Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the growth of women’s grassroots football in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This Government is committed to supporting every aspect of women’s sport, including grassroots football, and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, have access to high quality sport.
The Government is providing £123 million of funding for the UK-wide Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2024/25 alongside our ongoing investment into Sport England. This includes long term investment of £26.1 million into the FA to invest in community football initiatives that will benefit everyone, including women and girls, across the country, including in West Dorset.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations has she received from religious organisations about extending the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme beyond March 2025.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
My officials and I have met with a range of heritage bodies since July and this has included discussions on the future of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
The Department has received correspondence from religious organisations regarding the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme and the views of their congregations and communities as a result of funding. A couple of Church of England bishops have also approached me at events and mentioned the scheme.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with religious organisations on the potential impact of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme on religious buildings.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
My officials and I have met with a range of heritage bodies since July and this has included discussions on the future of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
The Department has received correspondence from religious organisations regarding the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme and the views of their congregations and communities as a result of funding. A couple of Church of England bishops have also approached me at events and mentioned the scheme.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of closures of grassroots disability sports clubs on (a) community cohesion and (b) wellbeing in rural constituencies.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to improving access to high quality sport and physical activity opportunities for everyone, including those with disabilities. This is central to achieving the aims set out in the Government’s manifesto around the Health and Opportunity Missions. The Government will support more people to be active wherever they live, whether in cities or the countryside.
We recognise that grassroots sports clubs are at the heart of communities up and down the country. These provide important places for people of all ages to be active, bring communities together and improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
That is why this Government has committed to continue funding for grassroots facilities. £123 million will be invested UK-wide in grassroots facilities via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme throughout 2024/25, working with our delivery partner, the Football Foundation.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of closures of grassroots sports clubs on (a) community cohesion and (b) wellbeing in rural constituencies.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to improving access to high quality sport and physical activity opportunities for everyone, including those with disabilities. This is central to achieving the aims set out in the Government’s manifesto around the Health and Opportunity Missions. The Government will support more people to be active wherever they live, whether in cities or the countryside.
We recognise that grassroots sports clubs are at the heart of communities up and down the country. These provide important places for people of all ages to be active, bring communities together and improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
That is why this Government has committed to continue funding for grassroots facilities. £123 million will be invested UK-wide in grassroots facilities via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme throughout 2024/25, working with our delivery partner, the Football Foundation.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to undertake a review of the capital funding requirements of grassroots sports clubs for the sustainable, long-term maintenance of their facilities.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to improving access to high quality sport and physical activity opportunities for everyone, including those with disabilities. This is central to achieving the aims set out in the Government’s manifesto around the Health and Opportunity Missions. The Government will support more people to be active wherever they live, whether in cities or the countryside.
We recognise that grassroots sports clubs are at the heart of communities up and down the country. These provide important places for people of all ages to be active, bring communities together and improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
That is why this Government has committed to continue funding for grassroots facilities. £123 million will be invested UK-wide in grassroots facilities via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme throughout 2024/25, working with our delivery partner, the Football Foundation.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will conduct a review of arts centres to ensure that buildings are (a) safe and (b) sustainable.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Cultural infrastructure, including arts centres, are important parts of our cultural and creative ecosystem. We are aware of challenges with maintaining arts infrastructure and are looking carefully at the issue.
Additionally, the Theatres Trust, an arm’s-length body of DCMS, produces the Theatre Green Book with partners which provides guidance to all theatres and performing arts venues across the country, sharing advice and resources to improve sustainability. The Theatre Green book includes a ‘Building Survey Tool’ to support organisations to assess the sustainability of their buildings.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support rural (a) arts venues, (b) museums and (c) community centres in West Dorset constituency.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
After 14 years of indifference and cultural vandalism, this government is committed to making sure that arts and cultural activities will no longer be the preserve of a privileged few.
Local Authorities are one of the largest funders of arts and culture in England, and DCMS will continue to work with local partners to collectively champion the benefits that the arts can bring. The government also supports the arts through Arts Council England (ACE). They play a hugely important role in developing the arts in England and are also responsible for funding and promoting the arts. ACE’s open funding programme, National Lottery Project Grants, is currently accessible to organisations and individuals across the country, including those in West Dorset. This programme provides over £100 million of support annually to individuals and organisations.
DCMS has responsibility for government’s work with Civil Society, including voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (VCSEs), which often run community centres and hubs. We are supporting VCSEs with their financial viability by delivering grant programmes, growing the social investment market and through the activities and services delivered by our Arm’s Length Bodies such as the National Lottery Community Fund.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with representatives of arts centres on the potential impact of their finances on their ability to provide employment for young people.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Secretary of State meets with a range of cultural and arts organisations and discusses the issues facing them - including financial stability and their workforce issues.
After 14 years of indifference and cultural vandalism, this government is committed to making sure that the arts and culture will no longer be the preserve of a privileged few. We are working with Arts Council England and others to understand what the challenges and opportunities are for our sectors. We know that Art Centres are a key part of the Arts sector more widely and we will of course include them as we continue to engage with the sector to understand the whole picture, including employment opportunities.
The Government is also transforming the Apprenticeship Levy into a new Growth and Skills Levy, which will give employers more flexibility to spend levy funds on training for the skills they need. We have started engaging with the sector to gather feedback and will continue to do so as we develop Skills England over the next 9 to 12 months.
Asked by: Edward Morello (Liberal Democrat - West Dorset)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential economic impact of sewage discharges into the sea on businesses in constituencies who rely on the tourism industry.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We have no plans to commission expensive impact surveys, given it is well established that sewage discharges into the sea at tourist sites are extremely likely to hit tourism. Instead, the Government is focused on protecting and enhancing the environment.
VisitBritain/VisitEngland are working with the tourism sector to celebrate and amplify best practice, and to coordinate an industry response that promotes the UK as a leader in sustainable tourism and puts the UK’s natural landscapes and communities at the heart of the country’s brand proposition.
Where water safety is at risk, we will work closely with the UK Health Security Agency, water companies and the Environment Agency to mitigate any adverse impacts on the tourism sector and our natural environment from sewage leaks.