Chris Coghlan

The Government wants to see certain sporting events of national interest shown on free-to-air television so that they can be enjoyed by a wide audience, and recognises the importance of broadcasting sporting events to attract significant audience interest. That said, broadcasting rights provide essential income for sports rights holders, which enables them to invest in their sports.

The current listed events regime is designed to ensure that sporting events of national significance are available to as wide an audience as possible, by prohibiting exclusive broadcasting of the event without prior consent from Ofcom.

The Government believes the current list of events strikes the appropriate balance between encouraging access to a number of sporting events and allowing sports to maximise broadcasting revenue. The Government has no plans to review the list at this time.

The Government recognises the challenges of extreme heat for sport and physical activity, and encourages all sports bodies, organisers, and local clubs to monitor weather-health alerts and take appropriate steps.

Through its environmental sustainability strategy, Every Move, our arm’s length body Sport England provides tools, resources, and funding to build climate resilience across the grassroots sector. As part of this work, Sport England is developing guidance to support the sector in adapting to climate change.

In addition the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA), the Government’s advisory body on safety at sports grounds, has published guidance on Planning for Extreme Heat at Sports Grounds, setting out practical steps on shade mapping, water provision, staff welfare, and contingency protocols.

The 2023 Gambling White Paper proposed Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) as a key tool to help gambling operators consider a customer’s risk profile and intervene if necessary. The White Paper itself received significant Parliamentary scrutiny, and the detailed policy was the subject of public consultation and subsequent piloting by the Gambling Commission. Engagement with the Department took place throughout this period.

On 7 July 2026, the Gambling Commission announced that its Board had decided to implement FRAs in a careful, phased way and that a full consultation response would be published in the Autumn. The Commission made these evidence-based decisions under the statutory powers provided to them under the Gambling Act 2005, and specifically to support the Gambling Act licensing objective to protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, working closely with the government throughout. All relevant impacts were considered alongside harm reduction, including: reducing friction for customers, data protection, impacts on industry and impacts on specific sectors including horseracing.

The Gambling Commission’s Board will continue to have oversight of implementation and evaluation. The Government will continue to engage actively with the Commission on the effectiveness of implementation.

The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to British sporting culture and its importance to the British economy. Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy which helps to drive improvements in the sport. We do recognise that the horseracing sector has concerns about FRAs. Both the former Minister for Gambling and the Gambling Commission have met the British Horseracing Authority and wider racing stakeholders to discuss these concerns. We would encourage the sector to engage constructively with the Commission during the upcoming implementation phase.

The 2023 Gambling White Paper proposed Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) as a key tool to help gambling operators consider a customer’s risk profile and intervene if necessary. The White Paper itself received significant Parliamentary scrutiny, and the detailed policy was the subject of public consultation and subsequent piloting by the Gambling Commission. Engagement with the Department took place throughout this period.

On 7 July 2026, the Gambling Commission announced that its Board had decided to implement FRAs in a careful, phased way and that a full consultation response would be published in the Autumn. The Commission made these evidence-based decisions under the statutory powers provided to them under the Gambling Act 2005, and specifically to support the Gambling Act licensing objective to protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, working closely with the government throughout. All relevant impacts were considered alongside harm reduction, including: reducing friction for customers, data protection, impacts on industry and impacts on specific sectors including horseracing.

The Gambling Commission’s Board will continue to have oversight of implementation and evaluation. The Government will continue to engage actively with the Commission on the effectiveness of implementation.

The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to British sporting culture and its importance to the British economy. Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy which helps to drive improvements in the sport. We do recognise that the horseracing sector has concerns about FRAs. Both the former Minister for Gambling and the Gambling Commission have met the British Horseracing Authority and wider racing stakeholders to discuss these concerns. We would encourage the sector to engage constructively with the Commission during the upcoming implementation phase.

The 2023 Gambling White Paper proposed Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) as a key tool to help gambling operators consider a customer’s risk profile and intervene if necessary. The White Paper itself received significant Parliamentary scrutiny, and the detailed policy was the subject of public consultation and subsequent piloting by the Gambling Commission. Engagement with the Department took place throughout this period.

On 7 July 2026, the Gambling Commission announced that its Board had decided to implement FRAs in a careful, phased way and that a full consultation response would be published in the Autumn. The Commission made these evidence-based decisions under the statutory powers provided to them under the Gambling Act 2005, and specifically to support the Gambling Act licensing objective to protect children and other vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling, working closely with the government throughout. All relevant impacts were considered alongside harm reduction, including: reducing friction for customers, data protection, impacts on industry and impacts on specific sectors including horseracing.

The Gambling Commission’s Board will continue to have oversight of implementation and evaluation. The Government will continue to engage actively with the Commission on the effectiveness of implementation.

The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to British sporting culture and its importance to the British economy. Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy which helps to drive improvements in the sport. We do recognise that the horseracing sector has concerns about FRAs. Both the former Minister for Gambling and the Gambling Commission have met the British Horseracing Authority and wider racing stakeholders to discuss these concerns. We would encourage the sector to engage constructively with the Commission during the upcoming implementation phase.

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.

The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.

Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already been applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.

Capita prioritised the most urgent cases and by the end of February, all death in service cases were either settled or progressed to the final stage or awaiting a member response. The same position was reached for ill health retirement applications by mid-March.

