Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the number of problem gamblers not receiving treatment between the ending of the voluntary gambling levy period and the distribution of funds collected under the statutory levy.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

It is a priority that in this crucial transition period, valuable support and treatment services for those experiencing gambling-related harm are protected. To ensure there is no disruption, operators must continue to provide financial contributions at their current levels until the levy is in force, and we have received reassurances from the industry that this will be delivered.

In addition, following the end of the current funding arrangement in line with the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) SR code 3.1.1, the levy will come into force in April this year with funding flowing for research, prevention and treatment as soon as possible. We will ensure funding is directed in a way which protects key services as the new support and treatment system is established.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39136 on the Independent Football Regulator, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Independent Football Regulator on the growth of the economy.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport are leading on setting up the Independent Football Regulator where they are looking to put in place a flexible and proportionate regime focused on ensuring the financial sustainability of the game, which will create the certain and stable regulatory environment required to drive the right kind of investment in, and growth of, English football.

The Regulator also has duties to avoid having any adverse effects on the competitiveness of any regulated club and on the financial growth of, or financial investment in, English football.

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 the (a) Chancellor of the Exchequer on Government funding and (b) Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on planning requirements for the England and Wales Cricket Board's proposed indoor test cricket venue.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport regularly engages with the Chancellor and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on a range of issues.

The responsibility for planning requirements and permission lies with local planning authorities (LPA) through the local authority.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many days each Minister has spent in her Department's Manchester office since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

Ministers visit the DCMS office in Manchester as their diaries permit. Most recently, all four DCMS Ministers visited the Manchester office on 10 April.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department is providing to early years providers in the private sector to mitigate the impact of increases to employer National Insurance contributions.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, improving the life chances for every child and the work choices for every parent. That also means ensuring the sector is financially sustainable and confident as it continues to deliver the entitlements and high quality early years provision going forward.

That is why, despite tough decisions to get public finances back on track, the government is continuing to prioritise and invest, supporting early education and childcare providers with the costs they face.

In the 2025/26 financial year alone, the department plans to spend over £8 billion on early years entitlements. We have also announced the largest ever uplift to the early years pupil premium, increasing the rate by over 45% compared to the 2024/25 financial year, equivalent to up to £570 per eligible child per year.

On top of this, the department is providing further supplementary funding of £75 million for the early years expansion grant to support the sector as it prepares to deliver the final phase of expanded childcare entitlements from September 2025, recognising the significant level of expansion needed and the effort and planning this will require. An additional £25 million is also being provided to public sector employers through the early years National Insurance contributions grant for 2025/26.

Early years childcare providers may also benefit from the Employment Allowance. Employment Allowance is being increased to protect businesses by providing relief of up to £10,500 per annum on their employer Class 1 National Insurance contributions liabilities from 6 April 2025. Early years childcare providers are entitled to claim the Employment Allowance if they are private businesses or charities and the department expects the vast majority will be eligible to do so.