Oral Answers to Questions

John Glen Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Ian Murray]

I am delighted that my hon. Friend asked that question, which concerns a vital issue that the Government are trying to deal with. The online advertising taskforce has workstreams that have been looking at the issue very closely. I chair that taskforce, and am keen to push it further forward. The issue is not just the way in which advertising is delivered, but the monetisation of illegal and harmful content; if we want to deal with any of the issues relating to the online world, we must follow the money.

[John Glen (Salisbury) (Con)]

Salisbury Playhouse is one of three producing theatres in the south-west, and this week it launched a campaign to raise £22 million. The Arts Council, Wiltshire council and Salisbury city council have already made a £10 million contribution. Are the ministerial team having conversations with the Treasury to create incentives for private philanthropy and giving, so that we can maximise the opportunity to fill this gap and make Salisbury Playhouse the brilliant place it needs to be for the future?

[Ian Murray]

The right hon. Gentleman asks a great question. The Hodge review into Arts Council England examined what we need to do to bring more philanthropic funding into the sector so that it has more money, not less. I encourage him to engage with Arts Council England on taking those proposals forward. Of course, these questions are always a matter for His Majesty’s Treasury, but we are working very closely with Treasury colleagues on how we can implement the Hodge review in full.