theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

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Afzal Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to support local authorities in tackling methane emissions from landfill sites through improved (a) waste separation, (b) capture technologies and (c) food waste reduction. \p Mary Creagh: Reducing emissions further requires ‘turning off the tap’ for landfill gas production by diverting biodegradable waste from landfill, as well as maximising capture and destruction of landfill gas created by previously deposited waste.

Defra is exploring options for the near elimination of municipal biodegradable waste to landfill from 2028 and landfill gas capture and is engaging with the landfill and landfill gas operators on these issues.

Simpler Recycling will deliver changes in waste management including separate food waste collection which explicitly aims to divert this material from landfill.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2025 to Question 63264 on Water: Reform, what her planned timetable is for the implementation of wider reform one. \p Emma Hardy: In November 2024, the Government, jointly with the Welsh Government, consulted on Reforms to The Bathing Water Regulations 2013, in the first shake-up to the Bathing Water Regulations since they were introduced.

We have begun policy development and research, including epidemiological studies, to determine how best to implement both of the wider these reforms detailed in this consultation consulted on; clarifying and expanding the definition of ‘bathers’ and using multiple monitoring points at each bathing water site to classify water quality. This work will take into account any potential environmental, societal and access impacts of these reforms. We are keen to work closely with stakeholders in the development of any future reforms and a timetable for any implementation will be agreed once this work has concluded.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 63716 on Bathing Water, what kind of epidemiological studies she is carrying out in relation to wider reforms. \p Emma Hardy: We have begun policy development and research on how best to implement the wider reforms as consulted on last year. These are expanding the definition of a ‘bather’ and introducing the use of multiple monitoring points at bathing sites. Policy development and research includes epidemiological studies which we are doing so that bathing waters can be used, monitored and classified with all users in mind. This research will also help us understand the public health implications and provide accurate advice. We are keen to work with stakeholders and welcome any information they can provide in developing this reform. We are exploring also the potential of conducting immersion studies as part of the research for the wider reforms.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether additional funding has been allocated to the Environment Agency to tackle waste crime in the current financial year. \p Mary Creagh: Defra works closely with the Environment Agency (EA) to ensure it is equipped to carry out its functions effectively and deliver for the public and the environment. The EA’s total budget for 2025 to 2026 has increased to £2,274 million and includes £10 million baselined for waste crime enforcement and additional £5.6 million this financial year to tackle waste crime.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has assessed the potential merits of a focus on plant-based foods in the forthcoming food strategy. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government is committed to ensuring access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food for all, and recognises the role that plant-based options can play in supporting a healthier, more sustainable, and resilient food system. Through the lens of a new food strategy, there is an opportunity to explore where we can go further to create a positive food culture with access to healthier diets for all.

The Eatwell Guide sets out government recommendations for a healthy diet. This guidance recognises the valuable contribution of plant-based foods and drinks, illustrating that both plant-based products and animal-based products can be part of a healthy balanced diet.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

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Carla Lockhart:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of global fertiliser supply chain disruptions on farmers in Northern Ireland; and what steps he is taking to mitigate the impact. \p Daniel Zeichner: We monitor both domestic and international fertiliser markets and remain in regular contact with a wide range of industry stakeholders.

Government regularly runs a duty suspensions process allowing businesses to apply for duty suspensions (on imported raw inputs to production) to help them to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Enabling raw input prices to be more competitive can have a downward pressure on domestic prices.

Good nutrient management practices on farm also help make most efficient use of all sources of nutrients including bought in fertilisers. Government continues to monitor the functioning of the fertiliser supply chain and works closely with the sector in case of any disruptions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

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Carolyn Harris:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Food and Drink Sector Council last met; and when they plan to meet next. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Food and Drink Sector Council last met in October 2024. Since then we have set up the Food Strategy Advisory Board, Citizens Advisory Council, and continued our engagement with the F4 grouping of industry representative bodies as we develop the food strategy. We have engaged with over 400 individuals and organisations in the last four months culminating in the publication on 15 July 2025 in Towards a Good Food Cycle (link). We recognise the excellent work of the FDSC, and will make a further announcement on the future of our engagement in food strategy development in due course.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to encourage the use of a standardised puppy contract scheme, in the context of the one promoted by The Kennel Club. \p Daniel Zeichner: The statutory guidance that supports our dog breeding licensing scheme in England mandates the use of a puppy contract by high star-rated dog breeders. The contract was co-developed by key sector organisations and can be found here: The Puppy Contract - for responsible puppy breeding and buying.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether water companies are permitted to fund social tariffs by passing costs to other residential customers. \p Emma Hardy: Social Tariffs are voluntary schemes designed and administered by water companies to provide a discounted water bill to qualifying customers who are unable to pay their water bill in full.