Capita has made lump sum payments to 11,454 members, the majority of whom have retired but are not yet receiving their pension, and are on track to bring these members into regular pension payments by the end of May.

To provide immediate financial support to those who may need it, including those who have left under the compensation scheme, arrangements are in place for interest-free bridging loans of £5,000 - up to £20,000 in exceptional cases - to most recent retirees facing payment delays. This is alongside interim lump sum payments being made to provide immediate funds to retiring members. The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.

To mitigate member hardship, employers have issued £8.9 million in Transitional Support Loans to 1,665 members.

Capita has committed to processing the outstanding full and partial retirement quotes during May and June. The recovery team's immediate focus is to instil long-term stability. This is expected to restore the Civil Service Pension Scheme to contractual levels by the end of June 2026. The recovery plan is organised into intensive three-week sprints to stabilise the service. Further details are available at the link provided - Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates

HMG officials and Ministers, including myself, regularly engage the EU and EU Member State counterparts on a range of issues affecting UK nationals. The UK and the EU allow for visa-free, short-term travel in line with their respective arrangements for third country nationals.

The UK allows EU citizens visa-free travel for up to six months; the EU allows for visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period which is standard for third nationals travelling visa-free to the EU. UK nationals planning to stay longer will need permission from the relevant Member State. The UK Government will continue to listen to and advocate for UK nationals.

The details of many companies who received certain forms of Covid support have previously been published. However, the government does not intend to publish full data on the recipients of support across every Covid scheme.

Whether companies made repayment of Covid support, either through the Voluntary Repayment Scheme or through other means, will also remain confidential. We do not want to discourage repayment. Voluntary repayment does not necessarily indicate fraud.

We are not making the suggested assessment.

There are robust transparency rules for Employment Agencies and Businesses which are state enforced by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate.

Where recruitment is conducted directly by an employer the Common law & Misrepresentation Act 1967 provides protections, there are also other protections under the Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and strengthen by the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

The provision of and charging for car parking at UK airports (including drop off and pick up charges) is solely a matter for the airport operator, as a commercial business, to manage and justify. However, the Government expects car parking at UK airports to be managed appropriately, and for consumers to be treated fairly, which could include providing information on choices for parking, along with information on how to access them.

Government is committed to supporting working people to balance work with their personal lives, including those navigating fertility treatment. Whilst the government has no plans to introduce a paid leave entitlement for fertility appointments, employers should treat staff fairly and accommodate reasonable requests.

Through the Employment Rights Bill, we are making flexible working available to more people, more easily, which may help employees and employers agree arrangements that support medical appointments, including fertility appointments. Many employers already offer compassionate or flexible working arrangements voluntarily, and we encourage businesses to take supportive action.

There are no current plans to make such an assessment. Under the Fixed-term Employees (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2002, employers must not treat employees less favourably because they are on fixed-term contracts than permanent employees doing the same or broadly similar work, unless justified on objective grounds.

Where transfers from one contract to another are being made through fire and rehire, the Employment Rights Bill will make it an automatic unfair dismissal if an employer dismisses an employee in order to change certain core terms in their contract such as a reduction to pay or leave, a change in overall hours or specified changes to shift patterns, unless the employer is in severe financial difficulties and could not reasonably have avoided the need to make the change.

The Warm Homes Plan will create 180,000 high-quality jobs in energy efficiency and clean heating by 2030. Chapter Six of the plan outlines the actions that the Government will be taking to support and facilitate growth, jobs and innovation. This includes establishing a new Workforce Taskforce in partnership with the Trade Unions Congress, the £8 million Warm Homes Skills Programme, and an extension of the Heat Training Grant.

I also recently led the ECO Supply Chain Transition Task and Finish Working Group which met on Tuesday 17 March to discuss support for the workforce affected by the closure of ECO. The group will coordinate sub-contracting and unblock barriers to SMEs and local supply chains accessing additional work on our expanded capital investment programmes.

The Government announced record public R&D investment of £86 billion over the four years to 2030 and our Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan sets out the UK’s major growth opportunities from the energy transition. This includes £2.5bn investment in fusion research and commercialisation creating thousands of jobs and developing a UK supply chain.

In December 2024 we published our Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, setting out how we will meet future electricity demand and deliver a clean power system by 2030.

We are making strong progress: recent CfD allocation results secured significant new capacity; grid connection reforms are accelerating project delivery; and supply chain investments are creating high-quality jobs across the UK.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will further accelerate clean power infrastructure deployment, ensuring we meet growing demand while achieving our 2030 goals whilst the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will support a more actively planned approach to energy infrastructure to meet demand across England, Scotland and Wales, on land and sea between 2030 to 2050.

Electricity demand between now and 2050 will depend on future decarbonisation choices and economic and population drivers.

However, the Government expects electricity demand to more than double by 2050, driven by economic and population growth and widespread electrification – particularly of transport and heating.

We will deliver an updated Carbon Budgets and Growth Delivery Plan by October 2025 which outlines the policies needed to deliver Carbon Budgets 4-6 and our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) on a pathway to net zero. Defra is also exploring stronger climate resilience objectives ahead of the next National Adaptation Programme in 2028. We welcome the Climate Change Committee’s 2025 Progress Report. The government will consider their recommendations and respond by October.