Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what her planned timetable is for the next steps following publication of the draft Conversion Practices Bill.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The draft Bill will be undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny until 22 January, when the Joint Committee will share its recommendations with the Government.

We will consider the Committee’s recommendations carefully and respond to them, after which we will introduce legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she expects to introduce the Conversion Practices Bill formally to Parliament.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The draft Bill will be undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny until 22 January, when the Joint Committee will share its recommendations with the Government.

We will consider the Committee’s recommendations carefully and respond to them, after which we will introduce legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the financial pressures facing grassroots rugby clubs.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone, including playing rugby. The Government is committed to removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, especially for women and girls.

Following the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025, the Impact ‘25 programme has reached 850 clubs across England since its inception and 37,000 women and girls in the last year alone. The programme has helped build more female-friendly facilities at clubs to encourage female participation, and we will work with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to continue to grow the game.

Our arm’s length body for grassroots sport, Sport England, is providing long term investment of £16.9 million to the RFU and £15.7 million to the Rugby Football League (RFL) between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots rugby participation. The RFU and RFL, as the national governing bodies for their sports, are responsible for decisions on how and where to target their investment into grassroots clubs.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to increase participation in rugby among women and girls.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone, including playing rugby. The Government is committed to removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, especially for women and girls.

Following the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025, the Impact ‘25 programme has reached 850 clubs across England since its inception and 37,000 women and girls in the last year alone. The programme has helped build more female-friendly facilities at clubs to encourage female participation, and we will work with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to continue to grow the game.

Our arm’s length body for grassroots sport, Sport England, is providing long term investment of £16.9 million to the RFU and £15.7 million to the Rugby Football League (RFL) between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots rugby participation. The RFU and RFL, as the national governing bodies for their sports, are responsible for decisions on how and where to target their investment into grassroots clubs.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to increase participation in grassroots rugby.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone, including playing rugby. The Government is committed to removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, especially for women and girls.

Following the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025, the Impact ‘25 programme has reached 850 clubs across England since its inception and 37,000 women and girls in the last year alone. The programme has helped build more female-friendly facilities at clubs to encourage female participation, and we will work with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to continue to grow the game.

Our arm’s length body for grassroots sport, Sport England, is providing long term investment of £16.9 million to the RFU and £15.7 million to the Rugby Football League (RFL) between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots rugby participation. The RFU and RFL, as the national governing bodies for their sports, are responsible for decisions on how and where to target their investment into grassroots clubs.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to increase participation in BMXing among children and young people.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to BMX cycling facilities, which are great spaces for people of all ages, including children and young people, to stay fit and healthy, and which play an important role within communities.

Our arm’s-length body, Sport England has provided £33.5 million of funding to the National Governing Body for cycling, British Cycling, for the period 2022-2029 to increase participation and invest in grassroots BMX and cycling initiatives, including for children and young people.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the availability of BMX facilities for young people in England.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to BMX cycling facilities, which are great spaces for people of all ages, including children and young people, to stay fit and healthy, and which play an important role within communities.

Our arm’s-length body, Sport England has provided £33.5 million of funding to the National Governing Body for cycling, British Cycling, for the period 2022-2029 to increase participation and invest in grassroots BMX and cycling initiatives, including for children and young people.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the performance of Welsh Water as a mutually owned water company compared with shareholder-owned water companies in England.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Water is a devolved area, and Welsh Water’s performance is a matter for the Welsh Government.

Water company performance is assessed and reported on annually in reports from Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to increase access to affordable grassroots football facilities.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to driving participation in sport and physical activity in areas of greatest need across the UK. To help achieve this, we are investing £85 million in grassroots sports facilities via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities (MSGF) Programme in 2026/27, which is part of an overall investment of £400m into grassroots sport facilities through to 2030.

In England, the Programme is delivered via the Football Foundation and funds projects such as new artificial grass pitches (AGPs), changing rooms and pavilions, and floodlights. As part of this, applicants to the Programme must support football participation alongside another sport.

We provide the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our arm’s-length body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what lessons her Department has identified from the financial structure and performance of Welsh Water that could be applied to the regulation of water companies in England.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Water is a devolved area, and Welsh Water’s performance is a matter for the Welsh Government.

Water company performance is assessed and reported on annually in reports from Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has discussed with the Welsh Government the financial and regulatory experience of Welsh Water since its mutualisation.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Water is a devolved area, and Welsh Water’s performance is a matter for the Welsh Government.

Water company performance is assessed and reported on annually in reports from Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of Wessex Water's profits that have been distributed to shareholders rather than retained for investment in the company's infrastructure since 2002.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat is the independent economic regulator for the water industry. Ofwat routinely monitors the financial performance of water companies. It publishes its assessment of company income, revenues, dividends, and performance against incentives.

