Louie French

DCMS Ministers have had regular meetings with a range of stakeholders about gambling taxation.

Ministerial meetings and engagements are published through quarterly transparency reports on GOV.UK.

The government ensures value for money from Arts Council England (ACE) funding by holding it accountable through performance reporting, financial controls, and grant-management standards set by DCMS. ACE also reports against key performance indicators and strategic outcomes in its annual report.

The government has also strengthened performance measurement by developing long-term impact indicators, including a participation survey, to measure the outcomes of funded arts activity. Alongside this, through the Culture Heritage Capital programme, DCMS and its arms length bodies are developing new methodology and guidance to measure the value for money of investment in culture. In December 2024 DCMS published Embedding a Culture and Heritage Capital Approach, which set out the ambitions for the programme.

Ofcom has launched a review of broadcast regulation which will, amongst other things, consider the licensing framework and the impact of the digital environment. This is in recognition that much of our existing legislation was designed for linear television and radio consumption. The Government will engage with Ofcom as that work progresses.

Through the Media Act 2024, the Government will be designating mainstream video-on-demand (VoD) services, bringing them under enhanced regulation by Ofcom. Ofcom will then draft and enforce a new VoD Standards Code, which will be similar to the Broadcasting Code, and which will set appropriate standards for content, including rules on harmful and offensive material, accuracy, fairness, and privacy.

DCMS Ministers have met with a number of stakeholders to discuss the impacts of possible changes to betting duties.

This Government is committed to introducing new protections for consumers on ticket resales, which is why we launched the Putting Fans First consultation on the resale of live events tickets earlier this year.

Policy responsibility for live event ticket resale is shared between DCMS and the Department for Business and Trade. Our Departments have been speaking regularly and engaging with all other relevant Departments as we consider the response to our consultation, which will be published shortly.

The Government is committed to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, are able to participate in sport and physical activity.

The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport, including women and girls, is absolutely paramount. National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm.

The This Girl Can campaign, run by our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, includes the campaign strand “#LetsLiftTheCurfew”, referring to the safety fears that cause a drop-off in women enjoying outdoor exercise during the darker winter months. This Girl Can has also partnered with ukactive and the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) to provide resources and training to help leisure and fitness facilities ensure their spaces are safe and inclusive for all women.

The Government is committed to reviewing all official reports that assess gambling harm and its impact in the United Kingdom when making future policy decisions. This includes the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ (OHID’s) report entitled ‘The economic and social cost of harms associated with gambling in England,’ published on 11 January 2023. Relevant DCMS and OHID officials have met to discuss the report and continue to engage about the evidence OHID provides on gambling harm and its impact.

We are aware that the impacts that can ensue from harmful gambling are diverse and can be difficult to measure. Developing quality evidence is a key priority for the statutory gambling levy, and 20% of funding will be directed towards high-quality, independent research to fill gaps in the evidence base. We will continue to monitor developments in the evidence base and take action where appropriate.

The Government is committed to reviewing all official reports that assess gambling harm and its impact in the United Kingdom when making future policy decisions. This includes the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ (OHID’s) report entitled ‘The economic and social cost of harms associated with gambling in England,’ published on 11 January 2023. Relevant DCMS and OHID officials have met to discuss the report and continue to engage about the evidence OHID provides on gambling harm and its impact.

We are aware that the impacts that can ensue from harmful gambling are diverse and can be difficult to measure. Developing quality evidence is a key priority for the statutory gambling levy, and 20% of funding will be directed towards high-quality, independent research to fill gaps in the evidence base. We will continue to monitor developments in the evidence base and take action where appropriate.

Following the Licensing taskforce report, the Government published a Call for Evidence on reforming the licensing system on 7 October, which closes on 6 November. The Call for Evidence invites views on licensing reforms, including in relation to Recommendation 4 of the taskforce on ending the requirement for printed statutory notices in local newspapers for alcohol licences. The reforms collectively aim to create a modern, proportionate, and enabling system that supports economic growth, revitalises high streets and fosters vibrant communities.

More broadly, the Government is concerned about the sustainability of local journalism and DCMS is developing a Local Media Strategy, in recognition of the importance of this vital sector. We also recognise that local press continues to play a central role in informing local communities, and that public notices can be important in helping inform the public of decisions made by their council which may affect their quality of life, local services or amenities, or their property. We are planning a review of all types of public notice as part of the Local Media Strategy, which will more broadly consider the merits of making changes to existing requirements to place public notices in print local newspapers and also take forward final decisions on the future of alcohol licence notices.

