Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the uptake to date of funding under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme during this financial year, and what level of funding they expect to provide in financial year 2026/27.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has allocated up to £23 million to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme in 2025/26. This year’s scheme will end on 31 March 2026 or when the budget is exhausted, whichever is the sooner. Funding after March 2026 will be considered as we work through the output of the Spending Review and Departmental business planning process.
In order to help applicants plan, we publish an online tracker showing remaining funding. This indicates remaining budget and is not an underspend. We typically see an upsurge in claims towards the end of the financial year. £7,774,560 worth of funding has been used to date. The tracker can be found at https://listed-places-of-worship-grant.dcms.gov.uk/.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many tourists from China have visited the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
From a peak of 883,000 visitors from China in 2019, the number of tourists from China visiting the United Kingdom over the past five years is as follows: 130,000 estimated visitors in 2020, 15,000 visitors in 2021, 47,000 in 2022, 368,000 in 2023 and the estimated forecast for 2024 is 573,000.
From a peak of 199,000 visitors from Russia in 2019, the number of tourists from Russia visiting the United Kingdom over the past five years is as follows: 61,000 estimated visitors in 2020, 23,000 visitors in 2021, 44,000 in 2022, 36,000 in 2023 and the estimated forecast for 2024 is 51,000.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many tourists from Russia have visited the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
From a peak of 883,000 visitors from China in 2019, the number of tourists from China visiting the United Kingdom over the past five years is as follows: 130,000 estimated visitors in 2020, 15,000 visitors in 2021, 47,000 in 2022, 368,000 in 2023 and the estimated forecast for 2024 is 573,000.
From a peak of 199,000 visitors from Russia in 2019, the number of tourists from Russia visiting the United Kingdom over the past five years is as follows: 61,000 estimated visitors in 2020, 23,000 visitors in 2021, 44,000 in 2022, 36,000 in 2023 and the estimated forecast for 2024 is 51,000.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, after the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020, Northern Ireland will be subject to the EU General Data Protection Regulation rules on data transfer even if the rest of the UK decides to introduce new rules.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
At the end of the transition period, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EUWA) will incorporate direct EU legislation into UK law, as well as saving EU-derived domestic legislation – collectively referred to as 'retained EU law'. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will become retained EU law for the whole of the UK.
We have made Regulations under the EUWA to make necessary and appropriate changes to the GDPR, which will become the UK GDPR, and the Data Protection Act 2018 so that the UK’s data protection law continues to function effectively after the transition period.
In respect of data transfer rules, the EU has an established mechanism to allow the unrestricted transfer (subject to GDPR compliance) of personal data to countries outside the EU, called ‘adequacy decisions’. At the end of the transition period, the UK will recognise EEA countries as continuing to be adequate for the purpose of the UK GDPR, so data can continue to flow from the UK to the EEA. In order for the free flow of data from the EEA to the UK to continue at the end of the transition period, we are seeking adequacy decisions from the EU under both the GDPR and the Law Enforcement Directive (LED). Adequacy talks between the UK and the EU began on 11 March and continue to progress.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when and where the Mobile Infrastructure Project will be rolled out in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The Mobile Infrastructure Project is being rolled out in Northern Ireland up to the end of March 2016.
There are currently 7 masts in build phase. These are located in:
• Derry and Strabane District
• Fermanagh and Omagh (2 sites)
• Lisburn and Castlereagh
• Mid Ulster (3 sites)
Planning permission was received for 4 sites. These sites are located in:
• Mid Ulster (3 sites)
• Newry, Mourne and Down
Planning applications were submitted but decisions awaiting for 5 other sites. These are located in:
• Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon
• Derry and Strabane District
• Fermanagh and Omagh (2 sites)
• Mid Ulster
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have paid any grants to the Gaelic Athletic Association in England.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Sport England can only award grants to the Gaelic Athletic Association if it is recognised as a governing body for Gaelic sports in England. Sport England is currently working with the Gaelic Athletic Association to explore how an English body can be established to seek recognition and be eligible to apply for Sport England grants.