Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield, Hallam)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of offering free TV licences to people who live at home and receive full time care.
Answered by John Whittingdale
TV Licence concessions are available to people who are registered blind or severely sight impaired, and people living in qualifying residential care who are disabled or over 60 years old. The BBC also has responsibility for the over 75s concession which it has restricted to those on pension credit.
There are no further concessions available for people with disabilities or other health conditions, and we are not considering making changes to the current concessions regime at this time.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield, Hallam)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of categorising (a) figure skating, (b) ice hockey and (c) other ice-based sports, as sports rather than as leisure activities.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Sports and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus. The Prime Minister announced a national lockdown on Monday 4 January meaning that indoor facilities including ice rinks must close.
Previously, ice rinks were closed in tier 3 and 4 as they are primarily used for the purpose of entertainment. This is consistent with other venues used for entertainment purposes across the economy which were also closed. To allow those who need to access ice rinks, in tier three, exemptions were made for sport for educational purposes, people with disabilities, supervised activity for under-18s and elite athletes.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield, Hallam)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what public health advice and information led to the decision to designate Body Control Pilates when run by qualified instructors as exercise classes; and what assessment he has made of the effect on public safety of Body Control Pilates classes in tier 3 areas.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The government does not designate individual activities in this way.
Sports and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus.
The Prime Minister announced a national lockdown on Monday 4 January as a response to the rising levels of coronavirus across the country. you can continue to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble. This should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.You should maintain social distancing. Indoor and outdoor sports facilities, including gyms and exercise class studios, must close. These restrictions are expected to last until the end of March if the situation in hospitals improves.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield, Hallam)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of natural heritage organisations being ineligible for National Heritage Lottery funding on biodiversity and conservation.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Natural heritage organisations are eligible for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Since its inception in 1994, the Fund has awarded grants to nearly 4000 land and biodiversity projects, totalling over £1.78 billion.
On 17th July 2020, the Fund announced that grants of £1.19 million have helped to keep Wildlife Trusts in England and Wales open throughout lockdown, providing vital safe spaces for people to get outdoors, exercise and enjoy nature. This includes many grants to projects aimed at biodiversity and conservation, such as a grant of £49,700 to the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust.
Natural heritage organisations are also welcome to apply to the Heritage Emergency Fund, a £50million funding support package launched by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to help organisations in stabilising their operations and managing risks to heritage during the Covid-19 crisis.