We regularly engage with industry stakeholders on this and other key issues, including through our Local Media Strategy working group set up earlier this year to consider our overall plans for the Strategy in more detail, and welcome the industry’s input into the Call for Evidence. More will be announced on the Strategy and review in the coming months.

The Gambling Levy Programme Board has been established as the central oversight mechanism for establishment and oversight of the levy to ensure that funding is being spent appropriately and efficiently, and that the system is delivering on its objectives. The Programme Board is chaired by DCMS Director of Sport and Gambling, and its membership consists of government officials from relevant departments across government, and the Scottish and Welsh governments. The Board's membership is currently limited to government officials as its focus is on the operational aspects of the levy system to ensure a smooth transition to and successful implementation of the new system.

We have also established the Gambling Levy Advisory Group. It is chaired by a DCMS official and membership consists of working level representation from UK Research and Innovation, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, NHS England, the appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales, and the Gambling Commission. The Advisory Group brings together the research, prevention and treatment strands of the levy at a working level, facilitating appropriate integration and collaboration between commissioning leads. Funding decisions will be taken by the appropriate bodies, with scrutiny provided by relevant governance structures.

We will continue to regularly monitor the levy’s governance arrangements to ensure that there is effective oversight of delivery against objectives. We will publish the Terms of Reference for the Levy Board and Advisory Group in due course.

The Gambling Levy Programme Board has been established as the central oversight mechanism for establishment and oversight of the levy to ensure that funding is being spent appropriately and efficiently, and that the system is delivering on its objectives. The Programme Board is chaired by DCMS Director of Sport and Gambling, and its membership consists of government officials from relevant departments across government, and the Scottish and Welsh governments. The Board's membership is currently limited to government officials as its focus is on the operational aspects of the levy system to ensure a smooth transition to and successful implementation of the new system.

We have also established the Gambling Levy Advisory Group. It is chaired by a DCMS official and membership consists of working level representation from UK Research and Innovation, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, NHS England, the appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales, and the Gambling Commission. The Advisory Group brings together the research, prevention and treatment strands of the levy at a working level, facilitating appropriate integration and collaboration between commissioning leads. Funding decisions will be taken by the appropriate bodies, with scrutiny provided by relevant governance structures.

We will continue to regularly monitor the levy’s governance arrangements to ensure that there is effective oversight of delivery against objectives. We will publish the Terms of Reference for the Levy Board and Advisory Group in due course.

The Gambling Levy Programme Board has been established as the central oversight mechanism for establishment and oversight of the levy to ensure that funding is being spent appropriately and efficiently, and that the system is delivering on its objectives. The Programme Board is chaired by DCMS Director of Sport and Gambling, and its membership consists of government officials from relevant departments across government, and the Scottish and Welsh governments. The Board's membership is currently limited to government officials as its focus is on the operational aspects of the levy system to ensure a smooth transition to and successful implementation of the new system.

We have also established the Gambling Levy Advisory Group. It is chaired by a DCMS official and membership consists of working level representation from UK Research and Innovation, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, NHS England, the appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales, and the Gambling Commission. The Advisory Group brings together the research, prevention and treatment strands of the levy at a working level, facilitating appropriate integration and collaboration between commissioning leads. Funding decisions will be taken by the appropriate bodies, with scrutiny provided by relevant governance structures.

We will continue to regularly monitor the levy’s governance arrangements to ensure that there is effective oversight of delivery against objectives. We will publish the Terms of Reference for the Levy Board and Advisory Group in due course.

The Government recognises the important work undertaken by organisations funded under the voluntary research, education and treatment system administered by GambleAware. The introduction of the statutory levy marks a significant further step in tackling gambling harm, providing sustainable and independent funding to deliver interventions that have the greatest impact on reducing harm across Great Britain.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), NHS England and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and the appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales, are the new commissioners for prevention, treatment and research under the statutory levy system. Organisations funded through GambleAware will be permitted to apply for funding under the relevant funding schemes currently being established by the new Commissioners, provided they comply with the stated eligibility requirements. Details regarding UKRI’s funding schemes can be found on their webpage and further detail regarding criteria for funding under the other commissioning bodies will be available in due course.

Commissioners are working to develop a consistent approach to ‘Declarations of Interest’ and the management of potential conflicts of interest, recognising the need for a pragmatic approach during the transition to the new system, whilst mindful of the need to ensure that moving forward, all commissioning activity is independent of industry influence.

