Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of Gift Aid claims have been rejected in each of the last five years.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The average processing times for Gift Aid claims over the last five tax years are below:
Tax Year | Average Working Days to Pay | ||
06/04/2024 | to | 05/04/2025 | 3.16 |
06/04/2023 | to | 05/04/2024 | 3.24 |
06/04/2022 | to | 05/04/2023 | 2.84 |
06/04/2021 | to | 05/04/2022 | 3.49 |
06/04/2020 | to | 05/04/2021 | 4.08 |
HMRC does not hold information centrally on what proportion of Gift Aid claims have been rejected in each of the last five years.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average processing time was for Gift Aid claims in each of the last five years.
Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The average processing times for Gift Aid claims over the last five tax years are below:
Tax Year | Average Working Days to Pay | ||
06/04/2024 | to | 05/04/2025 | 3.16 |
06/04/2023 | to | 05/04/2024 | 3.24 |
06/04/2022 | to | 05/04/2023 | 2.84 |
06/04/2021 | to | 05/04/2022 | 3.49 |
06/04/2020 | to | 05/04/2021 | 4.08 |
HMRC does not hold information centrally on what proportion of Gift Aid claims have been rejected in each of the last five years.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the tariff rate per patient was for (a) CT, (b) MRI and (c) ultrasound scans delivered in community diagnostic centres on (ii) 1 March and (ii) 1 June 2025.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The community diagnostic centre (CDC) tariff price list has evolved to align with the national payment scheme from April 2025. Tariff prices in CDCs are now consistent with acute and primary care provision so that the cost of the delivery of diagnostics is equitable with the rest of the National Health Service. The payment scheme can be found at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/2025-26-nhs-payment-scheme/
The cost differential over the Spending Review 2021 period allowed CDCs under construction to be supported financially with the additional costs of setting up a new service. The following table shows the CDC price tariffs for 2024/25:
Test type | Test name and description | Price |
Ultrasound (US) non-obstetric ultrasound (NOUS) | US (NOUS) without contrast | £52 |
US (NOUS) with contrast | £117 | |
Computed tomography (CT) | CT with contrast | £146 |
CT without contrast | £133 | |
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | MRI without contrast | £177 |
MRI with contrast | £264 |
In addition, the following table shows the 2025/26 national payment scheme prices:
Test type | Test name and description | Price |
Ultrasound (US) non-obstetric ultrasound (NOUS) | US (NOUS) without contrast (under 20 mins) | £48 |
US (NOUS) without contrast (over 20 mins) | £61 | |
US (NOUS) with contrast (under 20 mins) | £99 | |
US (NOUS) with contrast (over 20 mins) | £111 | |
Computed tomography (CT) | CT with contrast 1 area (Adult) | £98 |
CT with contrast 1 area (Paediatrics age 6 to 18 years old) | £161 | |
CT with contrast 2 area | £105 | |
CT with contrast 3 area | £115 | |
CT non contrast 1 area (Adult) | £78 | |
CT non contrast 1 area (Paediatrics age 6 to 18 years old) | £132 | |
CT non contrast 2 area | £85 | |
CT non contrast 3 area | £94 | |
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | MRI non contrast 1 area (Adult) | £129 |
MRI non contrast 1 area (Paediatric age 6 to 18 years old) | £217 | |
MRI non contrast 2 area | £155 | |
MRI non contrast more than 3 area | £222 | |
MRI with contrast 1 area (Adult) | £188 | |
MRI with contrast 1 area (Paediatric age 6 to 18 years old) | £329 |
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
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 the growth in unregulated large-scale prize draws on National Lottery ticket sales.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Prize draws are a significant and growing market. We want people who participate in prize draws to be confident that proportionate protections are in place.
We will be introducing a Voluntary Code for prize draw operators later this year. This Code will provide a uniform approach across the sector to strengthen player protections, increase transparency and improve accountability.
This approach allows us to take swift action collectively with the sector. The success of this code will dictate whether this Government decides that greater regulation may be required, including legislation.
Further information on this can be found in a Written Ministerial Statement published on Thursday 26 June 2025.
The independent research into the prize draws sector was published on 26 June 2026 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-report-online-prize-draws-and-competitions-market-study-assessment-of-harm-and-review-of-potential-interventions). The research gathered views from lottery stakeholders on the perceived impact of the prize draw market on the lotteries sector, including the National Lottery, but did not make a full assessment of this impact.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to publish a timetable for consulting on the regulation of large-scale prize draws.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Prize draws are a significant and growing market. We want people who participate in prize draws to be confident that proportionate protections are in place.