Ofwat will be replaced by an integrated regulator with greater insight into company finances and enhanced enforcement tools.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the regulatory framework's incentives for overseas owners of UK water companies to prioritise investment in UK infrastructure over returns to shareholders.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat is the independent economic regulator for the water industry. Ofwat routinely monitors the financial performance of water companies. It publishes its assessment of company income, revenues, dividends, and performance against incentives.

Ofwat will be replaced by an integrated regulator with greater insight into company finances and enhanced enforcement tools.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the value of dividends paid by Wessex Water to its ultimate shareholder since YTL acquired the company.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat is the independent economic regulator for the water industry. Ofwat routinely monitors the financial performance of water companies. It publishes its assessment of company income, revenues, dividends, and performance against incentives.

Ofwat will be replaced by an integrated regulator with greater insight into company finances and enhanced enforcement tools.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the proportion of water-company revenues that has been distributed to shareholders since privatisation.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat is the independent economic regulator for the water industry. Ofwat routinely monitors the financial performance of water companies. It publishes its assessment of company income, revenues, dividends, and performance against incentives.

Ofwat will be replaced by an integrated regulator with greater insight into company finances and enhanced enforcement tools.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of trends in the levels of participation in rugby among children and young people.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Sport England’s latest Active Lives Children and Young People Survey shows that rugby participation among children and young people aged 5-16 years remains broadly stable at around 600,000 participants per week. However, participation remains below its pre-pandemic peak, with 597,200 participants per week in academic year 2024/25 compared with 684,500 in 2018/19.

Our arm’s length body, Sport England, is providing long-term investment of £16.9 million to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and £15.7 million to the Rugby Football League (RFL) between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots rugby participation, including for children and young people.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of whether Ofwat's regulatory framework is sufficiently flexible to accommodate mutually owned water companies.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We committed in the White Paper to make it easier for companies to change ownership model where they wish to do so, including to not-for-profit or mutual models. If a company’s owners propose changes to their ownership model, the new regulator will assess any proposals carefully against transparent criteria.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the amount of income generated by Wessex Water that is (a) retained for investment in the UK and (b) distributed to shareholders based overseas.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ofwat is the independent economic regulator for the water industry. Ofwat routinely monitors the financial performance of water companies. It publishes its assessment of company income, revenues, dividends, and performance against incentives.

Ofwat will be replaced by an integrated regulator with greater insight into company finances and enhanced enforcement tools.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of parental employment on levels of child poverty.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Children living in households where no adults work are around 4 times more likely to be in poverty than those in households where all adults are in work. The Government has taken steps to support people into work and to improve incomes for working families.

We have increased the National Living Wage, we are strengthening employment rights to deliver more secure and flexible work and expanding access to affordable childcare so parents can take up and progress in employment. Alongside this, we are improving Universal Credit to ensure families keep more of what they earn, including reducing deductions and delivering the first sustained, above inflation rise in the basic rate of Universal Credit since it was introduced.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the financial sustainability of football clubs in the lower leagues.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The IFR has published its draft State of the Game report. This report shines a light on the financial pressures, governance gaps, and structural risks facing English football. That is why, alongside the financial distributions powers, the IFR’s licensing regime is an important next step to guide clubs to a more secure financial footing.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of ticket prices on younger supporters attending professional football matches.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Independent Football Regulator has a tightly defined scope focusing on the financial sustainability of clubs, the systemic stability of the football pyramid and protecting club heritage. Ticket pricing is a commercial decision and a matter for football clubs.

However, fan consultation is a key part of the licensing regime and the Regulator can require clubs to consult fans on a range of specified relevant matters, including ticket pricing.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of trends in football ticket prices over the last five years.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Independent Football Regulator has a tightly defined scope focusing on the financial sustainability of clubs, the systemic stability of the football pyramid and protecting club heritage. Ticket pricing is a commercial decision and a matter for football clubs.

However, fan consultation is a key part of the licensing regime and the Regulator can require clubs to consult fans on a range of specified relevant matters, including ticket pricing.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the condition and availability of grassroots football pitches.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is investing £85 million in grassroots sports facilities via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities (MSGF) Programme in 2026/27, which is part of an overall investment of £400m into grassroots sport facilities through to 2030. Projects funded include new artificial grass pitches, grass pitch upgrades and pitch maintenance equipment.

Our delivery partner for the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities programme in England, the Football Foundation, plans its investment pipeline using Local Football Facility Plans (LFFPs) for each local authority, which are developed in partnership with local authorities so as to understand the needs of each community. LFFPs are publicly available here, and the LFFP for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole is available here.

