Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 the level of risk of closure of zoos and aquariums as a result of increased operating costs; and what steps she is taking to mitigate that risk.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the significant contribution zoos and aquariums make to the visitor economy, supporting local growth and global conservation. DCMS monitors the sector's performance closely through VisitBritain/VisitEngland.
The Visitor Attraction Trends in England 2024 report demonstrates the sector's resilience, with England’s attractions reporting a 1.4% increase in visits and an 8% increase in gross revenue from 2023-2024. Major zoos remain among England's most popular paid attractions; Chester Zoo and ZSL London Zoo currently rank third and ninth respectively.
To support the sector, the Government has introduced targeted measures including permanently lower business rates for eligible retail, hospitality, and leisure properties, worth nearly £900 million annually.
DCMS continues to work with VisitBritain to champion visits to the British countryside and our world-class attractions to a worldwide audience. Local Visitor Economy Partnerships also have an important role to play in supporting the development of local tourism products and packages that encourage more visitors to come and stay for longer and benefit local communities.
The forthcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy will also provide a long-term framework to increase visitor flows and deliver sustainable growth across the UK.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 the potential impact of current economic conditions on visitor numbers and income for zoos and aquariums.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the significant contribution zoos and aquariums make to the visitor economy, supporting local growth and global conservation. DCMS monitors the sector's performance closely through VisitBritain/VisitEngland.
The Visitor Attraction Trends in England 2024 report demonstrates the sector's resilience, with England’s attractions reporting a 1.4% increase in visits and an 8% increase in gross revenue from 2023-2024. Major zoos remain among England's most popular paid attractions; Chester Zoo and ZSL London Zoo currently rank third and ninth respectively.
To support the sector, the Government has introduced targeted measures including permanently lower business rates for eligible retail, hospitality, and leisure properties, worth nearly £900 million annually.
DCMS continues to work with VisitBritain to champion visits to the British countryside and our world-class attractions to a worldwide audience. Local Visitor Economy Partnerships also have an important role to play in supporting the development of local tourism products and packages that encourage more visitors to come and stay for longer and benefit local communities.
The forthcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy will also provide a long-term framework to increase visitor flows and deliver sustainable growth across the UK.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department has taken to support the British Legion's Poppy appeal.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works closely with the Royal British Legion (RBL) on the organisation and delivery of the National Service of Remembrance and the DCMS broadcasts the service, with over 8,000 watching this year’s service.
All participants and volunteers are encouraged to support the Poppy Appeal by wearing a RBL poppy, which are made available alongside a donation point in DCMS HQ during the appeal period.
I attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on invitation from the Royal British Legion. Both myself and the Secretary of State attended the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, as well as attending a number of constituency events in Barnsley.
The Department has been delighted to lead on the VE/VJ 80 commemorations.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department has taken to help prevent British newspapers from being subject to foreign influence.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
This Government is committed to a pluralistic media landscape, and it is vital that the UK has in place strong measures to protect this. The Foreign State Influence (FSI) media merger regime is a key part of this; it prevents foreign states from being able - directly or indirectly - to control or influence the policy of UK newspapers and news periodicals.
In July 2025, DCMS passed targeted exceptions to the initial FSI newspapers regime, to allow certain state-owned investment funds - such as sovereign wealth funds or pension funds - to invest up to 15% in UK newspapers and news periodicals.
The 15% threshold is below the level which the Competition and Markets Authority considers to typically give rise to material influence when assessing jurisdiction under the Enterprise Act 2002. This approach will still limit any scope for foreign state control or influence of news organisations while giving them much-needed flexibility to seek business investment that supports their long-term sustainability.
