Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many Sports' National Governing Bodies have attended the Sport Council's Equality Group training on the trans guidance since September 2021.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
The Sports Councils Equality Group approached the training requirements around the Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sport Guidance via three different approaches: briefings, workshops, and pilot sports.
Soon after the Guidance was launched in September 2021 the Sports Councils Equality Group delivered two high-level 60 minute briefings attended by 22 National Governing Bodies (NGBs). These were a precursor to more in-depth, 3 hour, training sessions which have been running, and continue to do so, at regular intervals. These, to date, have been attended by 24 NGBs and are continuing to attract new NGBs to each online delivered session.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with UK Athletics on the resignation of both the Chief Executive and Performance Director of that body on 20 October 2021.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
Ministers have had no direct discussions with UK Athletics since October 2021. This relationship is managed by UK Sport who keep the government closely sighted on issues through Board meetings and regular engagement with Ministers and officials.
The Department is confident that fair and proper processes are in place to ensure the best candidates possible are appointed to leadership roles in National Governing Bodies which are funded by UK Sport.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Sport England and UK Sport on the future funding of national governing bodies that do not follow the Sports Councils Equality Group Guidance for Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sport 2021 on how to review their policies.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
The government is clear that there is no place for discrimination or intimidation in any sport, at any level. The Sports Councils Equality Group (SCEG) transgender inclusion guidance is intended to help provide support and clarity for National Governing Bodies operating in a complex environment. The review was carried out in recognition that the previous guidance was outdated and that sport at every level required more practical advice and support.
With reference to the answer provided on 18th October 2021 to questions 56575-56576, the SCEG guidance provides a decision making framework and a variety of different approaches for the National Governing Bodies of each sport to define the best options for their sport, subject to their assessment of inclusion, fairness and safety.
Sports governing bodies each have their own rules on transgender issues and it is appropriate that they can determine the right position for their own sport.
The Sports Councils are not regulators of sport, and the SCEG document serves as guidance that is independent from funding. The expectations for sporting organisations that receive public funding are set out in the Code for Sport Governance.
The government will continue to work through our arm’s length bodies, Sport England and UK Sport, to support National Governing Bodies in reviewing their policies for their sport.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of to Question 56576, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the interview conducted by the Sports Councils Equality Group as part of the evaluation of Guidance for Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sport 2021, published September 2021, that revealed problems with (a) intimidation, (b) threats of non-selection and (c) sanctions aimed at individuals in UK sports organisations that support fair sport.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
The government is clear that there is no place for discrimination or intimidation in any sport, at any level. The Sports Councils Equality Group (SCEG) transgender inclusion guidance is intended to help provide support and clarity for National Governing Bodies operating in a complex environment. The review was carried out in recognition that the previous guidance was outdated and that sport at every level required more practical advice and support.
With reference to the answer provided on 18th October 2021 to questions 56575-56576, the SCEG guidance provides a decision making framework and a variety of different approaches for the National Governing Bodies of each sport to define the best options for their sport, subject to their assessment of inclusion, fairness and safety.
Sports governing bodies each have their own rules on transgender issues and it is appropriate that they can determine the right position for their own sport.
The Sports Councils are not regulators of sport, and the SCEG document serves as guidance that is independent from funding. The expectations for sporting organisations that receive public funding are set out in the Code for Sport Governance.
The government will continue to work through our arm’s length bodies, Sport England and UK Sport, to support National Governing Bodies in reviewing their policies for their sport.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference Sports Councils Equality Group report entitled, Project for Review and Redraft of Guidance for Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sport 2021, published September 2021, what steps he is taking to address (a) intimidation, (b) threats of non-selection and (c) sanctions aimed at individuals in UK sports organisations who support fair sport.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
The government is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, as well as safety and fairness across all levels of sport. This is at the heart of our strategy ‘Sporting Future’. Sports governing bodies each have their own rules on transgender issues and it is appropriate that they can determine the right position for their own sport.
The Sports Councils’ Equality Group (SCEG) transgender guidance is a carefully considered report which addresses the complexities of transgender inclusion in sport. The report has concluded that there is an inherent tension between delivering inclusion, fairness and safety when including transgender women into the women’s sport category due to retained physiological differences.