These schemes are permitted to be funded through cross subsidies from customers under s44 Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support British farmers producing (a) cereal, (b) milk, (c) butter, (d) beef and (e) other staple food items. \p Daniel Zeichner: Ministers and Defra officials regularly engage with food retailers and producers on a wide range of food supply issues, including affordability and access to staple items such as cereal, milk, butter, and beef. These discussions form part of our ongoing efforts to ensure a resilient and fair food supply chain.

While pricing decisions remain a matter for individual businesses, we recognise the pressures facing both consumers and retailers. The Government continues to monitor food price trends closely and Defra’s Food Strategy, announced in December, will be considering how easily our citizens can access affordable, safe, nutritious, healthy food and we’ll be working across government and with the food supply chain to find solutions.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department spent on equipment for civil servants to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Daniel Zeichner: As was the case under the last government, the intended use of equipment purchased by civil servants is not recorded at the point of a purchase requisition being raised. This information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost, although the new Government is looking for ways to tighten up any potential waste in this area. Although that will of course not be sufficient in the long-term, it is still treats public money with more respect than previous Conservative administrations did.

Additionally, since the change of Government, Defra has agreed that a 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.
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Mr Angus MacDonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with stakeholders on his Department's plans to introduce whole site bans on bottom-towed fishing gear in Marine Protected Areas. \p Emma Hardy: The Marine Management Organisation and the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities assess fishing activity in the English MPAs they are responsible for and decide what management measures are required for the MPAs to meet their conservation objectives. Sometimes these management measures will involve a ban across the whole site, where the features to be protected cover the whole site. Potential fishing restrictions in MPAs can be discussed with stakeholders during site designation processes and then again when management measures might need to be introduced, including through calls for evidence and formal public consultations such as the one recently announced.
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Gavin Robinson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of banning the shooting of hares in their breeding season. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government considers the need for a close season for hares is justified more by animal welfare concerns than biodiversity and species conservation. In short, a close season should reduce the number of adult hares being shot in the breeding season, which runs from February to October, meaning that fewer leverets (infant hares) are left motherless and vulnerable to starvation and predation. A close season is also consistent with Natural England's advice on wildlife management that controlling species in their peak breeding season should be avoided unless genuinely essential and unavoidable. Defra Ministers therefore support the ambition to introduce a close season for hares in England and are considering how this can be brought forward.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times their Department has accepted in full the position of the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s (a) findings and (b) recommendations on (i) issuing an apology and (ii) other forms of redress in the last 10 years. \p Daniel Zeichner: Commercial sensitivities exist around aspects of this spend which could prejudice commercial interests. All spend in these areas are subject to the standard value for money assessments.
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Jeremy Corbyn:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure water companies are accountable to their users. \p Emma Hardy: The Government’s Water (Special Measures) Act provide the most significant increase in enforcement powers for the regulators in a decade, giving them the teeth they need to take tougher action against water companies in the next investment period. The Act also enables the public to hold companies to account through introducing new, statutory reporting requirements for emergency overflows and pollution incidents.

As announced in July 2024, consumers will gain powers to hold water company bosses to account through powerful new customer panels. The Water (Special Measures) Act now provides Ofwat with the power to make rules on company governance, including rules which achieve having arrangements in place for involving consumers in decisions that are likely to have an impact on consumer matters. Ofwat will conduct a consultation this summer that will determine the new rule and allow for the establishment of the panels.

The Independent Commission published its results today. This can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-water-commission-review-of-the-water-sector.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: The following table includes the number of lost department-issued devices by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs since 5 July 2024.