In October 2025, DCMS laid before Parliament further changes to the Enterprise Act, proposing to apply a 15% cap on aggregate holdings of shares or voting rights in a newspaper owner by SOIs acting on behalf of foreign powers of different countries. It also introduces a requirement for SOIs acquiring more than 5% of shares or voting rights in a UK newspaper owner directly to give the Secretary of State a qualifying notification within 14 days of the acquisition being made, and publish appropriate details of that notification within the same timeframe. These Regulations will be debated when Parliamentary time allows, and subject to Parliamentary approval will come into force 31st January 2026.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with Ofcom on the levels of the BBC's (a) impartiality and (b) journalistic integrity.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Ministers and officials meet with Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues. It is ultimately for Ofcom, the independent regulator, to ensure the BBC is fulfilling its obligations to audiences as outlined in the Charter.
The BBC has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. That is particularly important when it comes to coverage of highly sensitive issues such as the conflict in Gaza.
The duty to accurately report on what is happening to people in Gaza is absolutely fundamental. That is why the Government believes that the BBC and others have a responsibility to exercise utmost care and due diligence in the way in which they report on this conflict.
This Government will not tolerate antisemitism, which has no place in our society.
The BBC itself has rightly acknowledged, where coverage, standards and enforcement of those standards has fallen short and the BBC Chair has recently set out actions to address these which we welcome. The Government does not however believe the BBC to be institutionally anti-semitic nor institutionally biased.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 Ofcom on allegations of antisemitism in the BBC.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Ministers and officials meet with Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues. It is ultimately for Ofcom, the independent regulator, to ensure the BBC is fulfilling its obligations to audiences as outlined in the Charter.
The BBC has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. That is particularly important when it comes to coverage of highly sensitive issues such as the conflict in Gaza.
The duty to accurately report on what is happening to people in Gaza is absolutely fundamental. That is why the Government believes that the BBC and others have a responsibility to exercise utmost care and due diligence in the way in which they report on this conflict.
This Government will not tolerate antisemitism, which has no place in our society.
The BBC itself has rightly acknowledged, where coverage, standards and enforcement of those standards has fallen short and the BBC Chair has recently set out actions to address these which we welcome. The Government does not however believe the BBC to be institutionally anti-semitic nor institutionally biased.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 IPSO on (a) Chinese and (b) Emirati links to The Telegraph.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport have had no discussions with IPSO about the Telegraph sale.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 Ofcom on the BBC's impartiality in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Ministers and officials meet with Ofcom regularly to discuss a range of issues. It is ultimately for Ofcom, the independent regulator, to ensure the BBC is fulfilling its obligations to audiences as outlined in the Charter.
The BBC has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. That is particularly important when it comes to coverage of highly sensitive issues such as the conflict in Gaza.
The duty to accurately report on what is happening to people in Gaza is absolutely fundamental. That is why the Government believes that the BBC and others have a responsibility to exercise utmost care and due diligence in the way in which they report on this conflict.
This Government will not tolerate antisemitism, which has no place in our society.
The BBC itself has rightly acknowledged, where coverage, standards and enforcement of those standards has fallen short and the BBC Chair has recently set out actions to address these which we welcome. The Government does not however believe the BBC to be institutionally anti-semitic nor institutionally biased.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her Department's policy to remove the legal obligation to pay the TV licence.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has committed to the licence fee for the remainder of this Charter period.
Looking ahead, Charter Review will consider a range of issues, including how the BBC can continue to prosper supported by a sustainable funding model. We are keeping an open mind about the future of the licence fee, and as we consider BBC funding as part of the Charter Review, we will also look at how we can ensure that enforcement is fair and proportionate.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the contribution of gaming machines to the level of pubs’ supplementary income.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the contribution of pubs to the nighttime economy in the UK, as well as the commercial pressures they face.
Although the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Gambling Commission do not hold official statistics on the contribution of gaming machines to the level of pubs’ supplementary income, we recognise that gaming machines are an important source of revenue to many pubs across the country.
Trade associations representing the pub sector, including the British Beer and Pub Association, UK Hospitality and the British Institute of Innkeeping, recently emphasised the importance of gaming machines in pubs, estimating that 48% of pubs have at least one gaming machine, with the total income from these machines equating to £622m per year.