Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport

DCMS is committed to ensuring tourism drives growth and jobs across the country, including the constituency of East Grinstead and Uckfield alongside both East and West Sussex, home to attractions including the historic Bluebell Railway and the iconic South Downs.

DCMS collaborates closely with VisitEngland and the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) network - including the Sussex and Brighton LVEP - to embed the distinct needs of coastal and rural tourism into national policy. Locally, the Sussex and Brighton LVEP bridges the public and private sectors to drive investment and promote the region as a premier destination to visit, live, work, and invest.

Through VisitBritain’s ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ campaign, we are showcasing the UK’s film and TV locations, like the Bluebell Railway featured in The Women in Black and Downton Abbey, to global audiences while promoting diverse experiences available across all regions.

To support domestic tourism, VisitEngland launched the latest phase of its ongoing coastal campaign in June. The ‘My coast has the most…’ campaign calls on voices from across the tourism industry to take part in a nationwide social media activation, sharing short videos that celebrate what makes their local coastlines special and inspiring people to visit this summer and beyond.

Through a temporary VAT cut on eligible attractions, the Great British Summer Savings Scheme drives family footfall and provides vital support to seasonal tourism businesses over the summer months.

The government recognises the important contribution live comedy makes to the UK’s economy and creative sectors.

In March, I hosted the first comedy sector roundtable, in which we discussed a number of ways to boost the sector, including strengthening the evidence of comedy's economic and social impact, and improving the sector's understanding of funding opportunities.

The government is also providing a £7 million grant to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society for 2024-26, and is taking action to support self-employed creatives, including appointing a Freelance Champion. Arts Council England already provides support to the comedy sector, which will also benefit from reforms as part of the Independent Review of Arts Council England, including improving the experience of funding applicants and exploring new support for individual creatives.

We are committed to taking action on the illegal gambling market. In the past year, we have established the Illegal Gambling Taskforce, which includes working with payment providers to help tackle the issue of payments relating to illegal gambling. We plan to report on the progress made by the Illegal Gambling Taskforce once it has completed its first year.

Estimating the size of the illegal market is made more difficult due to the changing nature of sites and channels through which customers are able to access illegal activity. The Gambling Commission is working to improve its evidence base around the illegal market. Last year the Commission was allocated an additional £26 million over the next three years to further tackle illegal gambling. We will continue to monitor any reports or findings regarding the prevalence of illegal gambling, including during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The government published details of behavioural costings assumptions relating to the gambling duty changes at Budget 2025. These assumptions capture the impact of an overall reduction in demand as a result of higher duty rates. The Office for Budget Responsibility also published details in their November 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

We are committed to taking action on the illegal gambling market. In the past year, we have established the Illegal Gambling Taskforce, which includes working with payment providers to help tackle the issue of payments relating to illegal gambling. We plan to report on the progress made by the Illegal Gambling Taskforce once it has completed its first year.

Estimating the size of the illegal market is made more difficult due to the changing nature of sites and channels through which customers are able to access illegal activity. The Gambling Commission is working to improve its evidence base around the illegal market. Last year the Commission was allocated an additional £26 million over the next three years to further tackle illegal gambling. We will continue to monitor any reports or findings regarding the prevalence of illegal gambling, including during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The government published details of behavioural costings assumptions relating to the gambling duty changes at Budget 2025. These assumptions capture the impact of an overall reduction in demand as a result of higher duty rates. The Office for Budget Responsibility also published details in their November 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

We are committed to taking action on the illegal gambling market. In the past year, we have established the Illegal Gambling Taskforce, which includes working with payment providers to help tackle the issue of payments relating to illegal gambling. We plan to report on the progress made by the Illegal Gambling Taskforce once it has completed its first year.