Breakdown of department-issued equipment type

Number of lost items

Mobile phones

51

Laptops

8

Ipads

5

Please see below further information relating to lost/stolen devices. To note these figures are provided by Calander year. Also to note, Defra only started separating out Lost/stolen out in 2023.

Period

Phone-Lost

Phone-Stolen

Laptop-Lost

Laptop-Stolen

iPad/Tablet-Lost

iPad/Tablet-Stolen

Total-Lost

Total-Stolen

2025-30th April

29

5

5

2

2

0

36

7

2024

58

10

34

14

7

4

99

28

2023

96

6

54

10

5

1

155

17

2022

106

N/A

37

N/A

5

N/A

148

N/A

We are continuing to take steps to reduce the number of instances of lost devices including reviewing our current processes and policies to ensure that devices are handled securely, recorded accurately and returned promptly when no longer required, whilst providing users with the right tools for their job.
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Steve Barclay:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Spring Statement 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the funding of the Farming and Countryside Programme on the net number of hectares of farmland farmed in a nature-friendly way. \p Daniel Zeichner: We are increasing the budget for sustainable farming and are investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery.

Funding for the Environmental Land Management Schemes paid to farmers will increase by 150% from £800 million in 2023/24 to £2 billion by 2028/29.

As a result of the Government’s determination to get more farmers to participate, there are now 50,000 farm businesses and half of all farmed land now managed under our schemes – with more money being spent through these schemes than at any point.
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Alistair Strathern:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of producing standards on implementing sustainable urban drainage for (a) landowners, (b) local authorities and (c) businesses. \p Emma Hardy: In June of this year, the Government introduced new national standards making clear that sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) should be designed to cope with changing climatic conditions as well as delivering wider water infrastructure benefits in the form of flood prevention and storm overflow reduction, offering reuse opportunities, reducing run off, and helping to improve water quality, amenity, and biodiversity. The standards should be used by local authorities when assessing applications for development which could affect drainage on or around the site, see paragraphs 181 and 182 of the National Planning Policy Framework.
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Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question 64425 on Malaria: Research, whether the positive rt-PCR tests were validated against viral cultures of West Nile virus. \p Daniel Zeichner: The samples were collected outside the cold chain, which means it was not possible to grow live virus from the mosquito blood meals or salivary glands. The validation is made by comparing the sequences with an international database of West Nile virus isolates and showed sequence identity with a cluster of other viruses from the WNV-1a branch.
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Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to include a commitment within his Department’s upcoming food strategy to establish a Food Partnership in every local authority area with opportunities for young people by 2030. \p Daniel Zeichner: The food strategy will articulate the outcomes we want from the food system enabling the Government, civil society, and the food industry work to shared goals and priorities. Local and place-based approaches will have a key role to play in delivery of these outcomes. We will continue to work with partners across the food system as we develop our approach.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to respond to the report entitled Review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender - Report 2: Barriers to research on sex and gender, published on 2 July 2025. \p Dame Nia Griffith: On 19 March 2025 the Government published a report by Professor Alice Sullivan, following an independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender. This report was commissioned by the previous administration.

Professor Sullivan has subsequently self-published further research in this area relating to “barriers to research on sex and gender”.

The Office for Students (OfS) published regulatory advice on 19 June 2025, providing guidance to the higher education (HE) sector on how they should fulfil their free speech duties under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 (the Act) and examples of how providers should fulfil their duties.

On 26 June 2025, the Minister for Women and Equalities published a policy paper on the future of the Act, setting out further details following the announcement on 15 January 2025. This paper sets in detail the duties and powers the OfS will be granted, when a legislative vehicle is secured, in order to regulate HE providers in relation to fulfilment of their free speech duties, and to put in place a complaints scheme to decide on free speech complaints from staff, external speakers and members of registered HE providers.
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Uma Kumaran:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to support bids for (a) the 2029 World Athletic Championships and (b) other major athletics events in London; and if she will hold discussions with the organisers of the UK bid for the 2029 World Athletic Championships. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is committed to delivering international events with pride, building upon the UK’s global reputation for excellence in staging major sporting events.

That is why I am pleased that we confirmed on 19 July that we will support a partnership bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships and World Para Athletic Championships in the UK.

