Draft Local Digital Television Programme Services (Amendment) Order 2024
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(1 day, 13 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
I beg to move,
That the Committee has considered the draft Local Digital Television Programme Services (Amendment) Order 2024.
It is a pleasure to open the debate under your chairship, Mr Stringer. I am pleased to speak to the order, which was laid before the House in draft on 5 November.
In just over 10 years since the first service launched, local television continues to provide local content, including news and current affairs, to audiences across the UK, and in so doing to complement our national public service broadcasters. From Sheffield Live and Leeds TV, both of which broadcast in areas neighbouring my Barnsley constituency, to London Live, which broadcasts just a few miles up the road in Kensington, and NVTV in Belfast, there are now 34 local TV services broadcasting across the UK.
I was pleased to meet members of the Local TV Network and Comux last month and hear more about their services and the work they do. Both organisations also sit on the Future of TV Distribution stakeholder forum, which I am pleased to chair. These services bring social and economic benefits to the areas they serve through the making and showing of programmes that reflect the interests of their local communities, but more than that, in a television sector that is all too often centred around London and the south-east, local TV provides a training ground for those looking to embark on a career in the sector. One service, KMTV, has developed a partnership with the University of Kent to train journalism students, while another, Notts TV, has seen former trainees build on that experience and go on to work in the national media.
There are 11 services based in the north of England, five based in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland. All 34 of those services are carried on the local TV multiplex, which enables them to be broadcast on digital terrestrial television, also known as Freeview. The multiplex is operated by Comux UK, which is co-owned by the local TV services themselves. The multiplex plays a central role in the local TV ecosystem by providing subsidised carriages for all the local services.
The local TV sector has not been without its challenges. Some services have struggled to maintain consistent audience numbers and to develop stable revenues from advertising. Last year, the TV advertising market in the UK experienced its biggest decline since the 2008-09 financial crisis. Although all commercially funded broadcasters have been affected, local TV services have been particularly impacted as they have smaller audiences than their national counterparts.
The previous Government made a commitment to extend the local TV multiplex until 2034 and to consult on the options for the renewal or relicensing of the licences for the 34 local TV services. That consultation ran from June to September last year and received responses from existing licence holders, media and telecoms companies, and members of the public. In the consultation, the then Government outlined their preferred approach of a light touch renewal process for the multiplex licence, led by Ofcom, and the conditional renewal of the licences for all 34 local TV services, subject to Ofcom’s assessment of their performance to date and their plans for the next licence period.
Respondents to the consultation were broadly supportive of this approach. Some respondents, particularly current licence holders, raised concerns about the burden this approach may have on licensees. They also emphasised the importance of the renewal process being completed swiftly in order to provide certainty to both the sector and its commercial partners. My Department has taken those responses into account in the drafting of this order, and worked closely with the independent regulator, Ofcom, which will administer the renewals process, to refine its provisions.
A previous version of this order was laid in draft before Parliament on 7 May 2024, but was withdrawn due to the general election. The subsequent delay to the order coming into force meant that Ofcom would not have had the time necessary to conclude the renewals process and, in the event that any of the licences were not renewed, to conduct a competitive relicensing process. The updated order therefore includes additional powers for Ofcom to extend local TV licences, with the consent of current licence holders, by a period of 12 months. The extension will ensure that Ofcom is able to complete the renewals process at least 12 months before the extended licences would otherwise expire.
The order has been considered by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee, which raised no concerns. The Government believe that the approach set out at consultation and provided for by the order gives the sector the best chance for long-term success and sustainability by balancing the certainty and stability of a streamlined renewals process with a proportionate degree of regulatory oversight, which will be provided by Ofcom.
The Government recognise the importance of local media, including local TV. Our vision is of a thriving sector that continues to play an invaluable role by reporting on the issues that matter to communities, and keeping communities informed about local issues and decision making that affects them. The renewal of local TV licences is an important step on that journey, and I commend the draft order to the Committee.
The Chair
I remind members of the Committee, and other Members, that if they wish to catch my eye they must bob, as we do in the Chamber. I call the Opposition spokesperson, Saqib Bhatti.
Stephanie Peacock
It is a pleasure to conclude the debate. I am grateful for the contributions that all Members have made. It is clear that both sides of the House want to see the local TV sector thrive long into the future, and continue to provide valuable news and current affairs content that meets the needs and interests of those living and working in the communities they serve. A number of issues have been raised in the debate, which I will take in turn.
First, the shadow Minister rightly talked about balance, which the Government and I agree with. In my opening remarks, I acknowledged that the majority of the work was carried out under the previous Government. In terms of the process and timescale, which was raised by a number of Members, we will work with Ofcom on any open competition and any future licences. That is incredibly important.
In response to the issue raised by the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East on the 12-month extension, that is the key change from the previous statutory instrument laid on 7 May. TV operators can apply for it if they would like it, and that will make sure there is enough time for the process to take place. We agree on the need for a proportionate process for renewal and will continue to impress this upon Ofcom in discussions.
There were also questions about our wider support for the sector and the local media strategy. The Secretary of State has announced plans to develop a local media strategy in recognition of the importance of this vital sector. We are working across Government as we develop this strategy, because our vision is of a thriving sector that continues to play an invaluable role by reporting on the issues that matter to communities and keeping them informed about the decision making that is relevant to them.
The right hon. Member for Maldon and others asked about the ability of local TV services to make genuinely local content that meets the needs of local audiences. We recognise that sustainable funding of genuinely local content is not without its challenges, but that requirement is central to local TV and the audience it serves, so it is appropriate to consider it as part of the renewal process. Before renewing a licence, Ofcom will need to be satisfied that an applicant can comply with the conditions set out in their licence renewal, which in the case of local TV services will include specific and enforceable local programming commitments.
The Liberal Democrat spokesperson, the hon. Member for Guildford, and the right hon. Member for Maldon and others raised concerns about local TV services not receiving prominence for their on-demand apps as part of the new online prominence regime established in the Media Act. I recall spending many happy hours in Committee with the right hon. Gentleman debating the then Media Bill. I am familiar with his, as he describes it, rather unusual amendment. It is a shame that it was not a Government amendment.
