Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of her Department’s (a) capital and (b) revenue spending across youth facilities and activities programmes in (i) 2023/4, (ii) 2024/5, (iii) 2025/6 and (iv) 2026/7.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The following amounts of capital and revenue were spent on the Department’s youth facilities and activities programme between 2023/24 and 2025/26. Details of 2026/7 spending will be published in due course.
In 2023/4, spending was £119.6m (£42.3m capital and £77.3m revenue).
In 2024/5 spending was £243.3m (£141.3m capital and £101.9m revenue).
In 2025/6, spending was £123.7m (£73.6m capital and £50.1m revenue).
2024/25 was the peak delivery year for the Youth Investment Fund, which has run over a 5 year period, with spend reflecting the natural phasing of capital programmes as projects hit completion.
“Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy” is backed by £500 million of funding in this spending review period. This funding will respond to what young people need where they need it, providing something to do, somewhere to go and someone to talk to. This funding is complemented by a range of funding committed by other departments. We are committed to increasing this Government investment in young people and are exploring opportunities to work with philanthropists, social impact investors, and businesses on key priorities to deliver more and improve outcomes.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what alternative sources of finance and support are available from HM Government for organisations and events previously served by the Business Events Growth Programme.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS recognises the significant economic contribution of business events, which facilitate trade and investment, support jobs and generate visitor spending across the UK. Industry data reveals that UK conferences and meetings generated an estimated £22.5 billion for the national economy in 2025, an increase from £19.3 billion in 2024 with the UK events industry expected to grow 3–5% annually.
DCMS sets the strategic priorities for the British Tourist Authority (trading as VisitBritain/VisitEngland). In line with those priorities, VisitEngland delivers its MeetEngland programme, which provides platforms for destinations to connect with buyers and bring international events to the UK. VisitEngland are supported in their efforts by local authorities, mayoral strategic authorities and destination partners including venues and event organisers.
Consideration of how best to support the sector going forward will be included in the upcoming strategies for both Major Events and the Visitor Economy.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what long-term impact she projects on (a) total economic activity (b) export earnings from the closure of the Business Events Growth Programme.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS recognises the significant economic contribution of business events, which facilitate trade and investment, support jobs and generate visitor spending across the UK. Industry data reveals that UK conferences and meetings generated an estimated £22.5 billion for the national economy in 2025, an increase from £19.3 billion in 2024 with the UK events industry expected to grow 3–5% annually.
DCMS sets the strategic priorities for the British Tourist Authority (trading as VisitBritain/VisitEngland). In line with those priorities, VisitEngland delivers its MeetEngland programme, which provides platforms for destinations to connect with buyers and bring international events to the UK. VisitEngland are supported in their efforts by local authorities, mayoral strategic authorities and destination partners including venues and event organisers.
Consideration of how best to support the sector going forward will be included in the upcoming strategies for both Major Events and the Visitor Economy.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what impact she projects on the development and marketing of business events in the UK from the closure of the Business Events Growth Programme.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS recognises the significant economic contribution of business events, which facilitate trade and investment, support jobs and generate visitor spending across the UK. Industry data reveals that UK conferences and meetings generated an estimated £22.5 billion for the national economy in 2025, an increase from £19.3 billion in 2024 with the UK events industry expected to grow 3–5% annually.
DCMS sets the strategic priorities for the British Tourist Authority (trading as VisitBritain/VisitEngland). In line with those priorities, VisitEngland delivers its MeetEngland programme, which provides platforms for destinations to connect with buyers and bring international events to the UK. VisitEngland are supported in their efforts by local authorities, mayoral strategic authorities and destination partners including venues and event organisers.
Consideration of how best to support the sector going forward will be included in the upcoming strategies for both Major Events and the Visitor Economy.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the growth trajectory of the (a) global (b) European markets for international business events.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS recognises the significant economic contribution of business events, which facilitate trade and investment, support jobs and generate visitor spending across the UK. Industry data reveals that UK conferences and meetings generated an estimated £22.5 billion for the national economy in 2025, an increase from £19.3 billion in 2024 with the UK events industry expected to grow 3–5% annually.
