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 charitable organisations working on loneliness among older people in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
From a government perspective, social connection is the golden thread running through much of our work. It will help us to achieve ambitions including creating a healthier society, more connected communities and ensuring opportunities for all.
This government also recognises the social benefits and connections that volunteering can offer to all, including older people. That is why DCMS is supporting the launch of The Big Help Out 2026, which this year will be running alongside the Big Lunch, bringing more people together including in Surrey Heath.
Government alone cannot improve social connection; collaboration is required across the public, private and civil society sectors. Charitable organisations have a key role to play. The government provides funding for the Tackling Loneliness Hub, an online forum for people including voluntary community groups, working to reduce loneliness and isolation to come together and share insights, research and best practice.
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 steps her Department is taking to support the (a) film and (b) television industry in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to spreading the benefits of our world-leading film and TV sector right across the country. That includes existing production hubs like Surrey - home to world-class facilities such as Longcross and Shepperton.
This is why we have maintained a 40% reduction on business rates for eligible film studios in England until 2034, directly supporting Surrey's studios and protecting local jobs and investment.
Further to this, the Creative Industries is one of eight growth-driving sectors in our Industrial Strategy. In June, we published a ten-year Sector Plan setting out over sixty commitments, with film and TV prioritised as a 'frontier industry' due to its high growth potential and strong connections across the wider economy.
To support this, we have announced a £75 million Screen Growth Package to bolster independent UK content, attract international investment, and showcase British cinema globally. This includes funding for the British Film Commission to drive inward investment into facilities like those in Surrey, stable and competitive tax reliefs such as the Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit, and a scaled-up UK Global Screen Fund to support co-productions and international distribution.
Asked by: Shaun Davies (Labour - Telford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what grants have been made by her Department in organisations (a) Telford constituency and (b) Telford and Wrekin Council.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and its Arms Length Bodies record Exchequer funded grants data on the Government Grant Information System. The Government Grant Information System does not record grants by constituency or local authority level, however we have conducted a search based on postcodes and have identified the attached list of grants awarded to organisations with a Telford since 2017 when central recording commenced. Information on grant giving can also be found at 360Giving (https://www.360giving.org/).
There will be instances where a grant has been given to an organisation with a postcode based outside of Telford but where the grant recipient will have spent some or all the grant within projects that included Telford. This analysis is not included as this information is not recorded on the Government Grant Information System.
Please note, information where a grant has been made to a voluntary sector organisation and that organisation has made onward grants in its own right is not included.
Asked by: Baroness Coffey (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people are employed by the non-departmental public bodies of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport through Skilled Worker visas.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport does not have a record of the number of people its non-departmental public bodies employ through Skilled Worker visas as they are operationally independent.
Asked by: Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for artificial intelligence to support national efforts to reduce loneliness; and what steps they are taking, if any, to develop or pilot artificial intelligence enabled interventions as part of their loneliness strategy.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Whilst there are currently no plans to use artificial intelligence in our efforts to reduce loneliness, the Government recognises the importance of using innovative approaches to address this issue.
The Government welcomes research and evidence on how artificial intelligence may be harnessed to safely support positive social connections. The government-funded Tackling Loneliness Hub recently published this blog on health innovation and the role of AI in strengthening social connection, and hosts a range of events for members to learn about novel approaches to addressing loneliness.
Our ambition to strengthen positive social connections and tackle loneliness is a key part of achieving wider government objectives to create a healthier society and more connected communities across all demographics. My department has been working hard to ensure social connection and loneliness are embedded across government policy making, including the recently published Pride in Place strategy, Men’s Health Strategy and National Youth Strategy.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce measures addressing AI-generated digital replicas of an individual's likeness or voice, particularly in relation to the entertainment industry.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government recognises that individuals, including those in the entertainment industry, wish to have control over the use of their voice or likeness in AI-generated content.
Government intervention requires careful consideration given the complex legal landscape.
The Government sought views on the issue in its copyright and AI consultation. It is considering all feedback received through the consultation and will publish a formal response in due course.
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 recent assessment her Department has made of the prevalence of (a) loneliness and (b) social isolation in (i) Surrey and (ii) Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The most recent Community Life Survey, which also looks at data on a local authority level, shows that 7% of adults in England (over three million people) say they are lonely.
This Government is committed to supporting people to have the social connections they need across the nation, including in Surrey and Surrey Heath. 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, the Pride in Place Strategy and the Men’s Health Strategy.
This government funds the Tackling Loneliness Hub, an online community which enables over 1000 members to connect across sectors in England, share insights, and collaborate. My department is currently exploring how to make the Hub even more accessible to a broader range of people whose work can reduce loneliness and improve social connection.
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 steps her Department is taking to reduce loneliness among (a) younger and (b) older demographics in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The most recent Community Life Survey, which also looks at data on a local authority level, shows that 7% of adults in England (over three million people) say they are lonely.
This Government is committed to supporting people to have the social connections they need across the nation, including in Surrey and Surrey Heath. 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, the Pride in Place Strategy and the Men’s Health Strategy.
This government funds the Tackling Loneliness Hub, an online community which enables over 1000 members to connect across sectors in England, share insights, and collaborate. My department is currently exploring how to make the Hub even more accessible to a broader range of people whose work can reduce loneliness and improve social connection.
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 recent assessment she has made of the public health impacts of loneliness in Surrey Heath constituency.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The most recent Community Life Survey, which also looks at data on a local authority level, shows that 7% of adults in England (over three million people) say they are lonely.
This Government is committed to supporting people to have the social connections they need across the nation, including in Surrey and Surrey Heath. 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, the Pride in Place Strategy and the Men’s Health Strategy.
This government funds the Tackling Loneliness Hub, an online community which enables over 1000 members to connect across sectors in England, share insights, and collaborate. My department is currently exploring how to make the Hub even more accessible to a broader range of people whose work can reduce loneliness and improve social connection.
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Southgate and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help support economic growth for (a) travel agents and (b) tour operators.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government has recently announced the Small Business Plan. It outlines how we will make thriving small and medium sized businesses, which includes travel agents and tour operators, a reality across the UK through the most significant package of legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlocking billions of pounds in finance to support businesses to invest; removing unnecessary red tape; revitalising the High Street as a place to do business; and delivering growth boosting support for Digital and AI Adoption with a new online Business Growth Service.
The British Tourist Authority (BTA) supports specialist travel businesses through marketing and trade opportunities, linking UK businesses with the travel trade globally through events.
In addition to this, the BTA offers training programmes, research insights, and targeted funding schemes that help travel businesses reach international markets and build capability. It connects operators with overseas buyers through both international trade events and UK based hosted buyer programmes, promotes bookable products via its platforms, and provides data, tools, and grants to strengthen the UK’s visitor economy.
The Government has also launched The Business Growth Service as part of the Small Business Plan. This makes it easier and quicker for businesses to get the help, support and advice they need to start, grow and succeed.