At present, local TV services do not have on-demand apps; as a result, and as the right hon. Gentleman will appreciate, it is difficult to have confidence that such an app would provide significant quantities of public service content which would be put front and centre. Those are the two requirements, as Members will know, of the new prominence regime. None the less, we are aware of the concerns raised by the sector that apps that might be developed in future or are currently being developed would not have the potential to be included in the new online prominence regime, and we are committed to keeping that under review. As I outlined in my opening remarks, we are very aware of the changing nature of television distribution. That is why I am chairing a forum to discuss and explore those issues in further detail.
Earlier this year, Ofcom published a statement following a monitoring exercise and set out in further detail about how it will assess whether a service is meeting its commitments. The conditional renewal of the 34 licences provided for by this order will ensure a proportionate level of regulatory oversight that an automatic renewal process would not. An automatic renewal process would lead only to a period of post-renewal uncertainty, so we think we are doing the right thing in the way that the SI has been constructed and laid.
As I said earlier, it will be Ofcom that administers the renewal process. To ensure that licence holders understand what is required of them, Ofcom published a statement last month outlining how it will run the renewal process and what applicants will need to do to have their licences extended and renewed. This has ensured that local licence holders have sufficient time to familiarise themselves with the requirements and can begin preparing their applications before the legislation comes into force.
Renewing the local TV licences will ensure that local TV services receive the same regulatory benefits that they have received since 2013. Services will continue to receive access to and prominence on Freeview as well as on regulated electronic programme guides for simulcast satellite, cable and internet-delivered TV services. It will also mean that local TV is able to continue to make its important contribution by providing pathways for the next generation of journalists and broadcasters to take their first steps in the television industry up and down the country. This is particularly important in a sector where, despite some positive progress in recent years, opportunities are still disproportionately concentrated in London and the south-east.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has made one of her top priorities increasing opportunities in the creative industries across the whole of the UK, including in the TV sector, and we recognise the role that local TV can play in helping to achieve that. I am grateful to Members for their contributions and the interest they have shown in the continued provision of local television across the UK.
Question put and agreed to.
BBC Charter Review
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(1 day, 13 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
I am pleased to respond to this debate, and I congratulate the hon. Member for East Londonderry (Mr Campbell) on securing it. The debate is a good opportunity to discuss the upcoming charter review, which we intend to launch next year. He has raised a number of important areas related to the BBC, which I will respond to, but I would first like to make a few broad points about the contribution that the BBC makes to the UK.
The BBC supports our democracy, brings our communities together and helps to shape and define our nation through telling stories about the lives of people in all parts of the UK. It also plays an important role in providing trusted news as the UK’s most trusted news brand, reaching around 95% of UK adults each month. It is one of Britain’s biggest cultural exports and an important soft power asset, with the BBC World Service providing essential, trustworthy news through 42 language services to millions of people across the globe. That is a topic I was pleased to discuss today while giving evidence to the joint sitting of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee and the International Development Committee. Indeed, I see one of the Committee members in the Chamber right now.
The BBC has provided some of our most memorable moments across television, representing stories from every part of the UK. It acts as a linchpin in the UK’s flourishing creative economy, investing in the skills, training and creativity that drive growth across all regions of the UK. Last year, it contributed £4.9 billion to the UK economy and supported over 50,000 jobs, with more than half of this impact outside London, and it invests more in original British content than anyone else.
I shall move on to some of the points the hon. Member raised. I note his view on increasing the accountability of the BBC as part of the charter review, and it is important that we get this area right. The charter review will explore BBC accountability, particularly in terms of ensuring that the BBC is accountable to those who fund it: the British people. As a public service broadcaster that is hugely important to public life, the BBC must be responsive to its audience. The BBC has a duty to deliver impartial and accurate news coverage and content under the charter, which specifically sets out that it must observe high standards of openness and seek to maximise transparency and accountability.
Since 2017, Ofcom has regulated the BBC and has taken action to make sure that it is held to account. Ofcom is required to prepare and publish an operating framework for the BBC, which must contain provisions to secure the effective regulation of the BBC’s activities.
Under the BBC’s new operating licence, introduced last year, the BBC is required to report more comprehensively on its performance and its plans for services. The Government welcome Ofcom’s recent report into the BBC’s performance in 2023-24 and note its findings, including where Ofcom has identified areas of improvement for the BBC. It is for Ofcom, as the BBC’s independent regulator, to monitor the BBC’s progress in these areas. The charter also includes provision for the National Audit Office to examine the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which the BBC uses its resources in discharging its functions.
The hon. Gentleman spoke about commissioning. A key principle of the BBC’s success is its editorial and operational independence, which must be upheld. That is why decisions on commissioning and programming are for the BBC board, not for the Government. Being operationally and editorially independent, BBC commissioning is rightly a matter for the BBC. It is not within the Government’s scope to intervene in day-to-day commissioning decisions, but the charter requires the BBC to open up content production to allow non-BBC producers to compete for BBC projects. By the end of the current charter in 2027, 100% of BBC television and 60% of BBC radio will be fully open to competition to support a diverse range of stories and views on the BBC.
Mr Gregory Campbell
The Minister talks about the BBC needing to open up contracts to non-BBC personnel. Does she accept that this needs to be seen to be done on an equitable and fair basis, so that people beyond the reach of the BBC, as well as internals, have an equal opportunity to bid for contracts?
Stephanie Peacock
Yes, I do accept that, and it is something we can look at as part of the charter review. Of course, Ofcom, as the BBC’s independent regulator, holds the BBC to account on its performance and its commissioning practices, and on the market impact of those.
The hon. Gentleman mentioned BBC pay, which I appreciate is a matter of debate and controversy. The royal charter requires the BBC, as he rightly said, to publish the salary details of all BBC staff and talent paid over £178,000. Salary disclosures of this kind were made for the first time as part of the 2016-17 annual report. The salaries of BBC staff are also a matter for the BBC and the individuals themselves, not for Government. However, the charter review will look again at the transparency of this issue.
Jim Shannon
In my intervention on my hon. Friend the Member for East Londonderry (Mr Campbell), I referred to impartiality and BBC bias. Many of my constituents feel that the BBC is not impartial. Under the charter, is it possible for people to express such concerns, and for those concerns to be investigated?
Stephanie Peacock
Of course, and there is a complaints procedure right now. A complaint goes to the BBC first, and it can then be escalated. If the hon. Gentleman’s constituents are not happy, they can then go to Ofcom. As part of the charter review, it is absolutely right that all members of the public can have their say. We will be launching a public consultation so that his constituents, and indeed people across the country, can have their say, because we want the BBC to represent the people it serves.
