Oral Answers to Questions

Olly Glover Excerpts

Thursday 3rd September 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)]

My hon. Friend is a great champion for his city. It was a pleasure to do a sporting visit to his constituency earlier this year. We have a really strong shortlist for the city of culture—and indeed for the town of culture. I look forward to visiting those on the final shortlist in the near future.

[Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD)]

T2. In my Oxfordshire constituency, Challow and Childrey cricket club’s partnership with local state school King Alfred’s Academy is providing cricket opportunities to students who may not otherwise have access to the sport. However, affordability and perceptions of cricket mean that a participation gap remains between state-funded schools and independent schools. What further steps can the Government take to improve opportunities to participate in sport?

[Stephanie Peacock]

Cricket is incredibly popular, and I know how important it is in my own constituency—I visited Worsbrough to see the England and Wales Cricket Board’s schools programme in action. Programmes like that are incredibly important for getting people, and in particular young people, involved and active in sport.