Beyond this, we continue to work closely with our expert arm’s-length body UK Sport to explore all future hosting opportunities that will strengthen the UK’s major events pipeline. The UK has already secured a strong pipeline of events over the coming years, including the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, and UEFA 2028 European Championships, as well as backing a bid for the 2035 Football Women's World Cup.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help improve access to sport for (a) children and (b) young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Fylde constituency. \p Stephanie Peacock: Every child should have the opportunity to play sport and do regular physical activity including those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Prime Minister recently announced a new School Sport Partnerships approach and a new Enrichment Framework for schools to ensure all young people have equal access to high-quality sport and extracurricular activity. The ongoing independent expert-led review of the curriculum will ensure that all children can engage with a broad range of subjects, including PE and sport.

On 20 June 2025, the Culture Secretary announced that following the Spending Review, at least £400 million is going to be invested into new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities in communities right across the UK, supporting the Government's Plan for Change. We will now work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs, including for children and young people, and then set out further plans.

In the last financial year, 2024-25, Sport England, our Arm’s Length Body for community sport, invested £11,750 into the Fylde constituency to improve access to sport and physical activity.
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Sir Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that older people can engage in community sports in the West Midlands. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, including older people, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

Sport and physical activity play a vital role in driving positive public health outcomes by preventing, and helping to treat and manage, a wide range of health conditions as well as providing wider benefits, for example, in tackling loneliness.

Sport England, our Arm’s Length Body for community sport, are investing up to £250 million of National Lottery and Exchequer funding into more than 90 Place Partnerships across England, including Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The programme works in a targeted way with local areas to understand and overcome the specific barriers in their communities to getting people active. Birmingham and Solihull were part of the first local delivery pilot areas the scheme is based on.

Sport England also provides support for grassroots sport through the Movement Fund, which offers crowdfunding pledges, grants and resources to improve physical activity opportunities for the people and communities who need it the most, including older people.
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Stephen Gethins:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has made to her EU counterparts on ensuring that UK citizens enjoy the same access to (a) museums, (b) historical sites and (c) other visitor attractions as EU citizens do. \p Chris Bryant: We would welcome moves by EU partners to promote greater access to their museums, especially considering the free access we provide to our national museums and galleries, but we are not members of the EU.
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Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to improve the (a) quality and (b) comparability of impact reporting by charities in receipt of public grant funding. \p Stephanie Peacock: DCMS is committed to comprehensive evaluation and impact reporting of our major grant funding programmes, including those delivered by charities. These evaluation reports are published on DCMS’ research page on GOV.UK.

Beyond impact reporting on DCMS’ own grant funding, we are working with civil society to improve the quality and comparability of data and evidence. One mechanism for this is the ‘Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ (‘the Charities SORP’) which ensures consistency and transparency across the sector, making charity accounts comparable, understandable and useful for donors, beneficiaries, and the public alike. The UK Charities SORP-making body has recently undertaken a public consultation on improvements to the Charities SORP which include improving information for beneficiaries, donors and the public about how charity resources are stewarded.

DCMS recognises the importance of good quality data and evidence on charities’ work, as well as the challenges charities can face in measuring and reporting on their impact. Through the Civil Society Covenant, published on 17 July, we will work in partnership with the sector to improve data collection and strengthen the sharing of information and best practice. This includes government making the data it collects more accessible and working with civil society organisations to improve transparency and accountability around the money they receive.
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Vikki Slade:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to exempt Ukraine from the ban on donations used to support military action. \p Stephanie Peacock: Providing support or military supplies to any foreign armed force is not a charitable purpose, and no UK charity can legally undertake such activity. There are no plans to change this. The Charity Commission for England and Wales published guidance in 2022 after the full-scale invasion on how charities and trustees can respond to the crises in Ukraine.
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Lewis Cocking:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of political impartiality in the BBC’s news and current affairs output. \p Stephanie Peacock: Under its Royal Charter, the BBC has a duty to deliver impartial and accurate news coverage and content, and the Government expects the BBC to uphold these standards. However, the government has not made an assessment of BBC impartiality as it is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the BBC, to hold the BBC to account on this duty.
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Dr Rosena Allin-Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure society lotteries are being run in the public interest. \p Stephanie Peacock: The department and the Gambling Commission have regular discussions covering gambling regulation, including society lotteries. The department has not held recent discussions with the Gambling Commission on the Health Lottery’s arrangements for distributing funds.