Next year, the Government will launch a charter review with the aim of addressing some of the challenges we are discussing today and delivering a renewed charter by the end of 2027 that will support the BBC not just to survive but to thrive long into the future. This will be the ninth charter review in the BBC’s history. It will be an opportunity to consider what the BBC is for, how it delivers for audiences and how it should be funded, governed and regulated against a rapidly changing media environment. The charter review will also look to uphold the BBC’s independence and ensure that it maintains the public’s trust.
Charter review is a well-established process, and our next step will be to publish the terms of reference next year, setting out the objectives we wish to achieve. We will ensure that we take all relevant views into account as part of the review. With that in mind, next summer we will also launch a public consultation, as part of which we will encourage everyone to share evidence. We need to have a truly national conversation and ensure that the BBC is reflective of the people it serves, wherever they come from and whatever their background. Once we have consulted widely, considered the views of stakeholders and assessed the evidence, we will outline our policy direction for the next BBC charter in a White Paper in 2026.
There will also be an opportunity to place a draft charter before both Houses before the current charter expires in 2027. The devolved Governments will be a key part of the conversation and I look forward to visiting Northern Ireland in the coming months. I have met the Northern Ireland Minister for Communities online, and I welcome further conversations with my devolved counterparts.
As we address vital issues about the future of the BBC, we must ensure that there is a sustainable funding model that is fair to those who pay for it. We will consider that area as part of the upcoming charter review. The media landscape has changed radically since the current charter was introduced in 2017, and the BBC faces key challenges to its sustainability. We cannot ignore the fact that the challenges to the funding model in its current form are increasing, and we are fully committed to retaining the licence fee for the rest of this charter period. However, for the BBC to succeed, it must have sustainable funding to allow it to adapt and thrive in a changing media landscape.
We are clear that what the BBC does and what it can achieve are inextricably tied to how it is funded, and those issues should be considered together. The charter review will be an important part of making sure that the BBC is supported to do that. The Government are keeping an open mind about the best solutions. As my Department’s work progresses, we will be working closely with the BBC and engaging with other broadcasters, stakeholders across the creative industries and the British public to inform our thinking.
While audience trends are changing, there are still millions of households that continue to rely on digital terrestrial television, also known as Freeview. I am glad to say that the continuity of the technology has been secured in legislation until at least 2034. The need to maintain traditional broadcasting platforms, at the same time as there is a shift to online viewing, is resulting in more choice for audiences, but it is creating financial pressures for our broadcasters, including the BBC.
Our project on the future of TV distribution will explore those issues. We will analyse how people receive their television programmes now, and through the next decade. It will help us to ensure the continuity of a sustainable TV ecosystem and the best outcome for audiences. As part of the project, I am glad to be chairing a new stakeholder forum on the future of TV distribution, allowing me to hear from TV stakeholders, including the BBC, infrastructure providers and groups that represent the interests of audiences. I will, of course, raise the issue of TV distribution when I next meet my counterparts in the devolved Governments.
The charter review provides us with an exciting opportunity to engage the widest possible range of voices on the future of the BBC. The Government are committed to having a truly national conversation as part of the charter review. It will be an honest, supportive and respectful debate that can give the public confidence in their BBC. We will provide more details on what that looks like and how stakeholders can contribute their views in due course, when we launch the review next year. The hon. Member for East Londonderry has contributed to that national conversation today, and for that I thank him.
Question put and agreed to.
Leisure Services: West Lancashire
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(2 weeks, 1 day ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Harris. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire (Ashley Dalton) on securing this important debate. The public leisure sector plays an important role in the delivery of sport, physical activity and leisure across the country. It does that through vital community assets and infrastructure, such as swimming pools, sports halls, pitches and community spaces. Those assets can help to create a sense of pride in place and can improve community cohesion, whether through team sports, gym classes or children’s swimming lessons. We know they help to address and prevent long-term health inequalities, both mental and physical. They help to combat loneliness, grow the local economy, and provide jobs and purpose.
My hon. Friend knows that, and she has made a powerful and passionate case for leisure facilities in her constituency. By securing the debate, she has illustrated her commitment. She has met with and spoken to her local council, which I understand is facing significant pressures after the past 14 years, about the issue. While local authorities are responsible for decisions on sport and leisure provision in their areas, we recognise the challenges they face. I will ensure that the specific points raised about the financial position of West Lancashire borough council are brought to the attention of my ministerial colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as they look at the 2025-26 local government finance settlement.
My hon. Friend made some important points about swimming lessons. Swimming is a mandatory part of the primary physical education national curriculum. I will always remember my headteacher at primary school, Mr Kenny, saying that we all have to learn to swim because we live on an island. That stayed with me and I was lucky enough to have swimming lessons. As a former teacher, and as I look around my own constituency in Barnsley, I understand the importance of swimming lessons. The Department for Education works in partnership with Swim England, the Royal Life Saving Society UK and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to support schools to teach children how to swim and to know how to be safe in and around water. I will make sure my hon. Friend’s comments are reflected to that Department.
That said, my Department is responsible for the overall approach to leisure provision across the country. We work closely with Sport England, the Government’s arm’s length body for community sport, to invest more than £250 million of national lottery and Government money annually into some of the most deprived areas of the country to help to increase physical activity levels.
Since 2021, more than £5 million of funding has been invested by Sport England in the West Lancashire constituency. The Government recognise that high-quality, inclusive facilities help to ensure everyone has access to sport. We will continue to support grassroots sport, including the multi-sport grassroots facilities programme, which will bring about £123 million of investment across the UK this year.
Sport and physical activity are central to preventive health, and the biggest health gain comes from supporting those who are inactive, or less active, to move more. Around 28% of people in West Lancashire are inactive. We still want to see that figure come down. Physical activity interventions contribute an immense saving to the NHS by preventing 900,000 cases of diabetes and 93,000 cases of dementia every year. We are committed to working across Government to champion the role of physical activity in preventive health, ensuring it is a key part of the Government’s health mission. For public leisure that means looking at facilities’ potential to support communities on health needs in particular. We are looking at how co-location between sport and health services could help inactive groups. Sport England has taken a place-based investment approach, working with local authorities and active partnerships to encourage system-wide change.
I recently saw that in action in Essex, where local council leaders are working in partnership with Active Essex, local health services and leisure providers to knit services together. They are building strong links between health and leisure sectors, including co-locating services so that people have easy access to a wide range of physical activity opportunities. This means that people with, for example, long-term health conditions can access activities not only to improve their physical health, but that are fun and social as well. In some cases they contribute to getting people back into work.
