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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support single-screen and community-run cinemas to remain financially sustainable, modernise their facilities and deliver accessible film experiences to local audiences.

Independent cinemas serve as essential cultural cornerstones for local communities, providing invaluable access to the arts while driving economic vitality on our high streets. Independent cinemas can apply for a number of funding schemes. For example, through the British Film Institute, cinemas can access support for audience-facing projects through the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund. They can also join the BFI Film Audience Network and apply for funding to support projects that bring audiences together. Cinemas may also be eligible for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, or for schemes such as the Heritage Revival Fund, delivered by the Architectural Heritage Fund to help communities across England to rescue and repurpose neglected heritage buildings. Cinemas will also benefit from permanently lower business rates multipliers we have introduced for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure venues to support financial sustainability.