Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has issued guidance on Ministerial attendance at public events that include performers whose previous public statements have raised concerns about the endorsement of violence.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Ministerial Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of ministers. Ministers are personally responsible for deciding how to act and conduct themselves in the light of the Code and for justifying their actions and conduct to Parliament and the public.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued any guidance to Ministers on attendance at public events featuring performers whose past public statements have raised concern among hon. Members.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Ministerial Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of ministers. Ministers are personally responsible for deciding how to act and conduct themselves in the light of the Code and for justifying their actions and conduct to Parliament and the public.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the retrospective impact of the implementation of Sections (a) 58, (b) 59 and (c) 61-64 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 and if he will list the limited retrospective effects identified by his Department.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The principle of collective responsibility requires that the privacy of ministerial discussions at cabinet and its committees be maintained. It is a long standing precedent that details of these proceedings are not disclosed publicly.
Sections 58 and 59 introduced limited retrospective rights to upgrade and share apparatus situated under land in specific circumstances. Sections 61 – 64 may have limited retrospective effect once in force: potentially affecting the terms on which affected agreements are renewed on expiry, but not directly altering the terms of any existing agreements. A consultation on draft regulations to commence sections 61-64 is open until 2 July.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Spring Statement of 26 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to her Department's planned budget for the 2025-26 financial year on the National Youth Strategy.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we remain committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential. That is why we are developing a National Youth Strategy to set out a new vision for young people and an action plan for delivering this.
In 2025/26, has committed to funding over £85 million of capital funding to create fit-for-purpose spaces in places where it is most needed, which includes £26 million for youth clubs to buy new equipment and do renovations under the Better Youth Spaces Fund. We will be launching the Local Youth Transformation pilot this year, which will support local authorities to build back capability to improve local youth offers. Further funding allocations for specific youth programmes will be set out in due course.
We will publish the Strategy this summer, following the Spending Review.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Spring Statement of 26 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to her Department's planned budget for the 2025-26 financial year on access to sport for young people.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Access to sport and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health and this Government is committed to ensuring everyone, no matter their age, background or ability, should be able to play sport and be active. The majority of grassroots sport funding is provided by our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, that will invest in excess of £250 million of exchequer and lottery funding through 2025/26.
We are also supporting more people in getting active wherever they live through continuation of the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme. On 21 March the Government announced £100 million funding to be delivered through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme during 2025/26, supporting high-quality, inclusive facilities across the UK.
The Government puts children and young people at the heart of our priorities. This includes breaking down barriers to opportunity for every child to access high-quality sport and physical activity, especially those who are less likely to be active. We have committed to protecting time for physical education and supporting the role grassroots clubs play in expanding access to sport. The expert-led review of the school curriculum will ensure that all children can engage with a broad range of subjects, including PE and sport.
Sport England is also committed to increasing participation in sport and physical activity for disabled people and improving their access to sport facilities. Sport England runs specific initiatives like the 'We are Undefeatable' campaign, impacting directly on disabled people, and those with a long-term health condition. Sport England also has partnerships with organisations such as Disability Rights UK, Activity Alliance, Aspire, and Sense, to help more disabled people get active.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Spring Statement of 26 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to her Department's planned budget for the 2025-26 financial year on access to sport for disabled people.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Access to sport and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health and this Government is committed to ensuring everyone, no matter their age, background or ability, should be able to play sport and be active. The majority of grassroots sport funding is provided by our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, that will invest in excess of £250 million of exchequer and lottery funding through 2025/26.
We are also supporting more people in getting active wherever they live through continuation of the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme. On 21 March the Government announced £100 million funding to be delivered through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme during 2025/26, supporting high-quality, inclusive facilities across the UK.
The Government puts children and young people at the heart of our priorities. This includes breaking down barriers to opportunity for every child to access high-quality sport and physical activity, especially those who are less likely to be active. We have committed to protecting time for physical education and supporting the role grassroots clubs play in expanding access to sport. The expert-led review of the school curriculum will ensure that all children can engage with a broad range of subjects, including PE and sport.