The Gambling Act 2005 provides for the definition of a non-commercial society lottery and how proceeds can be used. All licensed lottery operators are expected to put in place arrangements to make sure that the proceeds of each lottery are distributed in a lawful and compliant way. That includes ensuring that a minimum of 20% of proceeds are awarded to good causes.

The oversight of licences for society lotteries, including ensuring operators remain compliant with its statutory responsibilities, is a matter for the Gambling Commission.

More information about the Gambling Commission’s principles for licensing and regulation, compliance and enforcement under the Gambling Act 2005 can be found on the Commission’s website.
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Dame Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the importance of industrial heritage to the culture of historically industrial (a) cities and (b) towns. \p Chris Bryant: 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.
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Ellie Chowns: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. \p Chris Bryant: 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.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_457
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_457

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much their Department has spent on translating documents into languages other than (a) English and (b) other native UK languages in each year since 2023; and what these languages were. \p Stephanie Peacock: DCMS does not hold information to the level of detail requested within its finance system or procurement system.

Language service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers while maintaining high standards of service delivery.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_458

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, why her Department introduced a cap of £25,000 on claims through the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. \p Chris Bryant: The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme was previously funded to March 2025. In January this government announced that we would extend the Scheme for one year with an overall budget of £23 million in recognition of the importance of listed places of worship both in terms of heritage and to their local communities. This has enabled religious organisations to continue to claim grants in respect of eligible VAT costs paid towards repairs and renovations. To ensure this budget remains affordable, claims are now capped at £25,000 per place of worship. These changes to the scheme were necessary given the level of fiscal challenges we inherited, a number of unfunded commitments made by the previous government and the pressures on other parts of the heritage and cultural sectors. In terms of the evidential basis for decisions, the Department was able to look at average spend since 2017 and, without the cap, spending was c£29m out of a maximum envelope of £42m. To ensure this budget was affordable, a cap was introduced. Based on the Department’s analysis of this data, 94% of applications will be unaffected by the change, and most claims are under £5,000.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_459

Alison Hume:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to help support libraries to purchase e-books. \p Chris Bryant: The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 requires all local authorities to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. Public libraries are funded by local authorities and each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within available resources.

It is for each local authority to determine its stock management policy, including which books, audiobooks, e-books, e-audiobooks and other materials, are made available for the benefit of its residents. We expect library collections to be provided in a variety of formats.

The Government welcomes continued developments from the public library sector on e-licensing and e-book lending. Arts Council England funded Libraries Connected to deliver a pilot project to explore mutual benefits of increasing the affordability and availability of ebooks in public libraries. A project summary report was published in February 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_460

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Chair of the British Museum on the Parthenon Marbles. \p Chris Bryant: As the British Museum is a DCMS Arm’s Length Body, I regularly meet and talk with the Chair. The Parthenon Sculptures is one of a number of issues that we occasionally discuss.

Decisions relating to the care and management of the Parthenon Sculptures are a matter for the British Museum Trustees, acting within the law.

The Government has no plans to change the law that would permit a permanent move of the Parthenon Sculptures.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_461
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_461

Sarah Owen:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Sport England’s Planning Statutory Consultee status on the provision of sporting facilities in new housing developments. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is reviewing the statutory consultee system, including Sport England, to promote growth and unblock building.

The statutory consultee system must work in support of development and economic growth—reflecting the central place of these objectives in the Government’s plan for change. A process is in place to consult on the impacts of removing a limited number of statutory consultees, including Sport England.

Access to open green spaces and playing fields is important, and we will work closely with MHCLG as part of their proposed reforms, and we remain committed to ensuring our playing field capacity is protected.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_462
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_462

Andrew Griffith:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many prosecutions have been brought under the Breaching of Limits on Ticket Sales Regulations 2018 in each year since their coming into force; and what their outcomes were. \p Chris Bryant: To date there have been no recorded prosecutions under this offence.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_463
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_463

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the reprioritisation of high-cost subject funding for journalism courses on the aims of the local media strategy, announced in December 2024. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government has had to make tough prioritisation decisions driven by the challenging fiscal context that we inherited. For the Department of Education, this has meant prioritising support for high-cost subjects that are essential to delivery of our industrial strategy and core funding to support access to higher education for disadvantaged groups. It is important that the targeted funding allocated through the Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) supports courses that have higher costs of delivery and our Plan for Growth.

