Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps with relevant football bodies to help increase British Asian representation in football (a) on and (b) off the pitch.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
We welcome the football industry’s ongoing commitment to provide fair opportunities for all. Since the publication of the independent Fan-Led Review in November 2021, the football leagues and the sport’s national governing body, the Football Association (FA), have introduced enhanced equality requirements for football clubs. It is ultimately for the FA to decide on the specific aims and appropriate initiatives to increase diversity and inclusion in the sport.
The Code for Sports Governance sets out the standards all sporting organisations must meet in return for public funding from either UK Sport or Sport England. Sports organisations at Tier 3 of the Code, which includes the FA, are required to agree a diversity and inclusion action plan (DIAP) with Sport England and/or UK Sport, which will be published and updated annually.
The Government acknowledges that there is still more progress to be made and will continue to work with the leagues, the FA, and other organisations on this.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
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 the Football Association on increasing funding for drainage works on grass pitches.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is committed to helping all sports adapt to the impacts of climate change and works closely with the Football Association to improve the drainage facilities for grassroots football pitches. The Football Foundation, funded by the Government, the FA, and the Premier League, provides grants to help grassroots facilities improve pitch drainage and respond to the impacts of heavy rainfall.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Olympic Games on (a) her policies and (b) grassroots sports in Colne Valley constituency.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Sport is a huge part of our national story. Team GB has won a gold medal at every Summer Olympics since 1896 and the 14 gold medals at the Paris 2024 Games continues this record. Not only is success on the world stage a huge source of national pride, but it also inspires people of all ages to get involved in sport and physical activity.
The Government is committed to a legacy of the Paris Games that is measured not just in medals, but also in ensuring that everyone, everywhere, has access to and benefits from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.
The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our arm’s-length body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions. Sport England’s Movement Fund offers crowdfunding pledges, grants and resources to improve physical activity opportunities for the people and communities who need it the most.
Funding from the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme continues to be invested in England through Sport England and our delivery partner, the Football Foundation. As it has to date, this will continue to deliver high-quality, inclusive grassroots facilities that help more people access sport in Colne Valley.