Sport England is also committed to increasing participation in sport and physical activity for disabled people and improving their access to sport facilities. Sport England runs specific initiatives like the 'We are Undefeatable' campaign, impacting directly on disabled people, and those with a long-term health condition. Sport England also has partnerships with organisations such as Disability Rights UK, Activity Alliance, Aspire, and Sense, to help more disabled people get active.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Spring Statement of 26 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to her Department's planned budget for the 2025-26 financial year on access to sport.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Access to sport and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health and this Government is committed to ensuring everyone, no matter their age, background or ability, should be able to play sport and be active. The majority of grassroots sport funding is provided by our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, that will invest in excess of £250 million of exchequer and lottery funding through 2025/26.
We are also supporting more people in getting active wherever they live through continuation of the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme. On 21 March the Government announced £100 million funding to be delivered through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme during 2025/26, supporting high-quality, inclusive facilities across the UK.
The Government puts children and young people at the heart of our priorities. This includes breaking down barriers to opportunity for every child to access high-quality sport and physical activity, especially those who are less likely to be active. We have committed to protecting time for physical education and supporting the role grassroots clubs play in expanding access to sport. The expert-led review of the school curriculum will ensure that all children can engage with a broad range of subjects, including PE and sport.
Sport England is also committed to increasing participation in sport and physical activity for disabled people and improving their access to sport facilities. Sport England runs specific initiatives like the 'We are Undefeatable' campaign, impacting directly on disabled people, and those with a long-term health condition. Sport England also has partnerships with organisations such as Disability Rights UK, Activity Alliance, Aspire, and Sense, to help more disabled people get active.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Spring Statement of 26 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to her Department's planned budget for the 2025-26 financial year on support for the creative industries.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS’ budget for the 2025-26 financial year was confirmed by HM Treasury at Autumn Budget 2024, not at the Spring Statement.
The creative industries are one of the government’s eight priority Industrial Strategy sectors. At the Creative Industries Growth Summit in January, we announced a £60 million package of support for the sector, providing a major boost to the wider economy. We also set out new commitments from the British Business Bank, the UK’s economic development bank, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in January to strengthen their support for the creative industries, in addition to making shorter apprenticeships available from August 2025, building towards a more flexible growth and skills levy. These first steps in delivering on our ambitions for the creative industries will be expanded upon with the publication of the Sector Plan.
The government recognises the importance of cinemas as part of the UK’s film industry and as community assets. The Government’s tax incentives, including the new Independent Film Tax Credit, are bolstering the slate of films available to be shown in British cinemas. The BFI’s Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) is a collaboration of 8 film hubs, managed by leading film organisations and venues around the UK which provides support to cinemas on a local level.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Spring Statement of 26 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to her Department's planned budget for the 2025-26 financial year on support for independent cinemas.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS’ budget for the 2025-26 financial year was confirmed by HM Treasury at Autumn Budget 2024, not at the Spring Statement.
The creative industries are one of the government’s eight priority Industrial Strategy sectors. At the Creative Industries Growth Summit in January, we announced a £60 million package of support for the sector, providing a major boost to the wider economy. We also set out new commitments from the British Business Bank, the UK’s economic development bank, and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in January to strengthen their support for the creative industries, in addition to making shorter apprenticeships available from August 2025, building towards a more flexible growth and skills levy. These first steps in delivering on our ambitions for the creative industries will be expanded upon with the publication of the Sector Plan.
The government recognises the importance of cinemas as part of the UK’s film industry and as community assets. The Government’s tax incentives, including the new Independent Film Tax Credit, are bolstering the slate of films available to be shown in British cinemas. The BFI’s Film Audience Network (BFI FAN) is a collaboration of 8 film hubs, managed by leading film organisations and venues around the UK which provides support to cinemas on a local level.
Asked by: Stuart Andrew (Conservative - Daventry)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to manage the potential impact of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 on future trends in litigation on telecommunications infrastructure installation.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 (“the 2022 Act”) introduced specific measures affecting applications to the courts on telecoms matters. These included a requirement for operators to inform landowners of the availability of alternative dispute resolution and to consider using it before issuing legal proceedings. This is intended to reduce costs and litigation.
DSIT is working with counterparts in the Ministry of Justice to understand the impacts of the changes made by the 2022 Act, including measures to transfer the jurisdiction for cases currently dealt with by the county court to the First-tier Tribunal or the Upper Tribunal.