Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with sporting bodies on the affordability of ticket prices for major sporting events.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is keen to see as many people as possible benefit from and enjoy the spectacle of live sport. Ultimately, the matter of ticket prices is a commercial decision for individual clubs, leagues, and governing bodies to take. However, the Government remains in ongoing conversation with many of these stakeholders on a variety of issues, including fan engagement and access.
In relation to those events that benefit from Government and/or UK Sport funding to facilitate, the Gold Framework guidance on bidding for and staging major sporting events is clear that any bids to host such events should provide evidence that accessibility in all its forms has been considered from the earliest stage. Whilst the ticket pricing strategy for individual major sporting events is a matter for the respective organisers of those events, particularly their international rights’ holders, the Government will always seek to work with partners to ensure that ticketing is as accessible as possible, and balances the need to ensure audience reach and commercial viability. For example, England is hosting the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup this summer, which has an inclusive and affordable range of tickets available, with tickets starting at £10 for adults and £5 for children.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to support affordable access to sporting events for young people.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is keen to see as many people as possible benefit from and enjoy the spectacle of live sport. Ultimately, the matter of ticket prices is a commercial decision for individual clubs, leagues, and governing bodies to take. However, the Government remains in ongoing conversation with many of these stakeholders on a variety of issues, including fan engagement and access.
In relation to those events that benefit from Government and/or UK Sport funding to facilitate, the Gold Framework guidance on bidding for and staging major sporting events is clear that any bids to host such events should provide evidence that accessibility in all its forms has been considered from the earliest stage. Whilst the ticket pricing strategy for individual major sporting events is a matter for the respective organisers of those events, particularly their international rights’ holders, the Government will always seek to work with partners to ensure that ticketing is as accessible as possible, and balances the need to ensure audience reach and commercial viability. For example, England is hosting the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup this summer, which has an inclusive and affordable range of tickets available, with tickets starting at £10 for adults and £5 for children.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to provide additional funding to UK Sport to support aspiring para athletes at the grassroots level.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding.
In Sport England's ten-year strategy, Uniting the Movement, they have ensured that each of their programmes directly help disabled people, and those with a long-term health condition, with initiatives like the 'We are Undefeatable' campaign and partnerships with disability sport organisations.
The Culture Secretary recently attended the launch of ParalympicGB’s Equal Play Campaign where she expressed her determination to put sport at the heart of the school curriculum. This includes opening up opportunities for all young people, including those with disabilities, to be able to access sport and physical activity at school.
To fund the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic talent, Sport England is investing £120 million to increase participation in sport and boost diversity at a grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all young people to explore and develop their potential.
Asked by: Andrew Cooper (Labour - Mid Cheshire)
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 ensure the adequacy of the level of provision of youth services.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This Government is committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential and recognises the vital role that youth services and activities play in improving their life chances and wellbeing.
As set out in section 507B of the Education Act 1996, local authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people. This is funded from the local government settlement
Additionally, as a government we are keen to ensure that there is appropriate youth provision to stop young people being drawn into crime and facing other poor outcomes. This is why we are creating the Young Futures programme, which will see the establishment of Prevention Partnerships in every local authority and the rollout of youth hubs across England and Wales. These Partnerships, supported by a network of hubs, will bring local services together and deliver support for young people to help them live safe and healthy lives.
This will build on the DCMS funding to invest £500 million in youth services to ensure every young person will have access to regular clubs and activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer.