Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support Britain's industrial heritage.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
DCMS has not made a formal assessment of the importance of industrial heritage to the culture of historically industrial cities and towns. However, this government is dedicated to supporting Britain's industrial heritage. Historic England, the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment is funded by DCMS and is actively engaged in the protection, conservation, reuse and public presentation of England’s industrial heritage.
As an example, many of Historic England's High Street Heritage Action Zones, funded by DCMS in 2019 -2024 has revitalised 67 historic high streets across England, and focused on industrial heritage, including the 200 year celebration of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Historic England’s Mills of the North project looks to promote textile mill reuse to provide much needed new homes, accommodate businesses and mixed uses playing a positive role in wider regeneration.
Historic England recently acquired Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, a key Industrial Revolution site, and is undergoing a £28.4 million conservation project to bring it back into public use.
Asked by: Ellie Chowns (Green Party - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of National Lottery Heritage Fund funding has been allocated to support (a) areas, buildings and monuments, (b) cultures and memories, (c) industrial, maritime and transport, (d) landscapes, nature and parks and (e) museums, libraries and archives in each year since 2020.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
In the 2020/2021 financial year, £62,088,694 was allocated to support areas, buildings and monuments, £22,044,536 to cultures and memories, £34,917,985 to industrial, maritime and transport, £41,776,356 to landscapes, nature and parks, and £31,483,385 to museums, libraries and archives.
In the 2021/2022 financial year, £55,291,190 was allocated to support areas, buildings and monuments, £34,467,219 to cultures and memories, £8,871,702 to industrial, maritime and transport, £39,432,434 to landscapes, nature and parks, and £23,718,858 to museums, libraries and archives.
In the 2022/2023 financial year, £67,482,420 was allocated to support areas, buildings and monuments, £30,533,072 to cultures and memories, £11,596,595 to industrial, maritime and transport, £62,120,641 to landscapes, nature and parks, and £32,305,861 to museums, libraries and archives.
In the 2023/2024 financial year, £119,527,190 was allocated to support areas, buildings and monuments, £46,126,014 to cultures and memories, £16,612,998 to industrial, maritime and transport, £94,863,960 to landscapes, nature and parks, and £53,782,270 to museums, libraries and archives.
In the 2024/2025 financial year, £157,482,458 was allocated to support areas, buildings and monuments, £29,868,938 to cultures and memories, £9,345,500 to industrial, maritime and transport, £67,829,997 to landscapes, nature and parks, and £89,669,798 to museums, libraries and archives.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding is available to support the refurbishment of (a) the Swing Bridge in Newcastle and (b) other British industrial heritage.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Newcastle’s Swing Bridge is a Scheduled Monument and Grade II* listed structure. Support for the refurbishment of the bridge and other industrial heritage may be available through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Arms-Length Bodies.
Historic England, DCMS Arms-Length Body and government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment, also offers grants for the repair and conservation of historic buildings, monuments, and landscapes that are of national importance. Historic England is currently involved in ongoing discussions on restoring movement to the bridge and is supporting relevant stakeholders in its repair.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund awards grants ranging from £10,000 up to £10 million for projects that conserve and enhance heritage, making it accessible to everyone. Last year it invested £330 million in the nation's heritage.
Asked by: Sonia Kumar (Labour - Dudley)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to increase economic growth in Dudley constituency.
Answered by Gareth Thomas
The recently announced Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy, forming part of our wider Growth Mission, aim to support businesses across the country by creating the conditions for companies to invest, employ and grow.
Dudley, with its rich manufacturing heritage, will benefit from a range of new interventions, including measures to reduce energy costs and, assistance to develop and attract the right skills.
As part of the West Midlands Combined Authority, Dudley has and will continue to benefit from enhanced support targeting the region including devolved funding for local leaders, to continue delivering the right support.
We will also be publishing our Small Business Strategy soon which will set out further measures to increase economic growth in Dudley and across the country.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) nightclubs and (b) electronic music organisations her Department (i) consulted in the development of the Arts Everywhere Fund and (ii) is consulting in the development of the 12-point plan for music.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund is made up of multiple funds which will support arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector. The Creative Foundations Fund will invest £85 million to support arts and cultural organisations across England to resolve urgent issues with their estates. This fund is specifically designed to support not-for-profit arts organisations within the funding remit of Arts Council England. Eligible organisations must be not-for-profit and show that their primary aims are cultural and their activities fall within the remit of ACE. They must have delivered cultural activity in the last 12 months and be able to demonstrate that the investment is business-critical to delivering creative or cultural activity. Full eligibility details in the guidance can be found on ACE’s website. The fund was developed in partnership with Arts Council England (ACE), drawing on its knowledge of the arts and culture sector.
We are continuing to support ACE’s Supporting Grassroots Music Fund by providing £2.5 million funding in 2025-26. This provides grants to grassroots music organisations, including those that host or promote electronic music.