We will be introducing a Voluntary Code for prize draw operators later this year. This Code will provide a uniform approach across the sector to strengthen player protections, increase transparency and improve accountability.
This approach allows us to take swift action collectively with the sector. The success of this code will dictate whether this Government decides that greater regulation may be required, including legislation.
Further information on this can be found in a Written Ministerial Statement published on Thursday 26 June 2025.
The independent research into the prize draws sector was published on 26 June 2026 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-report-online-prize-draws-and-competitions-market-study-assessment-of-harm-and-review-of-potential-interventions). The research gathered views from lottery stakeholders on the perceived impact of the prize draw market on the lotteries sector, including the National Lottery, but did not make a full assessment of this impact.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to publish the independent research into large-scale commercial prize draws.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Prize draws are a significant and growing market. We want people who participate in prize draws to be confident that proportionate protections are in place.
We will be introducing a Voluntary Code for prize draw operators later this year. This Code will provide a uniform approach across the sector to strengthen player protections, increase transparency and improve accountability.
This approach allows us to take swift action collectively with the sector. The success of this code will dictate whether this Government decides that greater regulation may be required, including legislation.
Further information on this can be found in a Written Ministerial Statement published on Thursday 26 June 2025.
The independent research into the prize draws sector was published on 26 June 2026 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-report-online-prize-draws-and-competitions-market-study-assessment-of-harm-and-review-of-potential-interventions). The research gathered views from lottery stakeholders on the perceived impact of the prize draw market on the lotteries sector, including the National Lottery, but did not make a full assessment of this impact.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the limit on prizes for society lotteries.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Society lotteries are a vital fundraising tool for many charities, community groups, sports clubs and other non-commercial organisations. We want to see them continue to thrive, alongside the National Lottery.
The Government has taken the decision not to make further changes or to abolish society lottery limits at this time. Independent research shows that the existing society lottery sales limit only impacts one operator and increasing the annual sales limit could result in a decrease in National Lottery participation.
The Government wants a lotteries sector centred on one national lottery - The National Lottery - whilst continuing to support the hundreds of wider society lotteries that exist. This model has worked successfully for the last 30 years and created the conditions for the National Lottery to flourish and support life changing projects, alongside a thriving society lotteries sector.
Further information on this can be found in a Written Ministerial Statement published on Thursday 26 June 2025.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
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 help ensure that children have access to (a) safe and (b) welcoming spaces for (i) play and (ii) sport within their communities.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Playgrounds are a vital part of our social infrastructure. They contribute to the health and development of children and young people across the nation and build on the Government’s mission of opportunities for all by ensuring everyone has the best start in life.
The National Design Guide demonstrates how new development can promote inclusive design by creating buildings and spaces that are safe, social and inclusive. This should include spaces for comfort, relaxation and stimulation, including play.
In addition, everyone should be able to take part in sport safely. National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm. Whilst NGBs are independent of Government, we are clear that health and safety of participants, including children, must be their top priority.
The Government is investing £100 million through the Multi Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme to build and upgrade high-quality grassroots sports pitches and facilities in the communities across the UK that need it most, including children and young people.
On 20 June 2025, the Culture Secretary announced that following Spending Review, at least £400 million is going to be invested into new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities in communities right across the UK, supporting the Government's Plan for Change. We will work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
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 policy to provide funding for London Sport’s campaign entitled More Ball Games.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our arm’s length body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport at grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all as set out in its “Uniting the Movement” strategy.
For 2022-27, London Sport received £14,644,735 from Sport England as System Partner investment to contribute to delivering Uniting the Movement. Sport England have not given money directly to fund the “More Ball Games” campaign, but London Sport have a degree of autonomy on how they allocate their System Partner funding to contribute to Uniting the Movement.
Sport England will continue to work with its System Partners such as London Sport to increase opportunities for everyone to play grassroots sport and take part in physical activity.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of London Sport’s campaign entitled More Ball Games.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our arm’s length body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport at grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all as set out in its “Uniting the Movement” strategy.
For 2022-27, London Sport received £14,644,735 from Sport England as System Partner investment to contribute to delivering Uniting the Movement. Sport England have not given money directly to fund the “More Ball Games” campaign, but London Sport have a degree of autonomy on how they allocate their System Partner funding to contribute to Uniting the Movement.
Sport England will continue to work with its System Partners such as London Sport to increase opportunities for everyone to play grassroots sport and take part in physical activity.