In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole the Football Foundation has invested in four new artificial grass pitch and seven grass pitch improvement projects, and have identified priority projects suitable for further potential investment in the area.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with football authorities on making football more affordable for supporters.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Independent Football Regulator has a tightly defined scope focusing on the financial sustainability of clubs, the systemic stability of the football pyramid and protecting club heritage. Ticket pricing is a commercial decision and a matter for football clubs.

However, fan consultation is a key part of the licensing regime and the Regulator can require clubs to consult fans on a range of specified relevant matters, including ticket pricing.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to increase girls' access to football at school and grassroots level.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is determined to increase opportunities for girls to participate in sport, including football. Our new approach to PE and school sport will help ensure girls have equality of access to sport in schools, including football.

In May, Sport England announced £3 million of National Lottery funding, to support the creation of more clubs and organisations that give women and girls a safe, welcoming and accessible space to play, through the Lionesses HEre to Play Fund.

£85 million of the Government’s £400m investment into grassroots sport is being invested via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities (MSGF) Programme in 2026/27, and we are doubling priority slots for women and girls at MSGF-funded pitches.

We are also acting on recommendations from Karen Carney’s Independent Review of Women's Football, including ensuring a strong voice on the FA’s Board for women’s football, from grassroots to the elite.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to household income from welfare reforms on children's educational outcomes.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Poverty affects every aspect of education and holds children back from reaching their full potential. The Child Poverty Strategy Evidence Pack, published alongside the Child Poverty Strategy in December 2025, provides evidence on links between children experiencing poverty and adverse later life outcomes, including educational attainment.

The Monitoring and Evaluation baseline report (Our Children, Our Future: Tackling Child Poverty - Monitoring and Evaluation baseline report - GOV.UK) reinforces that reducing child poverty is a key enabler of the Government's wider whole-system approach to improve health, education and employment outcomes, give children the best start in life and increase opportunity across the UK.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were housed in hotel accommodation in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area on (a) 1 July 2022, (b) 1 August 2022, (c) 1 September 2022 and (d) 1 October 2022.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics on a quarterly basis detailing the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in hotels. These statistics, which can be broken down by local authority, can be found in at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK Asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support detailed datasets, year ending June 2026

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were housed in hotel accommodation in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area on (a) 1 July 2020, (b) 1 August 2020, (c) 1 September 2020 and (d) 1 October 2020.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics on a quarterly basis detailing the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in hotels. These statistics, which can be broken down by local authority, can be found in at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK Asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support detailed datasets, year ending June 2026

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were housed in hotel accommodation in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area on (a) 1 July 2025, (b) 1 August 2025, (c) 1 September 2025 and (d) 1 October 2025.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics on a quarterly basis detailing the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in hotels. These statistics, which can be broken down by local authority, can be found in at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK Asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support detailed datasets, year ending June 2026

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were housed in hotel accommodation in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area on (a) 1 July 2023, (b) 1 August 2023, (c) 1 September 2023 and (d) 1 October 2023.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics on a quarterly basis detailing the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in hotels. These statistics, which can be broken down by local authority, can be found in at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK Asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support detailed datasets, year ending June 2026

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of recent changes to Universal Credit on levels of child poverty.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Our assessment of the poverty impact of changes to social security announced at Spring statement 2025, including changes to Universal Credit, is available here: Spring statement social security changes: updated impact on poverty levels in Great Britain, July 2025 - GOV.UK. This includes an assessment of the impact on child poverty specifically.

In addition to changes to Universal Credit, the Child Poverty Strategy also takes action to tackle the cost of essentials, including housing, childcare and food, to ease the pressures on working families, and strengthen local support and services for families.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were housed in hotel accommodation in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area on (a) 1 July 2024, (b) 1 August 2024, (c) 1 September 2024 and (d) 1 October 2024.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics on a quarterly basis detailing the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in hotels. These statistics, which can be broken down by local authority, can be found in at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK Asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support detailed datasets, year ending June 2026

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were housed in hotel accommodation in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area on (a) 1 July 2021, (b) 1 August 2021, (c) 1 September 2021 and (d) 1 October 2021.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics on a quarterly basis detailing the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in hotels. These statistics, which can be broken down by local authority, can be found in at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK Asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support detailed datasets, year ending June 2026

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were housed in hotel accommodation in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council area on (a) 1 July 2026, (b) 1 August 2026, and (c) 1 September 2026.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics on a quarterly basis detailing the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in hotels. These statistics, which can be broken down by local authority, can be found in at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK Asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support detailed datasets, year ending June 2026

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the removal of the two-child limit on child poverty.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Our Child Poverty Strategy sets out the steps we are taking to reduce child poverty this Parliament. The removal of the two child limit will lift 450,000 children out of relative poverty after housing costs in 2029-30, rising to 550,000 children alongside other measures set out in our Strategy, such as the expansion of Free School Meals. These interventions will lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began. Details of this assessment are available here.