I have seen the impact of leisure facilities in my own Barnsley South constituency. Your Space Hoyland, which I have visited a number of times, provides swimming, football, badminton, netball, basketball and a gym. The centre is not for profit and reinvests the money that it makes back into facilities. It is also home to a fantastic holiday activities and food programme in the summer, putting leisure at the forefront of the community. Sport and physical activity have a way of bringing people together—we all know that. There are multiple examples of similar work around the country.
GoodGym, for example, is adapting to tackle the increase in isolation and loneliness by offering opportunities to combine physical exercise with volunteering and providing ongoing support to individuals. As the Minister with responsibility for tackling loneliness, I am keen to see what more the Government can do in this space. I recently held a roundtable with organisations working on loneliness, and we will work to drive further progress over the coming months. More broadly, my Department will continue to look at ways to support such thinking as we look ahead to future policy around leisure facilities.
We appreciate the huge contribution that public leisure makes to health and wellbeing. We recognise the benefits of getting people active. My Department will continue to work with the sector to look at ways that health, wellbeing and leisure facilities can work more closely together and support people across the country.
My hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire has made an important contribution today, championing her area, and I thank her for that.
Question put and agreed to.
Oral Answers to Questions
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(2 weeks, 6 days ago)
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Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills) (Con)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
As set out in a written ministerial statement yesterday, the Government will introduce a statutory levy on gambling operators, which was a commitment made as part of the gambling White Paper in 2023. Society lotteries will be charged the levy at the lowest rate of 0.1%. I know that they are a vital fundraising tool for many charities, community groups and sports clubs up and down the country.
Wendy Morton
I refer the House to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. The Minister clearly recognises, as we all do, the contribution that society lotteries make to our constituencies through various organisations. Does she recognise that not-for-profit society lotteries will have to fund any levy due from their charitable return, which the sector, and I think many of us, feel amounts to a charity tax?
Stephanie Peacock
My understanding was that the levy came after the money had gone to good causes, but I am not the Gambling Minister, who sits in the other place. I will happily arrange a meeting for the right hon. Member with the Gambling Minister.
Sonia Kumar (Dudley) (Lab)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
The Government are committing to ensure that the community wealth fund delivers meaningful benefits across England. That is why we have allocated £87.5 million of dormant assets funding towards it. We will set out our position on the key design principles of the community wealth fund shortly.
Sonia Kumar
Given that Russells Hall in Dudley ranks on the local index in the top 2% of areas with the greatest need and that nearly half of working-age residents rely on benefits, will the Minister confirm what steps the Government will be taking to target places like mine that are doubly disadvantaged?
Stephanie Peacock
I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I know Dudley well, and I know that she is a strong advocate for the area she represents. I reassure her that the Government are committed to supporting those places in need through the community wealth fund. We are working at pace on the details and delivery of the fund and will set out the next steps in due course.
Nick Timothy (West Suffolk) (Con)
Imran Hussain (Bradford East) (Ind)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
Grassroots sports make a huge contribution to communities up and down the country, providing sport and physical activity opportunities, and a chance to socialise and learn new skills while supporting people’s health and wellbeing. The Government are supporting people to get active through our £123 million multi-sport grassroots facilities programme.
Imran Hussain
Grassroots boxing gyms, like many grassroots sports, offer their local communities unparalleled benefits. They are community hubs, they build skills and confidence and become safe spaces for young people to grow their talent. As chair of the all-party parliamentary group on boxing, I was delighted to launch two reports earlier this year that highlighted its huge social benefits. Unfortunately, these gyms remain very unfunded and rely almost entirely on the goodwill of volunteers. Will the Minister meet me and the all-party parliamentary group to discuss including dedicated grassroots funding in the sports strategy?
Stephanie Peacock
I know the hon. Gentleman is a huge advocate for boxing, and I was pleased to speak with him about it a few weeks ago. I have seen at first hand the impact that boxing can have. England Boxing was given £6.8 million by Sport England in 2022. I would be delighted to meet him to discuss the issue further.
Dame Caroline Dinenage (Gosport) (Con)
The Minister knows that grassroots sports provide enormous health, economic, welfare and community benefits. That is why today, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee is launching an inquiry that we are calling “Game On” into community, grassroots and school sports, and the interventions needed to improve them. What conversations is the Minister having with her counterpart in the Department for Education about how to work collaboratively to build a lifelong love and passion for sport, given the benefits for young people’s health and wellbeing?
Stephanie Peacock
I am incredibly grateful to the Chair of the Select Committee for that important question. We work closely with the Department for Education; I chaired a roundtable with the Schools Minister on grass- roots sport and how to get sport into schools. I also convened a meeting on women’s sport, where representatives from the Department for Education were present. I would be delighted to discuss it further, and I know the Secretary of State would, too.
Natasha Irons (Croydon East) (Lab)
Jodie Gosling (Nuneaton) (Lab)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
As set out following the Euro 2024 final, the Government are committed to supporting grassroots football clubs and facilities. The Government are investing £123 million this year to deliver pitches for grassroots football across the UK. Alongside that, the Government are supporting the Football Association’s ambition to double the number of three-star community clubs across the country.
Jodie Gosling
I thank the Minister for her detailed answer, and for all the work the Government are doing to support grassroots football. We have many grassroots football clubs in my constituency, including Nuneaton Town and Nuneaton Griff, and we understand their importance and contribution to the town. Both clubs have struggled recently, especially in securing a ground; they have to share one with their competitors in Bedworth. While we appreciate their hospitality, we would like to meet Ministers to talk about how to bring football home to Nuneaton.
Stephanie Peacock
I recognise the huge contribution to communities made by grassroots clubs such as the ones my hon. Friend has mentioned; I have seen that at first hand in my constituency in Barnsley. I appreciate the number of challenges those clubs face, and I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss the options available.
Mr Andrew Snowden (Fylde) (Con)
Grassroots football is supported by medium and large community-based football clubs, such as AFC Fylde in my constituency, Chorley FC in your constituency, Mr Speaker, and Wigan Athletic in the Secretary of State’s constituency. Wigan sadly posted a £13 million loss for the last financial year. How does the Secretary of State think the club can make itself more financially resilient, given the significant impact that the need to pay national insurance contributions will have on their finances?
