Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential financial impact on outdoor visitor attractions, including zoos like Chester Zoo and theme parks like Drayton Manor, from the presentation of weather forecasts that use a single icon to summarise whole-day conditions.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS recognises the vital role outdoor visitor attractions play in the UK’s visitor economy. These sites, ranging from world-leading zoos and theme parks to historic gardens, contribute to regional investment, local employment and often support learning and biodiversity conservation.
At this time, DCMS has not made a specific assessment of the potential financial impact of digital weather forecasting on outdoor visitor attractions. The Government is aware of the concerns raised by the sector regarding how these forecasts can influence visitor behaviour, including the recent campaign led by Chester Zoo.
My department continues to represent the interests of the visitor economy across Government and my officials are engaged on this matter. This includes membership of the Public Weather Service (PWS) Customer Group. This Group has been working closely with the Met Office to strengthen the focus on supporting the outdoor economy, including the visitor economy. More broadly, I remain committed to maintaining a close and constructive dialogue with industry representatives to ensure the visitor economy continues to thrive.
Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the condition of heritage assets in Tamworth constituency.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
Historic England, HM Government's statutory adviser on the historic environment, is responsible for working with all stakeholders to champion historic places and help people to understand, value and care for them. In particular, Historic England has made assessments in relation to Heritage at Risk in Tamworth. There are three entries on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register in the Tamworth constituency:
the Deanery wall at Lower Gungate;
the Church of St John the Baptist; and
the Fazeley and Bonehill Conservation Area.
The Heritage at Risk programme protects and manages the historic environment. Historic England works with owners, friends groups, developers and other stakeholders to find solutions for ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England.
In addition, heritage assets within the Tamworth constituency have benefited from National Heritage Lottery funding totalling £3,553,753 since 1994, including a grant of £555,400 to the scheduled and grade I listed Tamworth Castle in 2016.