Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has implemented a training programme to provide civil servants with skills to support its transition to net zero.

DCMS is committed to the 2050 net zero target and is developing a capability training programme for our staff that will ensure we have the skills required to support the transition.

As part of this we are in contact with the Government Skills and Curriculum Unit (GSCU) who are developing a cross Whitehall training programme focused on climate capability. The new Government Curriculum will include modules on the implications of Net Zero, climate change and wider environmental issues for the government.

We expect the first phase of this training to be piloted from April 2022 followed by a second phase where the GSCU will look at tailored provision for specific functions and professions, and will signpost the training and other resources on Net Zero which are already being provided internally at practitioner and expert levels by government Departments.

We will ensure that any staff requiring these skills at DCMS are enrolled on this training.