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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the implications for her policies of the disparity in earnings between male and female cricketers at a professional level.

The Government is fully committed to supporting and growing women’s sport, from the grassroots through to elite competition. This includes cricket.

However, we recognise that there is more to do. The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket report notes that while progress has been made in the women’s game, there are still areas for concern. Clearly the sport needs to reflect carefully on these findings and consider how best to deliver clear and sustained cultural change across cricket, including around equitable treatment of men and women working within the sport. The Government will review the findings of the report and we welcome the ECB’s commitment to bring forward a plan to tackle these serious issues, which must be addressed fully.