The guidance advises the national governing bodies (NGBs) of each sport to define the best options for their sport, subject to their assessment of inclusion, fairness and safety. It also includes a decision making framework to help sports undertake such an assessment and if appropriate consider options to modify or adapt their offer to facilitate participation.
Our arm’s length bodies Sport England and UK Sport will continue to support NGBs to undertake the necessary assessment for their sport.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the report from the Sports Councils Equality Group and its Guidance for Transgender Inclusion in Sport, published in September 2021.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
The government is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, as well as safety and fairness across all levels of sport. This is at the heart of our strategy ‘Sporting Future’. Sports governing bodies each have their own rules on transgender issues and it is appropriate that they can determine the right position for their own sport.
The Sports Councils’ Equality Group (SCEG) transgender guidance is a carefully considered report which addresses the complexities of transgender inclusion in sport. The report has concluded that there is an inherent tension between delivering inclusion, fairness and safety when including transgender women into the women’s sport category due to retained physiological differences.
The guidance advises the national governing bodies (NGBs) of each sport to define the best options for their sport, subject to their assessment of inclusion, fairness and safety. It also includes a decision making framework to help sports undertake such an assessment and if appropriate consider options to modify or adapt their offer to facilitate participation.
Our arm’s length bodies Sport England and UK Sport will continue to support NGBs to undertake the necessary assessment for their sport.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Sports Council Equality Group guidance on trans inclusion in domestic competition, which was commissioned in March 2020, will be published.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
The Government is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, as well as the safety and fairness across all levels of sport. This is at the heart of our strategy ‘Sporting Future’. However, sports governing bodies each have their own rules on transgender issues and it is appropriate that they can determine the right position for their own sport.
The Sports Councils' Equality Group (SCEG) is in the process of reviewing Transgender Inclusion in Domestic Sport in the UK, commissioned in 2020. Subsequently a wide-ranging consultation has taken place. They are now processing the information they have collected as they work towards a carefully considered outcome in this complex environment. It is anticipated that the revised guidance on trans participation in sport will be released later this year.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
What steps he is taking to tackle the digital divide.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
To tackle the digital divide and support connectivity we have worked with providers on social tariffs meaning low cost landline and broadband services for those on means-tested benefits.
DCMS has also launched the Digital Lifeline fund to provide devices, data and support to 5000 adults with learning disabilities. In addition, to boost skills, we have made digital qualifications to level 1 for adults free of charge.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential effect on (a) industry, (b) jobs and (c) the economy in the event that stage 5 re-opening is not reached for live music performances by April 2021.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Government recognises the importance of the live music sector to the UK economy and that it has been significantly affected by the impacts of Covid-19. No assessment is currently available regarding the potential effects of stage 5 reopening taking place after April 2021.
From 2 December, in Tier 1 and 2 areas, socially distanced indoor audiences are permitted provided capacity in a venue is maintained at maximum 50% capacity or 1000 people, whichever is lower. Outdoor events can take place in line with Covid secure guidance with a capacity limit of the lower of 50% or 4000 in Tier 1 and 50% or 2000 in Tier 2.
DCMS has established a Venues Steering Group and a sector-led sub-group on Outdoor Events and Festivals looking at how music venues and festivals can reopen with fuller audiences, in line with stage 5 of the Performing Arts roadmap.
The Government has always been clear that moving forward with the performing arts roadmap is dependent on the prevalence of COVID-19, and that the measures that are in place are to ensure the safety of the public.
We are committed to continue working with the live music sector to understand the challenges they face and to work towards reopening events with fuller audiences.
Asked by: Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour - Gower)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant Answer of 22 October to Question 105503, what discussions his Department has had with the Minister for Women and Equalities on the participation of transgender and non-binary players in contact sport.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Financial Secretary (Treasury)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works with the Governments Equalities Office to discuss issues of equality in sport, but have not had specific discussions on the participation of trangsender and non-binary players in contact sport. Government’s overriding sporting objective is and remains the guarantee of fair and safe competition - it is therefore right that sports bodies have their own rules on trans issues and can determine the right position for their own sport.