Estimating the size of the illegal market is made more difficult due to the changing nature of sites and channels through which customers are able to access illegal activity. The Gambling Commission is working to improve its evidence base around the illegal market. Last year the Commission was allocated an additional £26 million over the next three years to further tackle illegal gambling. We will continue to monitor any reports or findings regarding the prevalence of illegal gambling, including during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The government published details of behavioural costings assumptions relating to the gambling duty changes at Budget 2025. These assumptions capture the impact of an overall reduction in demand as a result of higher duty rates. The Office for Budget Responsibility also published details in their November 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

We are committed to taking action on the illegal gambling market. In the past year, we have established the Illegal Gambling Taskforce, which includes working with payment providers to help tackle the issue of payments relating to illegal gambling. We plan to report on the progress made by the Illegal Gambling Taskforce once it has completed its first year.

Estimating the size of the illegal market is made more difficult due to the changing nature of sites and channels through which customers are able to access illegal activity. The Gambling Commission is working to improve its evidence base around the illegal market. Last year the Commission was allocated an additional £26 million over the next three years to further tackle illegal gambling. We will continue to monitor any reports or findings regarding the prevalence of illegal gambling, including during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The government published details of behavioural costings assumptions relating to the gambling duty changes at Budget 2025. These assumptions capture the impact of an overall reduction in demand as a result of higher duty rates. The Office for Budget Responsibility also published details in their November 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Heritage skills, such as in stained glass, are an important part of our country’s heritage. The Government is investing significantly in apprenticeships through the Growth and Skills Levy, and in arts and heritage capital projects during this Parliament with nearly £200m of new funding over four years to support heritage.

This capital investment will support the pipeline of heritage construction projects and provide training and career opportunities in heritage skills. The Heritage Minister convened skills roundtables with the sector to encourage and support their commitment to building a sustainable skills pipeline.

DCMS is in discussions with Skills England, the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions to consider how the Growth and Skills Levy continues to support heritage-specific occupations.

Stained glass painting and making has been submitted to the UK’s new living heritage inventory, which if approved will provide formal recognition and aid in safeguarding this traditional skill.

Heritage skills, such as in stained glass, are an important part of our country’s heritage. The Government is investing significantly in apprenticeships through the Growth and Skills Levy, and in arts and heritage capital projects during this Parliament with nearly £200m of new funding over four years to support heritage.

This capital investment will support the pipeline of heritage construction projects and provide training and career opportunities in heritage skills. The Heritage Minister convened skills roundtables with the sector to encourage and support their commitment to building a sustainable skills pipeline.

DCMS is in discussions with Skills England, the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions to consider how the Growth and Skills Levy continues to support heritage-specific occupations.

Stained glass painting and making has been submitted to the UK’s new living heritage inventory, which if approved will provide formal recognition and aid in safeguarding this traditional skill.

In response to an assessment of the latest available scientific and medical data dealing with exposure to lead and the impact of the current permitted levels in the blood of employees, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently consulted on proposed changes to the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002. This gathered evidence to assess the impact of revised exposure levels on the working environment, including the heritage workforce and stained glass artists. To ensure the historic sector is fully considered, HSE engaged with heritage organisations like Historic England and the Institute of Conservation (ICON) stained glass group, and will discuss proposals with DWP and DCMS before finalising reforms.

The BBC is operationally independent from the government. As such, decisions on how licence fee income is spent are for the BBC itself.

The BBC Group Annual Report and Accounts is laid before Parliament and published annually in accordance with the Royal Charter. This report includes financial statements with a breakdown of BBC’s financial accounts including BBC’s expenditure.

As noted in the Common Understanding from the inaugural UK-EU Summit in May last year, the UK and EU are committed to cultural and artistic exchange, including through the activities of touring artists. This is a priority, as set out in the Government’s manifesto.

We continue to engage with the EU institutions and Member States, as well as music and arts industry stakeholders, to determine how to improve arrangements for artists who wish to perform across the European continent and to make the case for easements.