Stephanie Peacock
The hon. Gentleman raises an important point. That is why we are continuing the work of the previous Government by introducing our own Football Governance Bill to hopefully put football on a sustainable footing.
Rosie Wrighting (Kettering) (Lab)
Kettering Town FC are currently the leading FA cup goal scorers, and are in the second round of the men’s FA cup on Sunday. Will the Minister join me in wishing the Poppies the very best of luck in that game? What steps is she taking to improve the financial resilience of local clubs such as Kettering Town FC?
Stephanie Peacock
I will of course put on record that I wish the team good luck and send them my huge thanks and congratulations. The work that we are doing to support grassroots football, through our multi-sport grassroots facilities programme, will hopefully grow the grassroots game.
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)
The Minister will be aware that there is a sub-regional stadia strategy in Northern Ireland. Will she have discussions with my colleague, the Minister for Communities in Northern Ireland, to see what assistance, information and additional resources can be deployed to ensure there is widespread development of grassroots football in Northern Ireland?
Stephanie Peacock
I have previously had discussions with my counterpart in Northern Ireland and I will be delighted to do so again. I am hoping to visit Northern Ireland in the coming months.
Ben Goldsborough (South Norfolk) (Lab)
Lincoln Jopp (Spelthorne) (Con)
The Minister with responsibility for sport graciously met me to discuss the future of London Irish in my Spelthorne constituency, and she undertook to ensure that the club would get the meeting with Sport England that it so desperately desired. Can the Minister give us an update?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
I was grateful to the hon. Gentleman for coming to speak to me about this issue. I will speak to my officials and make sure that we approach Sport England very speedily.
Alison Hume (Scarborough and Whitby) (Lab)
I would like to highlight the richly deserved King’s award for voluntary service that has been given to the 60 volunteers at Newby and Scalby library in Scarborough. The library’s services are innovative, including a summer reading challenge for children, an IT buddy service and a garden growing produce. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating Newby and Scalby library on its award, and on the enormous contribution that it makes to our community in Scarborough?
Statutory Gambling Levy and Online Slots Stake Limit
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(3 weeks ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
I am repeating the following written ministerial statement made today in the other place by my noble Friend the Minister for Gambling, Baroness Twycross:
I wish to inform the House that His Majesty’s Government have today published their response to the public consultation entitled “Consultation on the structure, distribution and governance of the statutory levy on gambling operators”.
The current funding system for research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harms reliant on voluntary donations from industry is no longer fit for purpose. While the industry’s significant uplift in the level of donations in recent years is welcome, we recognise that the quantum of funding is not the only requirement for an effective and equitable system.
That is why we are taking the decision to introduce a statutory levy as a priority, in line with our manifesto commitment to reduce gambling harms. The levy will be paid by operators and collected and administered by the Gambling Commission under the strategic direction of the Government. Today’s publication represents a significant change to funding and commissioning arrangements. It will deliver increased and trusted investment directed where it is needed most. This will further strengthen the evidence base to inform policy, and build an effective prevention and treatment system across the country. We want the public to be better aware of the risks of gambling, and for anyone suffering from gambling harms to access timely and effective support when and where they need it.
The Government will implement the statutory levy as follows:
The structure of the levy
The levy will be charged at a set rate for all holders of a Gambling Commission operating licence, depending on the sector. In recognition of the higher rates of problem gambling associated with products online compared to most land-based products, as well as the higher operating costs in the land-based sector, the levy will see online operators pay more towards research, prevention and treatment. The levy will be introduced via secondary legislation and ensure critical funding is flowing to priority projects and services in the next financial year.
We have had clear commitments from industry that operators will maintain their voluntary financial contributions to research, prevention and treatment under the current regime, especially to support the National Gambling Support Network, until the levy is in force. This consultation response should provide sufficient notice to licensees of our approach and ultimately delivers simplicity for all parts of the new system.
The distribution of the levy
The levy will be collected by the Gambling Commission, as above. To maximise the input of world-leading expertise and authority across our public bodies in the future system, the Gambling Commission will allocate funding to a commissioning lead for each of the research, prevention and treatment pillars:
Research will be allocated 20% of levy funding, and will be overseen by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to deliver a bespoke Research Programme on Gambling, and to the Gambling Commission to direct further research in line with the licensing objectives;
Prevention will be allocated 30% of levy funding to develop a comprehensive approach to prevention and early intervention with the lead organisation as yet to be decided. However, further consideration of the evidence is needed in order to appoint a lead commissioning body in this crucial and novel area for the Government’s approach to tackling gambling-related harm.
Treatment will be allocated 50% of levy funding and be overseen by NHS England, and appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales, to commission the full treatment pathway, from referral and triage through to aftercare.
I recognise that many of those interested in this area have been expecting the Government’s final decisions on all aspects of the design of the future levy system, especially regarding prevention on which we consulted broadly. Ultimately, prevention is a crucial part of the Government’s efforts to further reduce gambling-related harm and it is important we take the time to get this right.
However, the statutory instrument introducing the levy is silent on the distribution of levy funding, and our overriding priority is to meet our commitment to having the levy in place by the summer.
That is why we are seeking to publish this initial response and progress the legislative process. We will continue to work at pace to finalise our decisions on prevention soon. Our aim is to publish a further response document in the coming months and I will update the House in due course.
The governance of the levy
A Gambling Levy Programme Board will be established to be the central oversight mechanism for the Government. This will bring together key Government Departments, including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, HM Treasury, the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It will also include representatives from the Scottish and Welsh Governments to ensure the levy is making an impact on the ground.
Alongside the board, a Gambling Levy Advisory Group will be established to provide expert advice on funding priorities and emerging issues in support of commissioning bodies’ efforts to deliver on the Government’s objectives. We will conduct a formal review of the levy system within five years, where the structure and health of the levy system will be assessed and adjustments can be made to ensure we are achieving our aims.
Policy impact
While we expect the statutory levy will have some financial impact on gambling operators, we think these are necessary and proportionate. The levy will increase the independence of spending and Government oversight regarding commissioning decisions. It will play an important part in the Government’s wider aim to have a better informed and protected public when it comes to gambling-related harms. This investment will also ensure the Government and the Gambling Commission have the robust evidence needed to strike the right balance between freedom and protection as new challenges arise.