The Government’s industrial strategy is prioritising the creative industries, and we will publish a Creative Industries Sector Plan to set out measures to drive growth in the sector. DCMS is developing a music plan which will build on the Creative Industries Sector Plan, and on which we will work in partnership with representatives from across the music sector.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure (a) the preservation and (b) contribute to celebrations of the Newcastle Swing Bridge as an industrial heritage asset.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The importance of Newcastle Swing Bridge, spanning the River Tyne, is recognised through its designation as a Scheduled Monument and as a Grade II* listed structure. Historic England, DCMS Arms-Length Body and government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment, is involved in ongoing discussions on restoring movement to the bridge and is supporting relevant stakeholders in its repair.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Cradley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are giving to developing brass bands in England.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government recognises the vital importance of culture and heritage in all parts of the country, particularly heritage in post-industrial towns where brass bands continue to play an important local role. We also remain fully committed to supporting music in all its forms and broadening people’s access to a diverse range of music genres.
Arts Council England, which is funded by taxpayers and National Lottery players, works with Brass Bands England who are a National Portfolio organisation in receipt of c.£406,000 of funding per annum to support the brass bands sector. A significant portion of their activity is focused on encouraging children and young people to participate in brass bands.
The Arts Council also funds The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) via the National Portfolio with funding of c.£100,000 per annum. NYBBGB is the UK’s leading brass band charity for children and young people. They exist to give the brightest young brass and percussion musicians the opportunity to develop their musicianship and inspire others.
Between 2022 and 2024, Arts Council England will be investing over £4.5 million into organisations whose main focus is promoting Brass Bands.
Asked by: Baroness Hodgson of Abinger (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they last met representatives of the footwear industry; when the next meeting is to take place; whether that meeting will include heritage craft makers in the footwear industry; and what plans they have to support the continued making and manufacture of shoes and boots in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
The Department engages with the British Footwear Association (BFA). The BFA attended a roundtable on 24 April 2024 and are due to attend a roundtable with the Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports on 15 October 2024, where there will be an opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the footwear manufacturing sector in the broader context of consumer goods including fashion, textiles, and furniture. The CEO of the BFA attended a Luxury Steering Group with officials to discuss trade promotion opportunities on 18 September 2024.
The Government will introduce a new Industrial Strategy to drive long-term sustainable, inclusive and secure growth - through securing investment into crucial sectors of the economy.
Asked by: Josh Newbury (Labour - Cannock Chase)
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 (a) safeguard and (b) promote mining heritage.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Our mining past has shaped the lives of people, communities and landscapes across the country. It is essential we record mining heritage, and crucially share it with future generations, in order not to forget its fundamental impact on our society, country and indeed the world. My department, working with our arm's length bodies and the heritage sector, promotes and safeguards our rich mining heritage in a variety of ways.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded more than £39 million to projects focused on the history of mining across the UK since 1999. This includes investing in internationally important heritage sites such as the Mining Institute in Newcastle, restoring landscapes impacted by mining, and funding grassroot community projects to collect oral histories of those involved in mining. In Cannock Chase Staffordshire, the Heritage Fund has invested more than £120,000 in projects focused on the area’s important coal mining history.
As the Government’s expert advisor on the historic environment, Historic England has also advised on and instigated a range of projects to record and preserve the history of mining. For example, the former mining village of Elsecar in South Yorkshire was one of the first places in England to be awarded Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) status by Historic England. Working with the community and the local authority, Historic England looked to document the tangible and intangible aspects of this area's rich mining heritage. Between 2016 and 2018, Historic England also funded The Chase Through Time project which explored the history and landscape of Cannock Chase, including its important mining and industrial heritage.
The National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield receives funding via the Science Museum Group, an arm's length body of DCMS. The museum is a centre of mining heritage for England, preserving and promoting the history of mining heritage and the stories of the people and communities affected by mining across the country.
Through our designation and planning system we will continue to protect the mining heritage of national and international importance. This includes the Cornwall & West Devon Mining Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which spreads across 20,000 hectares in the South West. The region used to produce most of the world's copper, tin and arsenic, and the World Heritage Site looks to preserve aspects of this history for local communities and visitors.
Asked by: Luke Evans (Conservative - Hinckley and Bosworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of ensuring a structurally-robust canal network on levels of biodiversity in communities.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises that inland waterways provide many public benefits, including health and wellbeing effects, leisure and recreation uses, and industrial heritage attractions. They are also important for the natural environment by providing green corridors along which biodiversity can flourish, and contribute to the growth of local economies, via domestic tourism and facilitating active transport links. These were assessed as part of the Government’s review in 2021/22 of the current Canal and River Trust Grant. Officials also meet regularly with the Trust to discuss a range of issues.
As an independent charity the Trust is responsible for managing operational matters relating to individual canals, and the Government does not have a role in that. When the Trust was set up in 2012, the Government provided it with a 15-year grant (2012-2027) currently worth £740 million, which at £52.6 million a year represents 20-25% of its annual income. At the same time the Government also provided the Trust with a permanent endowment fund now worth over £1 billion that generates a further quarter of its income. The Government has reconfirmed its provision of a substantial new 10-year grant worth £401 million between 2027 and 2037, which reflects the importance it places on our waterways. It will bring the total amount of Government support for the Trust since 2012 to around £1.14 billion.