling duty could cost the industry up to 16,000 jobs, largely in the high- tech part of that industry, and move £6 billion of gambling stakes into the black market. I know that the Secretary of State is a very reasonable individual—she would make an excellent future leader of her party—so does she agree that taxing something does not necessarily stop it from happening, and that this will move problem gamblers into a less regulated, illegal space?

[Lisa Nandy]

The Minister for gambling, my hon. Friend Baroness Twycross, and I have obviously looked at this issue as part of the work we have been doing in the run-up to the Budget, and I am sure she would be happy to discuss it further with the hon. Gentleman. We have sought to limit the economic impact of this decision on the high street and focus the tax rises on parts of the gambling industry that have lower operating costs. For precisely the reasons the hon. Gentleman has outlined, we have also brought forward measures in the Budget to permanently lower business rates for over 750,000 retail and hospitality properties, which we think will help mitigate some of the impact on betting shops. We are aware of the challenges that the hon. Gentleman has raised, but Governments cannot duck choices, and our choice is to lift 450,000 children out of poverty to make a dent in the figure of 4.5 million left by the previous Government.