For instance, on 24 March, I co-chaired the first UK-European Commission High-Level Meeting on Culture with Commissioner Micallef (Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport) to support UK-EU cultural cooperation. I also attended an industry panel session at the European Parliament, hosted by MEPs Hannes Heide and Bogdan Zdrojewski in collaboration with the Cultural Exchange Coalition, focused on strengthening UK-EU cultural exchange, including removing barriers to cross-border touring.

We remain committed to securing improvements for our creative and cultural sectors and continuing to work closely with industry to ensure that these issues are clearly evidenced and understood.

We have taken ‘political appointees’ to mean special advisers. A list of special advisers by department is published each year in the Annual Report on Special Advisers which is laid in parliament. The Annual Report on Special Advisers 2026 will be published in due course.

Each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within their available resources.

Core funding for libraries is through the Local Government Finance Settlement. In 2026-27 the government will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26.

In January 2026 the DCMS Secretary of State announced continued investment in the Libraries Improvement Fund, meaning £27.5 million over the period 2025-30. This will enable library services across England to invest in a range of projects to upgrade buildings and technology.

DCMS also supports library services with discussions on proposed changes to their statutory library service and best practice from other library services who have undertaken similar changes.

On 20 May, this government announced the £92 million Places of Worship Renewal Fund to support capital works keeping listed places of worship safe, open, and in public use. Community benefit is considered as part of the assessment.

We also provide the Churches Conservation Trust £3 million per annum to maintain more than 350 churches, and are providing £42 million to support communities to take on the buildings they love, including buildings that were places of worship, through the Heritage Revival Fund.

The Government is committed to adopting artificial intelligence in a way that is transparent, responsible and accountable to the public.

Information about algorithmic and AI tools used by government departments to support decisions that affect members of the public, or that have a significant influence on a decision-making process with public effect, is published through the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS has been mandatory for central government departments since 2024, and records are published on GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/algorithmic-transparency-records. In addition, departments may use other internal tools which do not fall within the scope of the Standard.

In line with public procurement transparency requirements, departments publish contractual information for AI services and tools on Contracts Finder and, where above the relevant threshold, on the Find a Tender Service.

AI services and tools are accessed across government through a range of commercial routes. Departments may contract directly with AI providers, access AI products via intermediated routes such as reseller arrangements where the contractual relationship sits with a partner rather than the underlying provider, or use AI capabilities delivered as features within existing enterprise software and platform contracts (for example productivity, HR or service management tools).

AI represents a significant opportunity for DCMS, alongside other government departments, to enhance how we work and to improve the quality, efficiency and impact of policy design and delivery.

DCMS currently holds contracts with Google for the use of Google Gemini and Phoenix Software for Microsoft 365 Copilot. We also use a number of approved and assured central government tools such as Consult, Assist and Parlex.

The use of AI tools and technologies in DCMS is driven by an approach, where all AI outputs are comprehensively reviewed and evaluated before any use in evidence synthesis, drafting or briefing, with explicit human ownership, oversight and accountability.

The Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) are responsible for setting the UK Advertising Codes to ensure that advertising in the UK abides by the principles of being legal, decent, honest and truthful.

The interpretation of these rules and enforcement against them is a matter for the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), and is considered on a case by case basis. This work is conducted independently of the government.

Appointments to the Board of the Tate are made by the Prime Minister. These appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and vacancies are advertised on the Public Appointments digital service, where candidates can submit applications. Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. A full-term reappointment and three nine-month extensions for Trustees were announced on 05 June 2026 to ensure continuity on the Board.

The Government will invest £400m in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minority communities.

We provide the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.

We are ensuring that future grassroots sports facilities funding programmes are tailored to local demand, and provide communities with year-round facilities where that demand exists. We are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities, which means delivering a range of facilities across the UK.

Through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities (MSGF) Programme, we are ensuring investment reaches those who need it most. In 2026/27, we are investing in artificial grass pitches, which play a crucial role in getting more people active across the UK. They provide year-round playing surfaces which can sustain up to 80 hours of use per week - significantly more than grass pitches, helping more people to access the benefits of physical activity.