The publication today is further evidence of the Government’s continued commitment to tackling gambling-related harm. We want to ensure that people across our country can access trusted and quality information, support and treatment when it comes to gambling-related harms. We believe that the introduction of the statutory levy is a crucial step in meeting these aims. I will place a copy of the response to the consultation in the Libraries of both Houses.
Stake limits for online slots
Online slots are a higher-risk gambling product, associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play. However, unlike land-based gaming machines which offer broadly similar games, they have no statutory stake limits. The Gambling Act Review White Paper, published on 27 April 2023 under the previous Government, committed to addressing the risk posed to players by these theoretically limitless online slots stakes. I wish to inform the House that His Majesty’s Government intend to proceed with the introduction of stake limits for online slots through a statutory instrument.
A consultation was run from 26 July to 4 October 2023 that invited views on a stake limit for online slots games of £2, £5, £10 or £15 per spin. It also outlined options for additional protections for those aged 18 to 24 through a £2 limit, a £4 limit, or specific protections on a case-by-case basis. Ministers have considered the consultation and available evidence and the Government have decided to introduce stake limits of £5 per spin for adults aged 25 and over. We will also introduce a statutory maximum limit of £2 per spin for young adults aged 18 to 24 years old, whom the evidence suggests can be particularly vulnerable to harms associated with high stakes play.
These stake limits will be subject to an implementation period. This means that, following debates in Parliament, operators will have six weeks from the day the statutory instrument is made by the Minister to implement the £5 limit and a further six weeks to implement the £2 limit.
The introduction of these stake limits is proportionate and is a key step in achieving the Government’s objective of reducing gambling-related harms. Importantly, these changes bring online slot games in line with existing restrictions on slot machines in casinos. These limits are also aligned with the recommendation made by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s second report of Session 2023-24, “Gambling regulation”, published in December 2023.
[HCWS253]
Media Mergers Regime
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(1 month, 1 week ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
The Government are committed to a pluralistic media landscape, where citizens are able to access information from a range of sources in order to form opinions. The public’s ability to access a wide range of news, views and information about the world in which we live is central to the health of our democracy.
The Enterprise Act 2002 gives the Secretary of State (Lisa Nandy) the power to intervene in media mergers if she believes one or more public interest considerations may be relevant. The Secretary of State may ultimately order a media merger to be blocked or unwound if she decides that it has operated or may be expected to operate against the public interest.
However, the media landscape has changed significantly since the Enterprise Act became law more than two decades ago. The world has changed; Ofcom’s news consumption survey, published in September 2024, shows over two thirds (71%) of UK adults now access news online. It is essential that our regimes move with the times, are fit for purpose, and are future-proofed to protect the availability of a wide range of accurate and high-quality news, particularly for younger audiences, as technology and news habits evolve.
To reflect the way news is increasingly consumed and the need to protect the freedom of the press as a cornerstone of democracy, I am today launching a six-week technical public consultation on expanding the legislation governing media mergers, to allow the Secretary of State to intervene in mergers involving a wider range of print news publications, online news publications and news programmes. This follows advice from Ofcom as part of its 2021 statement on the future of media plurality.
The consultation will seek views from industry, Parliament, and the public, on whether our proposed updates to the regime achieve our desired effects.
[HCWS191]
Scotland’s Architectural Heritage
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(1 month, 1 week ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Efford. I am pleased to respond to this debate on the Government’s behalf. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Torcuil Crichton) on securing it.
The Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda and Ogmore (Chris Bryant), would ordinarily have replied to this debate, but unfortunately has another parliamentary engagement. However, I will be sure to reflect the content of this debate to him. I know that it is an issue close to his heart, as his mother studied at Glasgow School of Art. My hon. Friend the Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar rightly paid tribute to the many who have studied there and the wider impact that the school has had.
First, I would like to express my great admiration for all those involved in the rebuild and restoration of the Glasgow School of Art’s Mackintosh building after the two terrible fires in 2014 and 2018, and the school’s commitment to a faithful reinstatement of the iconic building. As a pioneer of the modernist style, Mackintosh’s innovative approach to form and function provides an important contribution to the architectural heritage of Glasgow and beyond.
I know the fire and damage to the building captured the hearts of people across Scotland, as well as celebrities such as Peter Capaldi, who spearheaded the appeal for funding. I am also aware that the Scottish Parliament debated this issue in 2019, where the impacts on the local community and businesses were emphasised.
As my hon. Friend the Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar will be aware, the UK Government committed £10 million to help restore the damaged building following the 2014 fire. Like all of us present, I hope to see it returned to a working art school at the heart of Glasgow’s creative and cultural community.
Heritage is of course a devolved matter, and the Scottish Government have power over their policies and funding in Scotland. Some 25 years on from the devolution settlement introduced by the previous Labour Government, I am proud to support the principles behind devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, this Government and Historic England, our statutory agency for heritage, work closely with Historic Environment Scotland, Cadw in Wales and the Historic Environment division of the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland to support our heritage across the UK. We also work closely with our heritage arm’s length bodies to promote and protect the UK’s diverse and priceless heritage. This is the approach that the UK Government have taken, and will continue to take to support the restoration of the Mackintosh building.
In terms of the existing routes and channels through which funding for heritage in the UK is delivered, DCMS delivers two UK-wide funding programmes—the listed places of worship grant scheme and the memorial grant scheme. They fund heritage in places of worship and charities across the country. Unfortunately, that means that neither of the programmes would be appropriate for the restoration. DCMS’s arm’s length bodies deliver the most significant support for the wider heritage sector, and I encourage my hon. Friend to speak to them in relation to the Glasgow School of Art’s work on rebuilding the Mackintosh building.
First, my hon. Friend may wish to consider an application for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Since 1994, the fund has awarded more than £970 million of national lottery and other funding to 5,000 projects in Scotland. The Heritage Fund previously provided a grant of £4.7 million in 2005 to the Glasgow School of Art, which saw original features of the building restored and unsympathetic additions removed. The grant also allowed for conservation work on the school’s collections, encouraging visitor access to all its heritage assets. Later, in 2017, it provided a grant of £3.5 million to the restoration of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Willow Tea Rooms building at 217 Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow. This year, Glasgow was selected as one of the first 11 priority places to receive a share of £200 million through the Heritage Fund’s heritage places initiative. This began with a grant of £350,000 to Glasgow Life to plan and develop a cultural heritage district on the city’s iconic Sauchiehall Street. Given that, although the decision would be for the Heritage Fund, I hope that my hon. Friend will consider an application.
