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

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the convictions of Barry Bennell and George Ormond for serious offences of non-recent sexual abuse against multiple victims, what plans they have to review and improve the safeguarding of children in sports.

Since the first allegations of non-recent abuse in football became public in November 2016, DCMS has initiated a significant programme of work with Sport England and the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit to assess the current safeguarding landscape in sport and strengthen provision wherever possible.

All organisations in receipt of public funding from Sport England and UK Sport have been required to meet the standards set out in the Code for Sports Governance since April 2017. The Code contains specific obligations around safeguarding, including a requirement for national governing bodies to adhere to the Standards for Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport, which are issued by the Child Protection in Sport Unit.

We have also taken steps to promote best practice in non-funded sports including launching the Code of Safeguarding in Martial Arts in March 2018. The code sets consistent standards and provides parents with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about where to send their children for instruction.