At least 40% of MSGF-funded projects will have a multi-sport offer to allow more people to participate in sports other than football. This means that more people can get access to a wider variety of sports and activities that appeal to them including rugby, cricket and basketball. Projects are also required to generate partner funding, ensuring we achieve value for money on Government investment.

The Government will invest £400m in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minority communities.

We provide the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.

We are ensuring that future grassroots sports facilities funding programmes are tailored to local demand, and provide communities with year-round facilities where that demand exists. We are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities, which means delivering a range of facilities across the UK.

Through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities (MSGF) Programme, we are ensuring investment reaches those who need it most. In 2026/27, we are investing in artificial grass pitches, which play a crucial role in getting more people active across the UK. They provide year-round playing surfaces which can sustain up to 80 hours of use per week - significantly more than grass pitches, helping more people to access the benefits of physical activity.

At least 40% of MSGF-funded projects will have a multi-sport offer to allow more people to participate in sports other than football. This means that more people can get access to a wider variety of sports and activities that appeal to them including rugby, cricket and basketball. Projects are also required to generate partner funding, ensuring we achieve value for money on Government investment.

The Government will invest £400m in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minority communities.

We provide the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.

We are ensuring that future grassroots sports facilities funding programmes are tailored to local demand, and provide communities with year-round facilities where that demand exists. We are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities, which means delivering a range of facilities across the UK.

Through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities (MSGF) Programme, we are ensuring investment reaches those who need it most. In 2026/27, we are investing in artificial grass pitches, which play a crucial role in getting more people active across the UK. They provide year-round playing surfaces which can sustain up to 80 hours of use per week - significantly more than grass pitches, helping more people to access the benefits of physical activity.

At least 40% of MSGF-funded projects will have a multi-sport offer to allow more people to participate in sports other than football. This means that more people can get access to a wider variety of sports and activities that appeal to them including rugby, cricket and basketball. Projects are also required to generate partner funding, ensuring we achieve value for money on Government investment.

The Government will invest £400m in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minority communities.

We provide the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.

We are ensuring that future grassroots sports facilities funding programmes are tailored to local demand, and provide communities with year-round facilities where that demand exists. We are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities, which means delivering a range of facilities across the UK.

Through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities (MSGF) Programme, we are ensuring investment reaches those who need it most. In 2026/27, we are investing in artificial grass pitches, which play a crucial role in getting more people active across the UK. They provide year-round playing surfaces which can sustain up to 80 hours of use per week - significantly more than grass pitches, helping more people to access the benefits of physical activity.

At least 40% of MSGF-funded projects will have a multi-sport offer to allow more people to participate in sports other than football. This means that more people can get access to a wider variety of sports and activities that appeal to them including rugby, cricket and basketball. Projects are also required to generate partner funding, ensuring we achieve value for money on Government investment.

The Government will invest £400m in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minority communities.

We provide the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.

We are ensuring that future grassroots sports facilities funding programmes are tailored to local demand, and provide communities with year-round facilities where that demand exists. We are committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities, which means delivering a range of facilities across the UK.

Through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities (MSGF) Programme, we are ensuring investment reaches those who need it most. In 2026/27, we are investing in artificial grass pitches, which play a crucial role in getting more people active across the UK. They provide year-round playing surfaces which can sustain up to 80 hours of use per week - significantly more than grass pitches, helping more people to access the benefits of physical activity.

At least 40% of MSGF-funded projects will have a multi-sport offer to allow more people to participate in sports other than football. This means that more people can get access to a wider variety of sports and activities that appeal to them including rugby, cricket and basketball. Projects are also required to generate partner funding, ensuring we achieve value for money on Government investment.

Ministers and officials across government continue to regularly meet with representatives from civil society to ensure the sector is able to voice its interests.

I debated the matter of employer National Insurance contributions and the charity sector with colleagues in Westminster Hall last year and the Hansard record is available online.