The Government’s commitment that opportunity is available for all remains unwavering, and we will achieve this by addressing gaps in access and outcomes faced by disadvantaged groups. That is why we have asked that the Office for Students retain the per-student funding rates for the full-time, part-time, disabled premium and mental health Student Premiums at their current level.  We have also maintained funding for Uni Connect, which delivers targeted interventions and support aimed at increasing the number of young people from under-represented groups going into further and higher education.

The Government also remains committed to supporting the invaluable role which journalism plays in the fabric of our society. We acknowledge journalism as an important and valued subject in higher education, alongside numerous other subjects that do not attract SPG high-cost subject funding, such as history, languages, economics, maths and law.

DCMS officials are engaging with the Department for Education, as well as the press sector and the key journalism professional bodies, to better understand the impact this will have on the journalism industry. These discussions form part of our planning for the DCMS Local Media Strategy. It is important to maintain a healthy and diverse pipeline of talent into the industry through the provision of journalism education opportunities. With this in mind, we are exploring through the Strategy whether more can be done to promote journalism as a career amongst young people, including through the DCMS-funded Creative Careers Programme which is intended to promote careers in the creative industries among young people and recently added the National Council for the Training of Journalists to its steering group.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_464

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the sustainability of (a) local radio and (b) news services in Lancashire; and what steps she is taking to support them. \p Stephanie Peacock: Sustainability of local journalism across the country is an area of particular concern for this Government, including local radio and news services in Lancashire. The Government understands the important work that local media does across the UK, including local outlets and radio such as the Lancs Live and Central Radio. We are developing a Local Media Strategy, in recognition of the importance of this vital sector. Our vision is a thriving local media that can continue to play an invaluable role as a key channel of trustworthy information at local level, reporting on the issues that matter to communities, reflecting their contributions and perspectives, and helping to foster a self-confident nation in which everyone feels that their contribution is part of an inclusive national story. In terms of support for local community radio, the Government has announced a major uplift in community radio funding, which will help stations in need of support to invest in staff, train volunteers, develop business plans, and reach wider audiences.

We are working across Government and with other stakeholders as the Strategy develops, and we recently held a roundtable discussion with local news editors to discuss our planned approach and collaboration with industry on the Strategy. An industry working group has now been set up to consider the issues in more detail and we will announce more in the coming months.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_465

Michael Wheeler:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the report by Barnado's and Co-op entitled Deeper Roots, Stronger Futures: Unlocking the Potential of Food Partnerships with Young People report, published on 7 July 2025, on her forthcoming youth strategy. \p Stephanie Peacock: We will review this report as part of our work to develop a new National Youth Strategy. The Strategy is being co-produced with young people and stakeholders working with and for young people, and the breadth of issues it covers will be shaped by our engagement.

The strategy will aim to better coordinate youth services, as well as move away from one-size-fits all approaches from central government, bringing power back to young people and their communities and rebuilding a thriving and sustainable sector. We will be publishing the strategy in the autumn.

Alongside this, Defra’s food strategy will articulate the outcomes we want from the food system enabling government, civil society, and the food industry to work to shared goals and priorities. Local and place-based approaches will have a key role to play in delivery of these outcomes. The government will continue to work with partners across the food system as we develop our approach.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_466
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_466

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64618 on UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland, whether he has received the first report of the Independent Monitoring Panel; and when he plans to publish it. \p Hilary Benn: The Government has not yet received the initial report of the Independent Monitoring Panel, whose first monitoring period ended on 30 June. We expect to receive the Panel’s report in due course and will publish it in accordance with the existing commitment to do so.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_467

Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64617 on the Independent Review on the Windsor Framework, whether he received the Independent Review of the Windsor Framework by 9 July 2025; and when he plans to publish it. \p Hilary Benn: Lord Murphy provided the final report of the Independent Review to the Government on 9 July 2025. The Government will publish it in full accordance with its existing obligations to do so.