Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what his policy is on outdoor stadia returning to full capacity for spectators as covid-19 restrictions ease; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
The government recognises the importance of spectators to competitive sport and remains committed to working towards their full return to stadiums as soon as it is safe to do so.
We published the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ setting out the roadmap out of the lockdown restrictions for England, and which explains how restrictions will be eased over time. It is now confirmed that Step 3 of the roadmap will go ahead as planned on Monday 17 May which will see fans return to stadia, albeit under capacity caps.
We further welcome the return of spectators at selected events as part of the science-led Events Research Programme (ERP). The ERP is currently running its first phase of April and May pilot events to inform decisions around the safe removal of social distancing at Step 4 of the roadmap. The pilots are running across a range of settings, venues, and activities, so that findings support the full reopening of similar settings across multiple sectors.
As stated in the Roadmap, the government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact later this summer, no earlier than 21 June. This will be subject to the outcomes of the 4 government-led reviews, including the ERP.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to allow people to attend live sports events once covid-19 vaccination priority groups 1-4 have been vaccinated; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
The government remains committed to working towards the safe return of spectators to stadiums as soon as it is safe to do so.
The supply of vaccines and hitting vaccination targets for priority groups is the immediate priority for the Government. Transmission data is evaluated so the impact of vaccine rollout can be determined.
Government continues to proactively engage across the sector, to maintain a complete picture of the impact of Covid-19, and are working closely with DHSC and public health experts alongside sporting national governing bodies to determine the next steps in the readmission of fans into stadia and viably increasing spectator capacities without compromising public safety. We also remain in close contact with the Sports Technology Innovation Group (STIG), formed of sporting bodies and health experts, to assess the latest thinking and high-tech solutions that could enable further spectators to return.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what criteria he has set for increasing the limit on the number of spectators allowed in outdoor sports stadia during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
The safety and security of players and spectators remains of paramount importance and we will continue to be led by wider public health guidance. The recently announced capacity limits have been agreed by the Government with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and Public Health England as a maximum capacity for spectators, in light of the updated Covid Tiering system. Capacity limits will be kept under review in line with wider public health policy decisions.
A series of successful pilot events demonstrated the ability of the sector to follow covid secure guidance. We have updated our guidance to the sector, and the SGSA’s SG02 guidance sets out explicit guidance on how safe socially distanced capacities can be maintained.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will allow sports stadia in Tier 1 and Tier 2 local covid-19 alert level areas to reopen to spectators.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
The Prime Minister announced on Saturday 31 October that new National Restrictions will be introduced across England from Thursday 5 November. These new measures will apply nationally for four weeks up to Wednesday 2 December. The restriction on spectators attending stadia will continue during this time.
The government recognises the valuable role of elite sport to the UK. That is why elite sports continue to be able to continue behind closed doors which will both enable vital broadcasting revenue to flow to the sector and whilst also bringing joy to millions of sports fans. The government is also working hard through the Sports Technology and Innovation Group and other initiative to enable the return of fans to stadia as soon as it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Premier League on fair access to viewing football matches during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
The Government has worked closely with the football authorities throughout the pandemic, this saw the Premier League and English Football League as some of the first elite competitions to return "behind closed doors". We also ensured that Project Restart was shared with everyone by getting Premier League football on the BBC for the first time ever.
We will continue to have regular discussions with the Premier League on a range of topics, including viewing access to their matches, and the return of fans when it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the (a) German and (b) South Korean Governments on allowing spectators into sports stadia during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
My department has had no such recent discussions with the German or South Korean Governments. Officials in my department engage regularly with a range of representatives to discuss a variety of issues related to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on my department’s areas of responsibility.
The government recognises that fans will be disappointed that sports pilot events were paused and that spectators were not able to be admitted to stadia from 1 October. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working with HM Treasury on what can be done to provide further support. The Department will also continue to work with colleagues across Whitehall to support the sector, to review best practice globally, and to return fans to sports stadia when it is safe to do so.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if the Government will delegate the decision on when to allow spectators into sports stadia during the covid-19 outbreak to local directors of public health.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
The Government continues to engage and consult with health officials as necessary during the Covid-19 pandemic, including the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chief Scientific Officer (CSA) and local directors of public health
The safety and security of players and spectators remains of paramount importance.
We fully understand the decision not to reopen stadia on October 1 is frustrating for sports fans. But in the face of rising infections and further restrictions it would not have been possible. The decision was taken on advice from the CMO and CSA and takes into account travelling to and from games held in stadia, where there may be further social interaction and the risk of virus spread.
Work continues at pace to find solutions that will allow crowds safely back into stadia as soon as possible and will allow local authorities and stakeholders retain their regulatory and advisory roles that support the running of spectator events.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the scientific advice behind the decision to delay the reopening of football stadiums to fans.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
We fully understand that fans want to be back watching live sports, and we are continuing to work with the sector on solutions and innovations.
But as set out in our Roadmap, sports pilots and the full return of fans to stadia would only ever take place when it was safe to do so.
The sport pilot events demonstrated that many risks within these events can be mitigated with Covid secure guidance. However, confirmed Covid-19 cases are now on a sharply upward trajectory. On advice from the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Scientific Adviser in light of this, a decision was taken that it was not the time to make further easements by reopening stadia to fans.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with local authorities on allowing supporters to return to football stadiums during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston
On 22 September it was announced that all sports pilot events currently ongoing would be paused with immediate effect, due to the sharp upward trajectory of Covid-19 cases nationally. A?s set out in our Roadmap, sports events pilots, and the full return of fans to stadia would only ever take place when it was safe to do so.
The Government will continue to work closely with the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA), who liaise with local Safety Authority Groups, and a whole range of sports to understand the latest thinking that might allow spectators to return. This includes the creation of a new Sports Technology Innovation Group of sporting bodies and health experts to analyse new technologies which might support this.
In any return to spectators, the relevant authorities and partners would retain their established regulatory and advisory roles at a local level.
Asked by: Jane Stevenson (Conservative - Wolverhampton North East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what financial support is available for (a) charities and (b) religious organisations to help them respond to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government has made available an unprecedented £750 million package of support, specifically for charities, social enterprises and the voluntary sector. Religious activities are not eligible for this funding but religious organisations could be funded if their project benefits the wider community and does not include religious content. The funding is being allocated through the following ways:
£200 million is being distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund through the Coronavirus Community Support Fund which is available to smaller and local VCSE organisations, including religious organisations that provide charitable services in response to the outbreak.
£360 million has been allocated by central government departments with £200 million of this directly supporting hospices.
To support the BBC’s 'Big Night In', the Government matched the generous donations of the public across the country with grants for £20 million to the National Emergencies Trust who is working in Partnership with the UK Community Foundations and a further £17 million split between Comic Relief and Children in Need to issue grants to grassroots, local and community organisations providing charitable services during the outbreak.
£85 million has been allocated to the ‘Community Match Challenge’ which is matching funds raised by philanthropists, foundations and grant making organisations to further support organisations from across the country who are working with those who are most vulnerable and have been hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak. This Fund closed for bids on 2nd August and the outcome will be announced shortly.
A further £4.8 million was allocated to the Voluntary and Community Sector Emergencies Partnership - a group that comes together to improve national and local coordination before, during and after emergencies - to help strengthen the voluntary sector’s response to coronavirus and future emergencies.
In addition to the £750million, a further £150m has been unlocked from dormant bank and building society accounts which are being directed to charities, social enterprises and individuals.