DCMS has given £800,000 capital investment to build the new Mobile Museum and arts access charity Art Explora has matchfunded the costs of three 12-week tours annually for the next 4 years.

The aim of the mobile museum is to make the nation’s artworks more accessible for thousands of people, primarily school children, who would not otherwise be able to visit their local museum.

The mobile museum will also spotlight and encourage visits to local museums around the country. Over four years from 2027, the new UK mobile museum will take artworks from the nation’s collections into the heart of communities right across the country, focusing on towns and rural areas currently with low engagement with the arts.

With 36-40 weeks of touring annually, the mobile museum will visit 40-45 locations annually. It is expected to reach 100,000 visitors and 520-600 schools in the first committed 4 years of operations.

Ongoing evaluation will track audience reach, engagement levels, and social impact, ensuring ongoing assessment of outcomes against investment.

The mobile museum complements permanent infrastructure by reaching communities in between cultural venues and can be set up in local schools, parks, and high streets. This announcement is in addition to up to £1.5 billion in funding for the cultural sector to protect and restore permanent arts venues across England, announced by the Culture Secretary earlier this year.

The touring routes of the mobile museum will be focused on DCMS Culture Priority places, identifying areas in England where investment has been too low, reaching audiences who might not otherwise engage with museums and galleries.

DCMS has given £800,000 capital investment to build the new Mobile Museum and arts access charity Art Explora has matchfunded the costs of three 12-week tours annually for the next 4 years.

The aim of the mobile museum is to make the nation’s artworks more accessible for thousands of people, primarily school children, who would not otherwise be able to visit their local museum.

The mobile museum will also spotlight and encourage visits to local museums around the country. Over four years from 2027, the new UK mobile museum will take artworks from the nation’s collections into the heart of communities right across the country, focusing on towns and rural areas currently with low engagement with the arts.

With 36-40 weeks of touring annually, the mobile museum will visit 40-45 locations annually. It is expected to reach 100,000 visitors and 520-600 schools in the first committed 4 years of operations.

Ongoing evaluation will track audience reach, engagement levels, and social impact, ensuring ongoing assessment of outcomes against investment.

The mobile museum complements permanent infrastructure by reaching communities in between cultural venues and can be set up in local schools, parks, and high streets. This announcement is in addition to up to £1.5 billion in funding for the cultural sector to protect and restore permanent arts venues across England, announced by the Culture Secretary earlier this year.

The touring routes of the mobile museum will be focused on DCMS Culture Priority places, identifying areas in England where investment has been too low, reaching audiences who might not otherwise engage with museums and galleries.

DCMS has given £800,000 capital investment to build the new Mobile Museum and arts access charity Art Explora has matchfunded the costs of three 12-week tours annually for the next 4 years.

The aim of the mobile museum is to make the nation’s artworks more accessible for thousands of people, primarily school children, who would not otherwise be able to visit their local museum.

The mobile museum will also spotlight and encourage visits to local museums around the country. Over four years from 2027, the new UK mobile museum will take artworks from the nation’s collections into the heart of communities right across the country, focusing on towns and rural areas currently with low engagement with the arts.

With 36-40 weeks of touring annually, the mobile museum will visit 40-45 locations annually. It is expected to reach 100,000 visitors and 520-600 schools in the first committed 4 years of operations.

Ongoing evaluation will track audience reach, engagement levels, and social impact, ensuring ongoing assessment of outcomes against investment.

The mobile museum complements permanent infrastructure by reaching communities in between cultural venues and can be set up in local schools, parks, and high streets. This announcement is in addition to up to £1.5 billion in funding for the cultural sector to protect and restore permanent arts venues across England, announced by the Culture Secretary earlier this year.

The touring routes of the mobile museum will be focused on DCMS Culture Priority places, identifying areas in England where investment has been too low, reaching audiences who might not otherwise engage with museums and galleries.

DCMS has given £800,000 capital investment to build the new Mobile Museum and arts access charity Art Explora has matchfunded the costs of three 12-week tours annually for the next 4 years.