DCMS sets the strategic priorities for the British Tourist Authority (trading as VisitBritain/VisitEngland). In line with those priorities, VisitEngland delivers its MeetEngland programme, which provides platforms for destinations to connect with buyers and bring international events to the UK. VisitEngland are supported in their efforts by local authorities, mayoral strategic authorities and destination partners including venues and event organisers.
Consideration of how best to support the sector going forward will be included in the upcoming strategies for both Major Events and the Visitor Economy.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the size of the (a) global (b) European markets for international business events, and the UK’s share of them.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS recognises the significant economic contribution of business events, which facilitate trade and investment, support jobs and generate visitor spending across the UK. Industry data reveals that UK conferences and meetings generated an estimated £22.5 billion for the national economy in 2025, an increase from £19.3 billion in 2024 with the UK events industry expected to grow 3–5% annually.
DCMS sets the strategic priorities for the British Tourist Authority (trading as VisitBritain/VisitEngland). In line with those priorities, VisitEngland delivers its MeetEngland programme, which provides platforms for destinations to connect with buyers and bring international events to the UK. VisitEngland are supported in their efforts by local authorities, mayoral strategic authorities and destination partners including venues and event organisers.
Consideration of how best to support the sector going forward will be included in the upcoming strategies for both Major Events and the Visitor Economy.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what objectives her department gives to the British Tourist Authority for promoting the UK as a business events destination.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS recognises the significant economic contribution of business events, which facilitate trade and investment, support jobs and generate visitor spending across the UK. Industry data reveals that UK conferences and meetings generated an estimated £22.5 billion for the national economy in 2025, an increase from £19.3 billion in 2024 with the UK events industry expected to grow 3–5% annually.
DCMS sets the strategic priorities for the British Tourist Authority (trading as VisitBritain/VisitEngland). In line with those priorities, VisitEngland delivers its MeetEngland programme, which provides platforms for destinations to connect with buyers and bring international events to the UK. VisitEngland are supported in their efforts by local authorities, mayoral strategic authorities and destination partners including venues and event organisers.
Consideration of how best to support the sector going forward will be included in the upcoming strategies for both Major Events and the Visitor Economy.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the contribution of inbound international visitors to the UK economy in the five most recent years for which data are available.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
VisitBritain publishes International Passenger Survey data which contains estimates of the number of inbound visitors to Great Britain and their spend. This data reveals that inbound visitors to Great Britain spent: £28.448 million in 2019; £4.344 million in 2020; £5.646 million in 2021; £26.497 million in 2022; £31.075 million in 2023; and £31.912 million in 2024.
The Economic Value of Tourism Report, published by VisitBritain in January 2026, estimates that in total, direct and indirect tax impacts of UK tourism reached £52 billion in 2024. This figure excludes induced impacts, driven largely by consumption taxes. Out of the total £52 billion in taxes, VisitBritain estimated £14 billion came as a result of inbound travel, or 27%.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the contribution of inbound international visitors to Exchequer receipts in the five most recent years for which data are available.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
VisitBritain publishes International Passenger Survey data which contains estimates of the number of inbound visitors to Great Britain and their spend. This data reveals that inbound visitors to Great Britain spent: £28.448 million in 2019; £4.344 million in 2020; £5.646 million in 2021; £26.497 million in 2022; £31.075 million in 2023; and £31.912 million in 2024.
The Economic Value of Tourism Report, published by VisitBritain in January 2026, estimates that in total, direct and indirect tax impacts of UK tourism reached £52 billion in 2024. This figure excludes induced impacts, driven largely by consumption taxes. Out of the total £52 billion in taxes, VisitBritain estimated £14 billion came as a result of inbound travel, or 27%.
Asked by: Damian Hinds (Conservative - East Hampshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the eligibility of the Museum Renewal Fund to include independent museums.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Museum Renewal Fund is an urgent intervention this financial year to provide time-limited support for museums with a local authority link. The Fund, delivered by Arts Council England, provided targeted support for museums and focused on supporting the financial resilience of museums caring predominantly for publicly-owned Collections, responding to a clear ask by the entire museums sector. It is now closed to applicants and the 75 recipients were announced in October 2025.
DCMS provides a range of support for ACE-Accredited museums of all types, through Capital funds including the Museum Estate and Development Fund and the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, and tax incentives like the Museums and Galleries Exhibitions Tax Relief, and Museum VAT Refund Scheme.