Community Development: Israel

(asked on 21st February 2025) - View Source

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will require that organisations in receipt of funding from (a) her Department and (b) its arms-length bodies should not participate in boycotts against (i) Israel and (ii) the participation of (a) Israelis and (b) people from Jewish backgrounds for events connected to that funding.


Answered by
Stephanie Peacock Portrait
Stephanie Peacock
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This question was answered on 7th March 2025

Sports, arts, and culture are powerful ways to bring communities together. As such, we do not support sports or cultural boycotts in principle, including in relation to Israel. The Secretary of State recently met with a delegation led by the Board of Deputies of British Jews to discuss their experiences of working in the arts and cultural sector at a time of increased tension in the Middle East. The government's view is that antisemitism is as unacceptable in our sectors, as it is anywhere else in society.

Public Bodies are expected to act in line with their Framework Agreements, with their Board members required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies and The Nolan Principles of Public Life. DCMS’s standard terms and conditions include requirements that grant recipients comply with statutory requirements and specifically with the Equality Act 2010.

Reticulating Splines