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, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December to Question 95479, on Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme: VAT, how many applications to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme in the last 12 months exceeded the new £25,000 cap.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Since 1 December 2024, the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has received a total of 222 applications that exceeded a value of £25,000, with a combined requested value of £12,442,052. Of these, 162 claims totalling £8,793,024 were subsequently approved for payment. All approved claims relate to the 2024/25 financial year, before the new cap came into effect.
A total of 38 applications with a value in excess of £25k have been submitted since 1st April 2025. However, the value of grant award approved for payment against these claims was capped at £25k. I can confirm that since the annual cap of £25,000 per listed place of worship came into effect from 1 April 2025, no applicant has received funding above this £25,000 limit.
Asked by: Anna Sabine (Liberal Democrat - Frome and East Somerset)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has conducted an impact assessment on UK musicians regarding the additional CITES permit requirements that an Appendix I listing would require, including travel, touring logistics, and compliance impacts.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
DCMS has not conducted a formal impact assessment on UK musicians regarding the additional CITES permit requirements that an Appendix I listing would require.
Consultation on CITES proposals are led by DEFRA, who engaged extensively with the music sector and DCMS Officials ahead of the recent COP20 to understand potential implications of uplisting Brazilwood (Pernambuco) to Appendix I. This evidence informed the UK’s position to oppose an uplisting as it would have imposed significant negative impacts through increased administrative burdens and restrictions on the movement of finished bows, without delivering a clear conservation benefit.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the government has accessed the potential merits of expanding uniformed groups such as scouts, cubs and brownies on levels of skills and confidence among young people and tackling online driven isolation.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport commissioned an independent provider (Ipsos) to conduct an evaluation covering the Uniformed Youth Fund from 2022 to 2025, which was published on 11th September 2025. The research found uniformed youth organisations (UYOs) contribute to the social and emotional development of young people by providing them with structured activities and supportive environments, enhancing young people’s cooperation skills, communication, and confidence.
Whilst no assessment has been made of the role of uniformed groups in tackling online isolation, this Government is committed to supporting people to have the social connections they need. This is a key part of achieving wider government priorities including a healthier, more connected society and ensuring opportunities for all. Rather than treating loneliness as a stand alone issue we are embedding this across wider government strategies, including the National Youth Strategy.
Asked by: Melanie Onn (Labour - Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of her Department's funding for grassroots football clubs in (a) England, (b) areas of high deprivation and (c) Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes constituency.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to supporting grassroots sport, including football, and ensuring everyone has access to quality sport. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review.
This is on top of an additional £100 million we’re providing through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme through to April 2026. Of the funding, 50% will go to the 30% most deprived local authority areas.
Since 2022, grassroots clubs in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes received a total of £1,950,933 through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme, which funds projects such as goalposts and changing pavilions.
The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport in England through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Football Association which will receive up to £37.9 million for seven years from 2022 to 2029 to support grassroots football clubs.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support her Department provides to snooker (a) tournaments and (b) clubs and venues.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to supporting grassroots sport clubs that provide important hubs for communities up and down the country.
The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through our arm’s length body, Sport England. Since 2023, Sport England has provided £220,774 to multi-sport projects that featured support for snooker clubs.
No funding has been explicitly provided for tournaments as snooker’s governing body is principally self-funded through its own commercial activities. However, we recognise the Crucible Theatre’s unique status as the sport’s spiritual home. We are therefore actively engaging with partners to explore all viable options to keep the World Championship in Sheffield, ensuring this historic venue continues to inspire future generations to pick up a cue.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to increase access to grassroots multi-sport facilities in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to increasing access to high-quality grassroots sports facilities across the UK, which is why we are investing £98 million in 2025/26 through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme. Projects funded through the programme include new and upgraded artificial grass pitches, changing pavilions and floodlights.
The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding.
The Government has announced that at least £400 million will be invested in grassroots sports facilities across the UK over the next four years, ensuring we can continue to deliver high-quality multi-sport facilities in areas that require them to increase participation and allow people to be active.
Asked by: Callum Anderson (Labour - Buckingham and Bletchley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of tourism’s contribution to Buckinghamshire's rural economy.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS recognises the vital contribution of tourism to rural economies across England, including in Buckinghamshire, home to historic and cultural attractions including Bletchley Park and Waddesdon Manor as well as family attractions such as Bekonscot Model Village & Railway.
The British Tourist Authority, which is an arms-length body of DCMS, provides research and insights on domestic and inbound tourism in the UK. Their data reveals that for inbound travel, Buckinghamshire welcomed 305.6K visitors and a spend of £140.2 million in 2024. For domestic visits, Buckinghamshire welcomed 1.2 million trips and a spend of £191 million in the 24 months up to September 2024.
DCMS also works with the British Tourist Authority to champion visits to the British countryside to a worldwide audience with the aim of ensuring that the economic benefits of tourism are felt by all regions and nations.
Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with the hospitality industry in Surrey Heath constituency on staffing levels in the hotel sector.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS regularly engages with representatives of the hospitality industry, both nationally and regionally, to understand current challenges and opportunities in the sector, including staffing levels.
While we have not had discussions specifically with businesses in the Surrey Heath constituency, we work closely with industry bodies such as UKHospitality, which represent employers across the country (including those in Surrey Heath). Through these forums, the Government has listened to concerns about recruitment and retention, and continues to respond through a range of measures.
We will also set out our vision and ambition for the sector in our forthcoming Visitor Economy Growth Plan.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with FIFA on the pricing of participating member association's tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government understands the strong interest in ticket pricing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the impact it has on fans.
FIFA is an independent international body with its own governance structures. Ticket pricing is a commercial decision determined solely by the World Cup organisers, which are FIFA and the Host Nations (Canada, Mexico, and the United States).
Representations regarding the interests of fans fall to the respective football associations. The Football Association (FA), Scottish Football Association (SFA), Football Association of Wales (FAW), and Irish Football Association (IFA) are the recognised home nation representatives within the international football structure, and are the appropriate bodies to raise such matters with FIFA.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with (a) FIFA and (b) the FA on the price of tickets for England fans at the World Cup 2026.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government understands the strong interest in ticket pricing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the impact it has on fans.
FIFA is an independent international body with its own governance structures. Ticket pricing is a commercial decision determined solely by the World Cup organisers, which are FIFA and the Host Nations (Canada, Mexico, and the United States).
Representations regarding the interests of fans fall to the respective football associations. The Football Association (FA), Scottish Football Association (SFA), Football Association of Wales (FAW), and Irish Football Association (IFA) are the recognised home nation representatives within the international football structure, and are the appropriate bodies to raise such matters with FIFA.