Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with HM Treasury officials on using taxation as a method to encourage physical activity.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
DCMS ministers and officials have regular meetings with their HMT counterparts on a range of issues, including on matters regarding physical activity. Following a consultation in summer 2016, Corporation Tax (CT) relief for contributions to grassroots sports will be expanded from 1 April 2017. This measure will make it easier for CT payers to receive a deduction for contributions to grassroots sports, thereby encouraging sports participation at a local level, and reducing administrative burdens for some organisations which currently make contributions to grassroots sports.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2017 to Question 64237, what steps she has taken since March 2017 to establish a network of employers which will bring together organisations keen to support and encourage their staff to be more physically active.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Government remains committed to establishing a network of employers in line with the recommendation set out in Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation. We are working with Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions to move this forward and hope to be able to make an announcement on this shortly.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many people under the age of 18 were regularly participating in sporting activities in (a) North Swindon constituency, (b) England and (c) the UK in each of the last five years.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The best sources of data available to identify the number of people participating in sporting activities in a) North Swindon constituency and b) England in each of the last five years is Sport England’s Active People Survey and its Active Lives Survey, both of which are accessible via Sport England’s website.
The Active People Survey collected data on participation rates across England from October 2005 to September 2016. The Active Lives Survey replaced the Active People Survey – using a different methodology to measure participation, but still focusing on England only - and was first published in January 2017. The attached table provided a detailed breakdown.
Both the Active People Survey and Active Lives Survey collect and provide data on people aged 16+. Data on the number below the age of 16 has not been collected to date, though Sport England is currently developing an Active Lives Children Survey, which will include data for children aged 5-15. The survey will be launched later this year with the first set of results available in early 2019.
Data on the number of people participating in sport across the UK as a whole is not collected because sport policy is a devolved matter.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many people were regularly participating in sporting activities in (a) North Swindon constituency, (b) England and (c) the UK in each of the last five years.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The best sources of data available to identify the number of people participating in sporting activities in a) North Swindon constituency and b) England in each of the last five years is Sport England’s Active People Survey and its Active Lives Survey, both of which are accessible via Sport England’s website.
The Active People Survey collected data on participation rates across England from October 2005 to September 2016. The Active Lives Survey replaced the Active People Survey – using a different methodology to measure participation, but still focusing on England only - and was first published in January 2017. The attached table provided a detailed breakdown.
Both the Active People Survey and Active Lives Survey collect and provide data on people aged 16+. Data on the number below the age of 16 has not been collected to date, though Sport England is currently developing an Active Lives Children Survey, which will include data for children aged 5-15. The survey will be launched later this year with the first set of results available in early 2019.
Data on the number of people participating in sport across the UK as a whole is not collected because sport policy is a devolved matter.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the British Racing Drivers' Club on the continuation of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC) has kept me informed about their discussions on the future of Formula 1 British Grand Prix. Both BRDC and the Formula One Group have said that they will continue discussions to look to secure the future of the British Grand Prix.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support fundraising mentoring in the charitable sector.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Government is committed to building the resilience and independence of smaller charities. Through our ongoing dialogue with representatives from across the sector, we know that small charities can struggle to raise the resources they need.
In recognition of this, the Office for Civil Society in England are providing a multi-year programme of fundraising training and support. In addition to face-to-face training, intensive one-to-one advice sessions and webinars, the programme includes skilled volunteer mentoring, connecting small charities with experienced fundraisers to provide longer term support. The training and support will be provided at little or no cost and the providers will also develop and share fundraising training resources and toolkits to support small charities who might not be able to attend training.
Our vision is of a confident and capable sector, with the ability to raise funds from diverse sources. By increasing their long term sustainability, small charities can continue their vital role in helping to build a stronger society.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the capacity of smaller charities to fundraise.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Government is committed to building the resilience and independence of smaller charities. Through our ongoing dialogue with representatives from across the sector, we know that small charities can struggle to raise the resources they need.
In recognition of this, the Office for Civil Society in England are providing a multi-year programme of fundraising training and support. In addition to face-to-face training, intensive one-to-one advice sessions and webinars, the programme includes skilled volunteer mentoring, connecting small charities with experienced fundraisers to provide longer term support. The training and support will be provided at little or no cost and the providers will also develop and share fundraising training resources and toolkits to support small charities who might not be able to attend training.
Our vision is of a confident and capable sector, with the ability to raise funds from diverse sources. By increasing their long term sustainability, small charities can continue their vital role in helping to build a stronger society.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
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 progress of the Fundraising Regulator in improving standards in charity fundraising.
Answered by Rob Wilson
Since its launch in July 2016, the Fundraising Regulator has taken ownership of the Code of Fundraising Practice and is consulting on strengthening it. The regulator is handling public complaints about poor fundraising practices. Proposals for the Fundraising Preference Service, to help people opt out of receiving charity fundraising communications, have been developed and the new service is due to start in summer 2017.
Most large fundraising charities have already shown their commitment to best practice by supporting the Fundraising Regulator and paying its levy. The Government has reserve powers to intervene if the level of support for the Fundraising Regulator from the charity sector is insufficient.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
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 the Secretary of State for Education on increasing the number of children participating in sport in schools.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people, particularly those who are currently least active or from under-represented groups, have the best opportunities to engage in sport and physical activity.
The Secretary of State regularly meets the Secretary of State for Education. Our Departments work closely together on school sport, including through the Ministerial School Sport Board which I attend along with the Minister for Vulnerable Children and Families and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Innovation.
Asked by: Justin Tomlinson (Conservative - North Swindon)
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 economic benefits of e-sports.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Industry estimates by Newzoo suggest that the global eSports market were projected to have reached $463 million in 2016. We are keen to grow eSports in the UK and are working with industry to identify opportunities in this sector.