Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will require that organisations in receipt of funding from (a) her Department and (b) its arms-length bodies should not participate in boycotts against (i) Israel and (ii) the participation of (a) Israelis and (b) people from Jewish backgrounds for events connected to that funding.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Sports, arts, and culture are powerful ways to bring communities together. As such, we do not support sports or cultural boycotts in principle, including in relation to Israel. The Secretary of State recently met with a delegation led by the Board of Deputies of British Jews to discuss their experiences of working in the arts and cultural sector at a time of increased tension in the Middle East. The government's view is that antisemitism is as unacceptable in our sectors, as it is anywhere else in society.
Public Bodies are expected to act in line with their Framework Agreements, with their Board members required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies and The Nolan Principles of Public Life. DCMS’s standard terms and conditions include requirements that grant recipients comply with statutory requirements and specifically with the Equality Act 2010.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her policy is on (a) contested heritage and (b) retain and explain.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The policy relating to contested heritage is set out in the 2023 Guidance for custodians on how to deal with commemorative heritage assets that have become contested which was published under the previous government. I have no plans to change the guidance.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on departmental plans to fly flags other than the Union flag in 2025.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The flags other than the Union Flag that will be flown from the DCMS building in London in 2025 will be announced in due course. Currently, in addition to flying the Union Flag throughout the year, the Department flies a flag of Ukraine above the building.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to reduce the legal age to (a) buy Lottery tickets and (b) gamble.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government has no plans to reduce the legal age to buy lottery tickets or to gamble.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to support local outdoor activity centres.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
This Government encourages everyone, no matter their age, to be as active as they can. We recognise that outdoor activity centres provide opportunities to all members of society to be active.
Outdoor Activity Centres were supported through the pandemic by government assistance such as the furlough scheme.
The Government has a range of programmes including the National Citizen Service and the £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund whose delivery partners include outdoor activity centres.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support grassroots sport.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
Sport and physical activity are vital for our physical and mental health, and should be front and centre as we build back better from the pandemic, which is why Sport England has invested over £1.5 billion of funding in developing grassroots sport since April 2016. This includes £120,535 of support in the Honourable Gentleman’s constituency since March 2020.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help support grassroots sports initiatives.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
Sport and physical activity are vital for our physical and mental health, and should be front and centre as we build back better from the pandemic.
That’s why Sport England has invested over £1.5 billion of funding in developing grassroots sport since April 2016, including £120,535 of support in his constituency since March 2020.
At the recent Spending Review, the government set out our commitment to grassroots sports, investing £205 million to build or transform up to 8,000 multi-use sports facilities; £21.9 million to refurbish park tennis courts; and up to £30 million per year to increase access to school facilities and improve PE teacher training.
Asked by: David Simmonds (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
What steps he is taking to allocate to good causes the dormant assets identified by the Dormant Assets Scheme.
Answered by Matt Warman
The Dormant Assets Scheme enables money sitting in forgotten accounts to be unlocked for social or environmental purposes.
UK-wide, the Scheme has so far released over £745m, including £150m for coronavirus recovery last year.
Following the government’s consultation response, and years of close industry engagement, I’m delighted to say that the Scheme is now set to be expanded, potentially unlocking over £800m for good causes over the coming years.