Secondly, I highlight the National Heritage Memorial Fund as a source of UK-wide heritage funding that may be appropriate in relation to the Mackintosh building. It has historically dedicated funds to save Scottish architectural heritage; notably, this year, it gave a grant of £5.3 million to save Mavisbank House just outside Edinburgh. I encourage my hon. Friend to speak to the fund about the available options. Finally, he may wish to encourage an application to the Architectural Heritage Fund, with which DCMS works closely. It has helped to bring the new Galloway town hall in Dumfries and Galloway into community ownership by providing successive project viability and development grants of between £5,000 and £10,000. This project in particular highlights how we can empower local communities to take ownership of their heritage by bringing neglected historic buildings back into use.
Whether providing funding via our existing grant programmes or through our arm’s length bodies, we want to ensure that people’s access to heritage and other creative industries is not limited by where they live or how much they earn. From the Isles of Scilly to the Western Isles, DCMS is committed to making that ambition a reality. Put simply, it is the ambition of this Government to support organisations and individuals who protect our heritage and encourage access for all. We want to use that heritage to attract tourists from around the world, providing jobs in local communities and boosting growth, and of course we want to see that happen across Scotland and throughout the UK. We know that restoring and maintaining heritage assets of all shapes and sizes is an investment into community and helps to boost the local economy. Ensuring that everyone has access to these assets brings a renewed sense of pride and commitment to the area. As well as creating social cohesion and inclusion in local communities, heritage plays an important role in supporting wellbeing and quality of life.
This debate reminds us of the wealth and value of Scotland’s architectural heritage, including the historic Mackintosh building, and why it is so important to ensure that we all have access to it. Although this is a devolved matter, I have highlighted how this Government and our arm’s length bodies play a vital role in supporting Scotland’s architectural heritage. We are open and willing to facilitate conversations with organisations such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the National Heritage Memorial Fund to expedite the restoration of the Mackintosh building, as my hon. Friend the Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar rightly and passionately outlined. I will relay the contents of this debate and his ask to the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda and Ogmore, and I am sure that he will do everything he can to work with him. As we look to the future, this Government will continue to work with the Scottish Government and all the devolved Administrations to ensure that the UK’s heritage is protected and accessible to all.
Question put and agreed to.
Local Digital Television Programme Services (Amendment) Order 2024
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(1 month, 1 week ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
The Government have today laid in draft the Local Digital Television Programme Services (Amendment) Order 2024. This statutory instrument will give Ofcom new powers to renew the licences for the local TV multiplex and the 34 local TV services until 2034. The current licences are due to expire in November 2025.
A previous version of this statutory instrument was laid in draft on 7 May 2024. However it was subsequently withdrawn as delays caused by the general election meant that it was no longer possible to take forward the renewal process provided for by the order. The updated draft includes additional powers for Ofcom to extend the licences for a period of 12 months, subject to the consent of the licence holder, before renewing them. This will ensure Ofcom has sufficient time to conduct the renewal process before the licences would otherwise expire.
This Government are committed to supporting a thriving local media, and in particular the role it plays in providing trusted and accurate news at a local level. However, we are aware of the challenges it faces in the context of a rapidly changing industry landscape. We want local media, including local TV, to survive and thrive long into the future. That is why we are taking steps to ensure the continuity of local TV services until at least 2034 so that audiences, and the sector more widely, can continue to benefit from the valuable local news and content that they provide.
[HCWS186]
Internet Television Equipment Regulations 2024
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(1 month, 3 weeks ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
The Media Act 2024, which received Royal Assent on 24 May, introduces a new online prominence regime. The regime will require particular TV platforms, referred to in the Act as “regulated television selection services”, to give prominence to designated public service broadcaster services—referred to as “designated internet programme services”.
Today the Government have laid the first statutory instrument that will start the implementation process of the new regime.
In particular, these regulations specify which categories of TV devices are to be considered as “internet television equipment” for the purposes of this new prominence framework. This is the first step required to start the designation process.
The next step is for a further set of regulations to be developed, following advice from Ofcom, and establishing which television selection services—used in conjunction with internet television equipment—should be regulated under the new prominence regime.
The purpose of this approach is to ensure that regulation is both targeted and proportionate, and, in particular, that only those devices used by a significant number of UK viewers as a main way of accessing TV will be captured.
The regulations laid today specify smart TVs and streaming devices, including set-top boxes and streaming sticks, as internet television equipment.
However, the Government recognise that, as viewing habits change and new technology emerges, the devices considered internet television equipment may change in the future. Therefore, we will review the list a year after implementation to ensure that it remains fit for purpose.
The Internet Television Equipment Regulations 2024 have been published and can be viewed online at
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1056/contents/made
An accompanying policy statement can be viewed online at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prominence-specifying-internet-television-equipment-a-policy-statement
[HCWS166]
Horseracing
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(1 month, 3 weeks ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Edward. I begin by referring to the Register of Members’ Financial Interests, having taken part in a charity bet earlier this year and attended Donny races this time last year. I congratulate the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Nick Timothy) on securing this important debate on the future of and support for horseracing. I congratulate him and my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool Walton (Dan Carden) on being elected co-chairs of the all-party group; the Department looks forward to working with them.
We have heard from hon. Members on both sides of the House, and the shadow Minister did an excellent job of listing all the places, so I will not repeat them. Instead, I will speak about the issue in broad terms before addressing some of the specific points made by the hon. Member for West Suffolk and others.
His Majesty’s Government recognise the significant contribution that racing makes to British culture and its particular importance to the British economy. As has been rightly mentioned, it plays a central role in the livelihood of many different communities. I am well aware from my time as the shadow Minister for Gambling of the strength of support on both sides of the House for horseracing, and of the concern around its finances. In February, I took part in a Westminster Hall debate on that subject, prompted by a petition signed by more than 100,000 people. Horseracing is a powerhouse industry that supports employment across racecourses, training yards, breeding operations and related sectors, and is respected at home and abroad.
Horseracing is the second-biggest sport in the UK in terms of attendance. According to the British Horseracing Authority, racing is worth more than £4 billion annually to the economy in direct, indirect and associated expenditure. British racing and breeding enjoy a reputation as a global leader and is promoted worldwide as part of the “GREAT Britain & Northern Ireland” campaign, recognising the cultural and economic importance of horseracing to the UK and the role it plays as a soft power asset.