The aim of the mobile museum is to make the nation’s artworks more accessible for thousands of people, primarily school children, who would not otherwise be able to visit their local museum.

The mobile museum will also spotlight and encourage visits to local museums around the country. Over four years from 2027, the new UK mobile museum will take artworks from the nation’s collections into the heart of communities right across the country, focusing on towns and rural areas currently with low engagement with the arts.

With 36-40 weeks of touring annually, the mobile museum will visit 40-45 locations annually. It is expected to reach 100,000 visitors and 520-600 schools in the first committed 4 years of operations.

Ongoing evaluation will track audience reach, engagement levels, and social impact, ensuring ongoing assessment of outcomes against investment.

The mobile museum complements permanent infrastructure by reaching communities in between cultural venues and can be set up in local schools, parks, and high streets. This announcement is in addition to up to £1.5 billion in funding for the cultural sector to protect and restore permanent arts venues across England, announced by the Culture Secretary earlier this year.

The touring routes of the mobile museum will be focused on DCMS Culture Priority places, identifying areas in England where investment has been too low, reaching audiences who might not otherwise engage with museums and galleries.

DCMS has given £800,000 capital investment to build the new Mobile Museum and arts access charity Art Explora has matchfunded the costs of three 12-week tours annually for the next 4 years.

The aim of the mobile museum is to make the nation’s artworks more accessible for thousands of people, primarily school children, who would not otherwise be able to visit their local museum.

The mobile museum will also spotlight and encourage visits to local museums around the country. Over four years from 2027, the new UK mobile museum will take artworks from the nation’s collections into the heart of communities right across the country, focusing on towns and rural areas currently with low engagement with the arts.

With 36-40 weeks of touring annually, the mobile museum will visit 40-45 locations annually. It is expected to reach 100,000 visitors and 520-600 schools in the first committed 4 years of operations.

Ongoing evaluation will track audience reach, engagement levels, and social impact, ensuring ongoing assessment of outcomes against investment.

The mobile museum complements permanent infrastructure by reaching communities in between cultural venues and can be set up in local schools, parks, and high streets. This announcement is in addition to up to £1.5 billion in funding for the cultural sector to protect and restore permanent arts venues across England, announced by the Culture Secretary earlier this year.

The touring routes of the mobile museum will be focused on DCMS Culture Priority places, identifying areas in England where investment has been too low, reaching audiences who might not otherwise engage with museums and galleries.

The safety and wellbeing of everyone participating in sport is absolutely paramount. The day-to-day management and operational safety of all outdoor sports facilities, including 5-a-side and 7-a-side football pitches, remains the legal responsibility of individual activity providers and facility operators.

To support the sector directly, our arm’s length body Sport England provides free digital toolkits and resources via Buddle, its flagship support platform for community sport. This includes tailored guidance on safety and welfare, equipping grassroots organisers and facility managers with the tools necessary to manage risks effectively during extreme heat events.

This is ultimately a matter for the Greater London Authority. At the request of the Mayor a review of the Fixed Estate Charge was undertaken by the Deputy Mayor of Planning, Regeneration and Skills, and published in February 2023. The review and the London Legacy Development Corporation’s response are both available online.

We welcome the publication of UK Music's landmark Black Music Means Business report, which highlights that Black music is a central commercial engine of the sector but rightly notes that equity and career progression have not kept pace.

We will soon launch a Music Plan which draws together all that the government is doing to make the UK the best place in the world to create, play and invest in music. This includes our commitment to launch a Music Growth Package of £30 million over three years from 2026 - we will ensure this investment is deployed effectively to support diverse creative enterprises, close opportunity gaps, and ensure that our world-leading music infrastructure remains fair, inclusive, and globally competitive.

The Government recognises the importance of gyms and leisure facilities, which are great spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and play an important role within communities.