We are now focused on delivering the commitments in the Strategy, monitoring its impact and the trajectory of poverty. Our Monitoring and Evaluation Baseline Report sets out a comprehensive and robust framework for how the Strategy is being implemented and evaluated including analytical plans and mechanisms for oversight.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the child poverty strategy on levels of child poverty.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Our Child Poverty Strategy sets out the steps we are taking to reduce child poverty this Parliament. The removal of the two child limit will lift 450,000 children out of relative poverty after housing costs in 2029-30, rising to 550,000 children alongside other measures set out in our Strategy, such as the expansion of Free School Meals. These interventions will lead to the largest expected reduction in child poverty over a Parliament since comparable records began. Details of this assessment are available here.

We are now focused on delivering the commitments in the Strategy, monitoring its impact and the trajectory of poverty. Our Monitoring and Evaluation Baseline Report sets out a comprehensive and robust framework for how the Strategy is being implemented and evaluated including analytical plans and mechanisms for oversight.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with British Cycling on pathways for young BMX riders into elite competition.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Responsibility for talent development rests with British Cycling, which operates independently of Government.

The Government supports the senior high-performance system through Exchequer and National Lottery funding distributed by UK Sport. As part of this, British Cycling has been allocated £30.5 million through UK Sport's World Class Programme for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.

British Cycling is also responsible for identifying and developing talented young BMX riders with the potential to progress to elite competition. Alongside this, Sport England has committed over £33.5 million to British Cycling for the period 2022-2029 to support grassroots cycling, including BMX participation and development programmes.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of ending the 3pm football broadcasting blackout on the finances of lower-league football clubs.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Article 48 of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Statutes, which facilitates the “3pm blackout” is voluntarily adopted by the Football Association (the FA) with the aim of protecting ticket sales for lower leagues in the football pyramid.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of ending the 3pm football broadcasting blackout on attendances at lower-league football matches.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Article 48 of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Statutes, which facilitates the “3pm blackout” is voluntarily adopted by the Football Association (the FA) with the aim of protecting ticket sales for lower leagues in the football pyramid.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits for football supporters of allowing live domestic broadcasting of matches played at 3pm on Saturdays.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Article 48 of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Statutes, which facilitates the “3pm blackout” is voluntarily adopted by the Football Association (the FA) with the aim of protecting ticket sales for lower leagues in the football pyramid.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with (i) the Premier League, (ii) the FA and (iii) EFL about the future of the 3pm football broadcasting blackout.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Article 48 of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Statutes, which facilitates the “3pm blackout” is voluntarily adopted by the Football Association (the FA) with the aim of protecting ticket sales for lower leagues in the football pyramid.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many responses were received from park home residents to the call for evidence on commission payable on the sale of park homes which closed on 29 May 2026.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many responses were received from park home site owners to the call for evidence on commission payable on the sale of park homes which closed on 29 May 2026.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the 10% sales commission on park home residents.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason 10 per cent commission is payable to a park home site owner when a park home is sold.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of commission charge of up to 10 per cent on the sale of park homes on (a) mobile home residents and (b) site owners; and whether she has made an estimate of the commission paid in England in each of the last five years.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress her Department has made on analysing responses to the call for evidence on commission payable on the sale of park homes, which closed on 29 May 2026.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the Government's response to the call for evidence on commission payable on the sale of park homes, which closed on 29 May 2026.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many of the responses received from park home residents to the call for evidence on commission payable on the sale of park homes supported retaining the commission at 10 per cent.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the annual income to site owners generated by the 10% commission on park home sales.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what evidence supports the continued retention of a maximum 10 per cent commission on the sale of park homes.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing the maximum commission payable on the sale of a park home from ten per cent to (a) five and (b) zero per cent on relevant stakeholders.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many respondents to the call for evidence on commission which closed on 29 May 2026 supported retaining the commission payable on the sale of park homes at 10 per cent.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.

The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.

We are currently analysing the feedback received and remain committed to publishing a detailed summary of responses ahead of announcing the government's final position by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support her Department provides to local planning authorities to implement the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 95059 on 5 January 2026.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her department has modelled the potential impact on (a) customer bills and (b) infrastructure investment of retaining within the North West water system sums currently used by United Utilities for shareholder distributions.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the Hon Member to PQ 32257 that was published on 19^th October in response to Tom Hayes MP.