I will outline the measures that the Government are taking to protect horseracing and its valuable economic and cultural contribution. I will also take this opportunity to highlight the importance of the horserace betting levy, which has been mentioned a number of times. Given the long-standing acknowledgment of the symbiotic relationship between racing and betting, racing is the only sport with a direct levy that is overseen by the Government. The levy is therefore our most direct lever for supporting the sport, but it needs to reflect the common interests of both sides of the relationship.
The Horserace Betting Levy Board collects the levy, as Members know, and applies the money raised for one or more of the following purposes: supporting breeds of horses; the advancement or encouragement of veterinary science and education; and the improvement of horseracing. The largest proportion of the levy is used to support prize money; in fact, prize money is a means of injecting funds into the wider racing ecosystem through the employment of trainers, jockeys, work riders and a whole host of people in over 500 training yards who are involved in caring for horses and putting on race days.
The ability of prize money to cover the costs of training is a key consideration for owners deciding to enter and remain in the industry. This is seen in the board’s recent announcements that it has budgeted to contribute £72.7 million to prize money for racing fixtures in 2025—an increase of £2.2 million on 2024 and around £13 million more than each of the pre-covid years of 2018 and 2019.
The horserace betting levy has evolved in step with the betting industry since it was introduced in the 1960s. In 2017, the previous Government extended the levy to online bookmakers and fixed the rate at 10% so that it no longer had to be negotiated each year. The 2017 reforms almost doubled the amount of levy collected, from £49.8 million to £95 million, and it has continued to perform well, collecting £105 million in 2023-24.
I place on the record my thanks to the Horserace Betting Levy Board, which continues to do an excellent job, especially in difficult circumstances following the sad death of the chair Paul Darling in August this year. I understand it was his memorial this week, and I send my thoughts to his family. The Government will continue to work with the levy board and the wider industry to maximise the benefits of the levy and ensure that it continues to deliver for the sector.
The previous Government undertook a review that concluded in April, and I recognise the significant work undertaken by both the racing and betting industries to secure a sustainable future for the sport. I am aware that, as part of that review, the British Horseracing Authority presented its case that there is a significant gap in its funding, stating that it is unable to compete with jurisdictions such as Ireland and France. The Minister for Gambling has met representatives from both the horseracing and betting industries, has encouraged a voluntary deal that fairly reflects the relationship between racing and betting, and will write to both parties soon. I understand that both parties agreed the value of a growth fund for the sport, and we look forward to hearing about progress on that.
It is fair to say that racing and betting should maximise income from other sources, as the levy represents just 6% of income, with far greater proportions earned from owners, breeders, racegoers, media rights deals and sponsorship. The Government welcome recent changes to the fixture list that are designed to grow the sport, engage new and existing customers and bring an additional £90 million to racing by 2028. I was also encouraged to see horseracing showcased in the recent TV documentaries “Horsepower” and “Champions: Full Gallop”.
Let me address the specific points raised by the hon. Member for West Suffolk. Several other Members made similar points. First, as I have hopefully made clear in my speech so far, I absolutely agree that British horseracing is an international success story. I am delighted to put my support for it on the record. As I said, I was at Donny races last year. Indeed, the year before that I was at York races with my good friend, the late great Jim Andrews, who was my agent. That was one of the last days we spent together before he sadly passed away— I pay tribute to him—and I have very fond memories of York races for that reason. I know of the huge contribution that horseracing makes not just to our economy but to communities up and down the country.
On the hon. Gentleman’s second and third questions, in the absence of any current legislative opportunity to impose changes to the levy, the Government are inviting the betting and racing industries to resume negotiations on a voluntary deal. We think that is the best and fastest option to get additional money flowing to the sport. I share the hon. Gentleman’s hope that we will not go back to square one, and that the parties will reflect on areas where there was agreement.
I do not think the previous negotiations were publicised at the time, but they have been discussed in detail today. I believe they resulted in an offer of an additional 1.5% from the betting industry, which racing agreed was reasonable. There was further agreement that the majority of those additional funds should be targeted towards a growth fund to generate interest in the sport. The Minister for Gambling is happy to continue dialogue with both parties, and if racing would like to hold its own independent review, the Government would welcome that.
The hon. Gentleman’s fourth question was about reforming the scope of the levy to include international races, which a number of Members discussed. There are strong arguments on both sides, but we should focus on what is achievable in the short-to-medium term. Although it is true that racing in other jurisdictions benefits from British racing in a way that is not reciprocated, the funding mechanisms in Ireland and France operate more centralised, state-led systems, and there are fewer opportunities for the commercial deals that we have in the United Kingdom.
On the hon. Gentleman’s fifth question, he might be new to this place but he is an experienced and seasoned actor or character—I am trying to be diplomatic—in the Westminster and Whitehall world. He tempts me, but he knows that I cannot comment on plans for the upcoming Budget.
The hon. Gentleman’s sixth question was about addressing problem gambling proportionally. He will have heard the answer that the Secretary of State gave him in the Chamber last week. I think that, as the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton (Sarah Dyke) said, it is incredibly important to strike a balance when dealing with problem gambling. Nearly half the population gambled in the past four weeks, so although it is of course important that we provide support to tackle problem gambling, we must do so in a balanced way.
A number of hon. Members raised frictionless checks. As they will know, the Gambling Commission is leading the pilot work on financial risk checks. We will be watching those pilots with interest, but I have heard Members’ concerns and will reflect them to the Minister for Gambling.
I will make representations to my colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on animal welfare and the number of vets. I will ask the Minister for Gambling to write to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Max Wilkinson) on the question he asked.
The shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup (Mr French), made an important point about loneliness. I have visited most of the betting shops in my constituency of Barnsley South, and I have seen at first hand the difference they make in helping to combat loneliness. As the Minister responsible for loneliness, I take that seriously. I say gently to him that we do not have a part-time Gambling Minister; we have a Gambling Minister who sits in the other place. I have answered a number of questions about the Government’s broad support, but I am happy to facilitate a meeting or a letter from the Gambling Minister to him.
The Government remain committed to supporting British horseracing. We believe it is vital to our economy, and it brings joy to many people. I know the Gambling Minister will look forward to continuing to engage with stakeholders in this area. This debate has highlighted the huge benefit that racing has for communities up and down the country.
Sir Edward Leigh (in the Chair)
Does Nick Timothy wish to say a few words to sum up?