Oral Answers to Questions

Martin Vickers Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Online Safety (Ian Murray)]

I congratulate Neil and everyone in the team at Medina Studios on putting together a fantastic proposal. We are supportive of areas that want to grow their film industry and the work that has gone into Medina Studios is very impressive indeed. The Government are committed to maximising the potential of the film industry and ensuring that growth benefits the whole of the UK. The Department funds the British Film Commission to support UK infrastructure, including studio space. The BFC promotes the entire UK, including the Isle of Wight, working hand in glove with Creative England on production support, where appropriate. I am pleased to note that the BFC has assisted Medina Studios. Funding from the growth mission fund is a matter for the Treasury. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend and I thank him for the way in which he champions the Isle of Wight through that project.

[Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)]

T2. Earlier this year, the Secretary of State was in Grimsby at the opening of the Horizon Youth Zone—a fantastic new facility that many of my constituents use. Equally, many of my constituents live in much more rural areas, so what plans does the Secretary of State have to provide better youth services in the more rural areas?

[Lisa Nandy]

It was a pleasure to be at the opening of that fantastic youth zone with the hon. Gentleman, and to see the queues of young people stretching far into the distance and the excitement it brought them. He is right that there is a particular challenge in rural communities. Through Youth Matters, our national youth strategy, we have taken restrictions off funding and our only stipulation is that young people must have meaningfully been able to drive those decisions. In order to address those concerns, we will fund transport and travel as well as facilities in places that have been overlooked.