Commissioners remain committed to ensuring all stakeholders receive timely updates as they continue to work at pace on their respective gambling harms programmes.

The Independent Football Regulator has a tightly defined scope focusing on the financial sustainability of clubs, the systemic stability of the football pyramid and protecting club heritage. Football ticket price caps are commercial decisions and a matter for football clubs.

However, fan consultation is a key part of the licensing regime within the Football Governance Act and the Regulator will require clubs to consult fans on a range of specified relevant matters, including ticket pricing.

The Independent Football Regulator has a tightly defined scope focusing on the financial sustainability of clubs, the systemic stability of the football pyramid and protecting club heritage. Football ticket price caps are commercial decisions and a matter for football clubs.

However, fan consultation is a key part of the licensing regime within the Football Governance Act and the Regulator will require clubs to consult fans on a range of specified relevant matters, including ticket pricing.

The Independent Football Regulator has a tightly defined scope focusing on the financial sustainability of clubs, the systemic stability of the football pyramid and protecting club heritage. Football ticket price caps are commercial decisions and a matter for football clubs.

However, fan consultation is a key part of the licensing regime within the Football Governance Act and the Regulator will require clubs to consult fans on a range of specified relevant matters, including ticket pricing.

The Independent Football Regulator has a tightly defined scope focusing on the financial sustainability of clubs, the systemic stability of the football pyramid and protecting club heritage. Football ticket price caps are commercial decisions and a matter for football clubs.

However, fan consultation is a key part of the licensing regime within the Football Governance Act and the Regulator will require clubs to consult fans on a range of specified relevant matters, including ticket pricing.

The Independent Football Regulator has a tightly defined scope focusing on the financial sustainability of clubs, the systemic stability of the football pyramid and protecting club heritage. Football ticket price caps are commercial decisions and a matter for football clubs.

However, fan consultation is a key part of the licensing regime within the Football Governance Act and the Regulator will require clubs to consult fans on a range of specified relevant matters, including ticket pricing.

There is no additional cost to the department as a result of the Women’s Sport Taskforce, however, officials within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are allocated to support the Taskforce.

The Women's Sport Taskforce was recently launched to drive a Decade of Change in women’s sport.

The Government is working across five key pillars in order to ensure this objective is met. We are ensuring equal access to sport, with an independent expert-led review of the curriculum to ensure all children engage with PE and sport, a new School Sport Partnerships model, and the This Girl Can campaign by Sport England.

We are committed to delivering best in class facilities, with the significant investment of £98 million in 2025/26 and a further £400 million in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities, doubling priority slots for women and girls.

We are acting on recommendations from the Karen Carney Review of Women's Football and utilising the Women's Football Taskforce and Women’s Sport Taskforce to support world-leading professional environments. Further to this, we are increasing visibility of women’s sport, including delivering a drumbeat of UK hosted major events, with the recent Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, Women's T20 Cricket World Cup 2026, and the Tour de France/Tour de Femmes 2027, while also supporting the bid for the 2035 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Since July 2024 the Government has invested £6.7m into the £14.5m Impact 25 programme which is pivotal in cementing rugby as a game for all. The programme has reached 850 clubs as more female-friendly facilities have been built all over the country encouraging female participation in rugby.

The programme has trained 3,385 new female coaches and match officials, making coaching sessions and matches more accessible. Impact 25 has contributed to a 35% increase in female age grade registrations in England rising from 17,700 places in 2022 to 23,900 in 2025. To assess progress against Impact 25’s outcomes the RFU uses a range of data sources which are reported on as part of the programme. We will work with the RFU, Sport England and UK Sport to monitor progress against these outcomes and the RFU’s long term goal of having 100,000 female players in England.

The programme has provided over £5,000 of investment to Dartfordians RFC and Sidcup RFC in Old Bexley and Sidcup. Both clubs have received sanitary product packages which are made freely available in club restrooms as well as kits for their u12s team and access to coaching and match official courses for their members.

The Women’s Sport Taskforce convenes a group of industry experts which aim to understand opportunities and break down barriers to deliver equal access, best in class facilities, ongoing professionalisation of women’s sport, visible role models to inspire future generations of girls and a strong pipeline of UK hosted major events by the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The National Physical Activity Taskforce (NPAT) was established in 2023 under a previous government to monitor the delivery of the sport strategy Get Active, which went beyond women’s sport in its focus. This group has now closed.

The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone is vitally important. In sport, National Governing Bodies are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm, including through adherence to statutory safeguarding guidance. Our Arm’s Length Body Sport England funds the Child Protection in Sport Unit and Ann Craft Trust to provide guidance and support for the sector regarding safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

For civil society groups, The Charity Commission provides clear guidance on the safeguarding responsibilities of registered charities, and the Government works in partnership with charities and regulators to raise awareness about safeguarding.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) also provides guidance to all voluntary organisations, including religious groups, on their legal safeguarding responsibilities when working with children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

Football ticket price limits are commercial decisions and a matter for football clubs.

The Independent Football Regulator will consider the pertinent factors to club sustainability as part of its first State of the Game report. This report must be completed within 18 months of the Secretary of State laying secondary legislation specificing the competitions in scope of the regime.

Football ticket price limits are commercial decisions and a matter for football clubs.

The Independent Football Regulator will consider the pertinent factors to club sustainability as part of its first State of the Game report. This report must be completed within 18 months of the Secretary of State laying secondary legislation specificing the competitions in scope of the regime.

Society lotteries are a vital fundraising tool for many charities, community groups, sports clubs and other non-commercial organisations. We want to see them continue to thrive, alongside the National Lottery.

Society lotteries are not subject to tax and are exempt from paying Lottery Duty, except for External Lottery Managers (ELMs) who do pay Corporation Tax.

Independent research found that making further changes to the society lottery sales limits might have a negative impact on National Lottery sales, which would result in a reduction in Lottery Duty revenue for the Exchequer.

David Kogan has now been appointed as Chair of the Independent Football Regulator and the Secretary of State and I had a formal introductory meeting with him on 14 October.

The Government has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to support the growth of cricket through its recent announcement of funding for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB, the national governing body for cricket) to build two new indoor cricket domes in Farington (near Preston) and Luton. The Future of Cricket ‘Fund’ was an announcement made by the previous Government, which was entirely unfunded.

This funding for cricket centres is in addition the £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the nation which was announced following the Spending Review.

We will work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans. I met with the ECB, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding.

This includes long term investment to the ECB which receives up to £11.6 million for five years to invest in community cricket initiatives.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding.

This already includes long term investment to the England and Wales Cricket Board, the National Governing Body for cricket, which receives up to £11.6 million for five years to invest in community cricket initiatives.

The Government also announced another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the nation following the Spending Review. We will work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans. I met with the England and Wales Cricket Board, among other sports, to discuss this last week.

T​he Government has made no assessment ​on the potential merits of a National Lido Strategy or a National Lido Fund. The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to and benefits from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

Sports facilities, such as swimming pools and lidos, provide important community hubs for people of all ages to be active and connect people to the places in which they live.

The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, and the Government continues to encourage local authorities to invest in leisure facilities. We are committed to supporting Local Government, recognising the significant financial challenges faced by the sector and by ensuring that funding goes to the places that need it most through the Local Government Finance Settlement.

We will continue to engage with Swim England, ukactive, and other key stakeholders to explore how we can work towards securing a vibrant future for swimming pools and lidos, enabling them to continue delivering their full potential for public health, economic growth, and the wellbeing of our communities. Last month, the Culture Secretary announced that following the Spending Review, at least £400 million is going to be invested into new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities in communities right across the UK, supporting the Government's Plan for Change. We will work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans.

Spending Review 2025 (SR25) formally set all Departmental budgets for the upcoming SR period, no budgets had been formally set before for this period. As such, all SR25 funding was agreed by the current government.

Playgrounds are a vital part of our social infrastructure. They contribute to the health and development of children and young people across the nation and build on the Government’s mission of opportunities for all by ensuring everyone has the best start in life.

The National Design Guide demonstrates how new development can promote inclusive design by creating buildings and spaces that are safe, social and inclusive. This should include spaces for comfort, relaxation and stimulation, including play.

In addition, everyone should be able to take part in sport safely. National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm. Whilst NGBs are independent of Government, we are clear that health and safety of participants, including children, must be their top priority.

The Government is investing £100 million through the Multi Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme to build and upgrade high-quality grassroots sports pitches and facilities in the communities across the UK that need it most, including children and young people.

On 20 June 2025, the Culture Secretary announced that following Spending Review, at least £400 million is going to be invested into new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities in communities right across the UK, supporting the Government's Plan for Change. We will work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans.

The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our arm’s length body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport at grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all as set out in its “Uniting the Movement” strategy.

