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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's publication entitled Get Active: a strategy for the future of sport and physical activity, published on 30 August 2023, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of funding deaf athletes at the elite level.

The Government’s “Get Active” strategy commits to making talent pathways accessible and inclusive, so our most talented athletes have a chance to be successful regardless of background.

Sport England has committed £1.2 million between 2022 and 2027 to UK Deaf Sport to boost deaf sport at the grassroots level and build wider participation. Beyond this, they have also agreed to explore a series of small-scale talent pilots for d/Deaf athletes. These pilots will see Sport England, National Governing Bodies, and UK Deaf Sport working together to explore support around elite competitions and suggest potential solutions.