We would encourage independent gyms to engage with Sport England’s Moving Communities platform, which gathers data on the performance of leisure facilities and their contribution to getting communities active.

I am committed to ensuring we continue to work closely with devolved governments, including on youth. I have met counterparts from the Northern Ireland Executive and my officials meet regularly with officials in the devolved governments to share best practice on youth programmes.

To date, £277.5 million of dormant assets funding has been allocated to Fair4All Finance to deliver financial inclusion initiatives. This includes £132.5 million allocated under the 2025 Dormant Assets Strategy. This funding will support financially excluded and under-served consumers to access affordable and useful products and services; as well as help build financial capability so that more people can manage their money well.

Fair4All Finance is overseen by the Oversight Trust, which acts as a governing parent to ensure funds are spent in line with the organisation's mission. Additionally, HM Treasury also maintains consistent engagement with Fair4All Finance to monitor progress and ensure delivery against its financial inclusion objectives.

The Cabinet Office and the Commissioner for Public Appointments publish annual data reports detailing public appointments made by government departments. These reports include data on various diversity metrics, including ethnic background.

To protect the identity of individuals within smaller ethnicity groups, the public appointment data is broken down by white and ethnic minority categories only. The reports are publicly available on GOV.UK.

• https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/publications/annual-reports/

• https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-public-appointments-data-report

The Cabinet Office and the Commissioner for Public Appointments publish annual data reports detailing public appointments made by government departments. These reports include data on various diversity metrics, including ethnic background.

To protect the identity of individuals within smaller ethnicity groups, the public appointment data is broken down by white and ethnic minority categories only. The reports are publicly available on GOV.UK.

• https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/publications/annual-reports/

• https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-public-appointments-data-report

The Cabinet Office and the Commissioner for Public Appointments publish annual data reports detailing public appointments made by government departments. These reports include data on various diversity metrics, including ethnic background.

To protect the identity of individuals within smaller ethnicity groups, the public appointment data is broken down by white and ethnic minority categories only. The reports are publicly available on GOV.UK.

• https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/publications/annual-reports/

• https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-public-appointments-data-report

The Cabinet Office and the Commissioner for Public Appointments publish annual data reports detailing public appointments made by government departments. These reports include data on various diversity metrics, including ethnic background.

To protect the identity of individuals within smaller ethnicity groups, the public appointment data is broken down by white and ethnic minority categories only. The reports are publicly available on GOV.UK.

• https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/publications/annual-reports/

• https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-public-appointments-data-report

The Cabinet Office and the Commissioner for Public Appointments publish annual data reports detailing public appointments made by government departments. These reports include data on various diversity metrics, including ethnic background.

To protect the identity of individuals within smaller ethnicity groups, the public appointment data is broken down by white and ethnic minority categories only. The reports are publicly available on GOV.UK.

• https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/publications/annual-reports/

• https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-public-appointments-data-report

The BBC has an important role to play in supporting the plurality of local news services in the UK.

The BBC is operationally independent of the government and the process for determining and allocating its budgets and external payments of the Local Democracy Reporting Service is therefore a matter for the BBC itself.

The BBC has an important role to play in supporting the plurality of local news services in the UK.

The BBC is operationally independent of the government and the process for determining and allocating its budgets and external payments of the Local Democracy Reporting Service is therefore a matter for the BBC itself.

The BBC has an important role to play in supporting the plurality of local news services in the UK.

The BBC is operationally independent of the government and the process for determining and allocating its budgets and external payments of the Local Democracy Reporting Service is therefore a matter for the BBC itself.

The BBC has an important role to play in supporting the plurality of local news services in the UK.

The BBC is operationally independent of the government and the process for determining and allocating its budgets and external payments of the Local Democracy Reporting Service is therefore a matter for the BBC itself.

The BBC has an important role to play in supporting the plurality of local news services in the UK.

The BBC is operationally independent of the government and the process for determining and allocating its budgets and external payments of the Local Democracy Reporting Service is therefore a matter for the BBC itself.