For 2022-27, London Sport received £14,644,735 from Sport England as System Partner investment to contribute to delivering Uniting the Movement. Sport England have not given money directly to fund the “More Ball Games” campaign, but London Sport have a degree of autonomy on how they allocate their System Partner funding to contribute to Uniting the Movement.

Sport England will continue to work with its System Partners such as London Sport to increase opportunities for everyone to play grassroots sport and take part in physical activity.

The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our arm’s length body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport at grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all as set out in its “Uniting the Movement” strategy.

For 2022-27, London Sport received £14,644,735 from Sport England as System Partner investment to contribute to delivering Uniting the Movement. Sport England have not given money directly to fund the “More Ball Games” campaign, but London Sport have a degree of autonomy on how they allocate their System Partner funding to contribute to Uniting the Movement.

Sport England will continue to work with its System Partners such as London Sport to increase opportunities for everyone to play grassroots sport and take part in physical activity.

Society lotteries are a vital fundraising tool for many charities, community groups, sports clubs and other non-commercial organisations. We want to see them continue to thrive, alongside the National Lottery.

The Government has taken the decision not to make further changes or to abolish society lottery limits at this time. Independent research shows that the existing society lottery sales limit only impacts one operator and increasing the annual sales limit could result in a decrease in National Lottery participation.

The Government wants a lotteries sector centred on one national lottery - The National Lottery - whilst continuing to support the hundreds of wider society lotteries that exist. This model has worked successfully for the last 30 years and created the conditions for the National Lottery to flourish and support life changing projects, alongside a thriving society lotteries sector.

Further information on this can be found in a Written Ministerial Statement published on Thursday 26 June 2025.

Prize draws are a significant and growing market. We want people who participate in prize draws to be confident that proportionate protections are in place.

We will be introducing a Voluntary Code for prize draw operators later this year. This Code will provide a uniform approach across the sector to strengthen player protections, increase transparency and improve accountability.

This approach allows us to take swift action collectively with the sector. The success of this code will dictate whether this Government decides that greater regulation may be required, including legislation.

Further information on this can be found in a Written Ministerial Statement published on Thursday 26 June 2025.

The independent research into the prize draws sector was published on 26 June 2026 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-report-online-prize-draws-and-competitions-market-study-assessment-of-harm-and-review-of-potential-interventions). The research gathered views from lottery stakeholders on the perceived impact of the prize draw market on the lotteries sector, including the National Lottery, but did not make a full assessment of this impact.

Prize draws are a significant and growing market. We want people who participate in prize draws to be confident that proportionate protections are in place.

We will be introducing a Voluntary Code for prize draw operators later this year. This Code will provide a uniform approach across the sector to strengthen player protections, increase transparency and improve accountability.

This approach allows us to take swift action collectively with the sector. The success of this code will dictate whether this Government decides that greater regulation may be required, including legislation.

Further information on this can be found in a Written Ministerial Statement published on Thursday 26 June 2025.

The independent research into the prize draws sector was published on 26 June 2026 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-report-online-prize-draws-and-competitions-market-study-assessment-of-harm-and-review-of-potential-interventions). The research gathered views from lottery stakeholders on the perceived impact of the prize draw market on the lotteries sector, including the National Lottery, but did not make a full assessment of this impact.

Prize draws are a significant and growing market. We want people who participate in prize draws to be confident that proportionate protections are in place.

We will be introducing a Voluntary Code for prize draw operators later this year. This Code will provide a uniform approach across the sector to strengthen player protections, increase transparency and improve accountability.

This approach allows us to take swift action collectively with the sector. The success of this code will dictate whether this Government decides that greater regulation may be required, including legislation.

Further information on this can be found in a Written Ministerial Statement published on Thursday 26 June 2025.

The independent research into the prize draws sector was published on 26 June 2026 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-report-online-prize-draws-and-competitions-market-study-assessment-of-harm-and-review-of-potential-interventions). The research gathered views from lottery stakeholders on the perceived impact of the prize draw market on the lotteries sector, including the National Lottery, but did not make a full assessment of this impact.

The Secretary of State and I continue to meet with clubs, leagues, governing bodies, fan groups and many other stakeholders from across the game to discuss the Football Governance Bill. This will continue throughout the Bill’s passage and beyond.

During my last discussion with UEFA on 11 November, we discussed a range of topics including the Football Governance Bill. UEFA expressed no concerns regarding the Bill.