Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she has taken to support traditional English sartorial culture and the related industry.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As part of the Creative Industries Sector Vision, the government announced £2 million funding to support five London Fashion Weeks over the next two years. This will go specifically towards supporting emerging designer talent and increasing access to the sector, delivered through the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN programme.
DCMS also supports the UK Research and Investment (UKRI) £15 million Circular Fashion programme, launched in 2022 to bring the sector, academia and government together to understand and drive the fashion and textiles industry towards sustainable and responsible practices. This programme will be critical in developing this area of research and meeting the goal of transforming the fashion and textiles sector to adopt economically viable and scalable circular models by 2032.
The textiles, fashion and craft industries play an important role in the UK’s social and cultural heritage, and are a major driver of economic growth. The UK is famous for its unrivalled creativity and innovation and it has a track record for producing some of the world’s most influential designers. Recognising this contribution, we are committed to supporting future growth in the sector. DCMS continues to engage with the British Fashion Council, the Crafts Council and the wider industries to understand the challenges the sectors are facing and how the government can best provide support.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to (a) promote the playing of rugby and (b) support the (i) maintenance and (ii) development of (A) rugby clubs and (B) their infrastructure in (1) England and (2) Romford constituency.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Supporting grassroots sport is a key government priority and we recognise the role of high quality accessible facilities in encouraging people to take part in sport and ensuring participation rates continue to grow. Our new strategy ‘Get Active’ sets out our ambition to build a more active nation, with a target to get 3.5 million more people classed as ‘active’ by 2030 including 1 million more children.
We provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through our arm’s length body, Sport England - which receives £323 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year. Sport England has invested £622,606 in the Romford constituency since 2020.
Since 2021, Sport England has provided over £22.6 million of support to programmes which facilitate participation in grassroots rugby league. This includes funding to the Rugby Football League.
In partnership with the National Lottery, Sport England has also supported the ‘CreatedBy’ capital grants programme. This delivered £26.4 million in legacy funding to celebrate England’s hosting of the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, providing investment in facilities and equipment to encourage participation.
Since 2020, Sport England has provided over £14 million of support to programmes which facilitate participation in grassroots rugby union. Additionally, in 2020/21 the Government provided £21,565,000 to rugby union clubs through the COVID-19 Sport Winter Survival Package. In 2022/23 we provided over £12.5 million of system partner funding to the Rugby Football Union to grow and develop the sport between the years 2022 and 2027.
The Government also funds some projects which benefit rugby through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme. Between 2021 and 2025, the UK Government is investing over £325 million to build or upgrade multi-sport grassroots facilities across the UK to ensure every community has the pitches and facilities it needs. Romford has received £10,491 for three projects through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help improve the quality of sports fields in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to delivering world class sports facilities across the country, so that everyone can take part in sport and physical activity. As part of this commitment, the Government is delivering an historic level of direct investment to build or upgrade thousands of grassroots facilities across the UK.
Over £363 million has been invested through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme since 2019 to provide new and improved football and multi-sport grassroots facilities across the whole of the UK. Funding is delivered via The Football Foundation’s partnership with the English FA and Premier League.
So far, Romford has received investment of £10,491 for three projects through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme, as well as £2,500 through the Park Tennis Court Renovation Programme and £174,828 through the Swimming Pool Support Fund. All projects can be viewed here on gov.uk.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has taken steps to support the musical tradition of the Church of England in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
HM Government has a strong commitment to all forms of music, including church music. Government support for church music is primarily channelled through Arts Council England, which between 2019/20 and 2023/24 has funded activity with a choral element or focus by more than £190 million. Although this funding is not specifically aimed at music traditional to the Church of England, this funding has supported the development, touring and promotion of choral music throughout England, including organisations the focus of which is on music in the tradition of the Church of England.
Government provides support for churches via the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which provides grants to cover the VAT expenses associated with repair and conservation of listed churches. This includes conservation efforts for monuments situated in listed places of worship. At present there is up to £42m available per year and this amount of funding has been secured until 31 March 2025. One of the eligible costs for the LPWGS is pipe organs permanently fixed to the structure of the listed building, with essential restoration and repair works being enabled through Government financial support. Since August 2022, £39,054,024 has been funded to historic churches across the UK through the grant scheme. In the Romford constituency specifically, the total funding since August 2022 has been £60,619.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - 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 is taking to help conserve historic churches in (a) the UK and (b) Romford constituency.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport supports the preservation of historic churches through financial assistance provided by the Department's Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme provides grants to cover the VAT expenses associated with repair and conservation of listed places of worship. This includes conservation efforts for monuments situated in listed places of worship. These grants apply when the monument is an integral part of the building's structure.
Since August 2022, £39,054,024 has been funded to historic churches across the UK through the grant scheme. In the Romford constituency specifically, the total funding since August 2022 has been £60,619.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 her Irish counterpart on the potential merits of a joint bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The UK has continued to build its reputation as a world-leading host of the biggest major sporting events since the London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012.
Neither I nor the Secretary of State have had any discussions with Irish counterparts on the consideration of either a UK or joint bid for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government has plans to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the 1924 British Empire Exhibition.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS has no plans to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the 1924 British Empire Exhibition.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding her Department has provided to Girlguiding UK in each of the last five years.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The table below sets out the breakdown of funding provided by my department for the last five years (2018 until present day). Please note that this table only includes direct government funding from DCMS and excludes funding from Other Government Departments, arms length bodies, local authorities and any other non-DCMS avenues of funding. Girlguiding may also indirectly benefit from other DCMS funding such as that delivered to other uniformed youth groups through the sharing of facilities with Scouts groups for instance.
Name of DCMS fund: | Breakdown of date and total amount of funding provided in GBP from the past 5 years (broken down by financial years): |
Uniformed Youth Fund 2018-19 | £718,458 (2018/19) |
Tampon Tax Fund | £120,000 (2018/19) £30,000 (2019/20) |
Big Night In Fund | £4,865.26 (2020/21) |
Youth Covid-19 Support Fund | £2,858,000 (2020/21) |
Adventures Away from Home Fund (Phase 1) | £20,560 (2022/23) |
Youth Investment Fund (YIF), Phase 1 | £167,658.00 (2021/22) |
Uniformed Youth New Groups Fund | £201,108 (2022/23) |
Uniformed Youth Fund 2022-25 | £1,907,170 (2022-25) |
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
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 implications for her policies of the decision by Girlguiding UK to cease operations in British Overseas Territories; and whether her Department is providing support to those territories as a result of that decision.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
This Government is committed to protecting the United Kingdom’s core national interests, ensuring the prosperity of the British people across the Overseas Territories.
As an independent organisation it is for Girlguiding to set its own organisational direction. However, Government recognises the importance of Girlguiding to many girls in Overseas Territories. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, alongside colleagues in the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office and Ministry of Defence, are discussing this with Girlguiding.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department have made an assessment of the viability of the United Kingdom hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The UK is proud to have hosted the Commonwealth Games twice in the past decade. The record-breaking Birmingham Games in 2022 came in under budget and added at least £870 million of Gross Value Added to the UK economy, and hundreds of millions to the local economy in the West Midlands.
We are committed to working with the Commonwealth Games Federation and other Commonwealth countries to support a sustainable future for the Games. It is important that the Games remain a truly global event that gives athletes from around the world the chance to compete, and we continue to encourage the Commonwealth Games Federation to explore all hosting possibilities.