Membership-based Charity Organisations
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(2 days ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg, and I am glad to respond to this debate. I begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) on securing this important debate. The hon. Lady’s support for membership-based charities is evident from her speech and through her work as the Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. Of course, it is always a pleasure to hear from the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon). I thank him for his kind words. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who work, volunteer and donate to charities across the country.
The UK has many notable membership charities, including our great national museums and galleries, such as the V&A and the Tate, the caretakers of our heritage, including the National Trust and English Heritage, and our celebrated arts organisations, from the National Theatre to the English National Opera. The hon. Lady gave so many powerful examples, as did other Members. She rightly highlighted the huge number of people across the country who are supporters and members of these organisations.
The Government highly value the work that the sector does and the social value it delivers. It is an incredible force for public good. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to visit and meet with many charities, including the Samaritans, Citizens Advice, London Plus and the NCVO, to name just a few. Each has reminded me of the vital and inspiring work that charities do each day.
I will address the main concerns that the hon. Lady has rightly and understandably raised, and then talk about some of the broader support that the Government are offering the sector. I recognise, and I am very sympathetic to, the concerns raised by the hon. Lady about the implications of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act for charities with membership schemes.
Just two weeks ago, I spoke to some of our national museums about that very issue. I know that funds raised from membership schemes are a vital source of income for membership-based charities. Earlier this year, the Department for Business and Trade consulted on the secondary legislation that would be required and has since been engaging regularly with the sector to understand its concerns better and make sure its voices are heard. I am very grateful to the charitable sector for its engagement so far with the Department for Business and Trade on those proposals. I reassure hon. Members and charities that the Government continue to carefully consider these issues, particularly the cooling-off period and the additional administrative costs.
It is important to say that I did meet and speak to the relevant Minister, the Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Kate Dearden), and I would be very happy—she would be as well—to meet the hon. Member for Gosport to discuss this issue further. She will understand that this is not my policy area, but I have relayed the concerns to the DBT. I am confident that we will be able to find an acceptable solution, because the DBT will shortly publish the Government response to the consultation on subscription regulations, and we are committed to continuing close engagement with charities. Although I acknowledge that it is not my Department, I want to specifically address the point about the response to the letter, and a date for the roundtable, that she references. I will endeavour to get both those issues dealt with as soon as possible, to get her a date and a response. There is also the offer of a meeting with me and the relevant Minister.
On a related note, I hope that the charity sector will be reassured by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs’ guidance, which has been changed to set out its interim position, so that charities can continue to claim gift aid on eligible membership subscriptions. The Government’s intention remains that eligible charities can continue to claim gift aid on the same basis as now.
I acknowledge the concerns that Members have raised about the impact of national insurance contribution increases on charities. I have met representatives from the sector to discuss the NICs changes on more than one occasion, and of course we debated the issue in this Chamber in January. As part of last year’s Budget, the Government took a number of difficult decisions on tax, welfare and spending, to fix the public finances, fund public services and restore economic stability. In her open letter to the voluntary sector on the issue, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that raising the rate of employer national insurance contributions for charities was one of the most difficult decisions that she had to take in that Budget.
The Government recognise the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why we more than doubled the employment allowance, taking it from £5,000 to £10,500. That means that more than half of employers—including charities—with NICs liabilities will either gain or see no change this year, and eligible employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the national living wage and pay no employer NICs. In addition, we expanded eligibility for the employment allowance by removing the £100,000 eligibility threshold, to simplify and reform employer NICs so that all eligible employers now benefit, and all charities are eligible for the EA, even if they are wholly or mainly carrying out functions of a public nature.
I will now move on to some of the broader support that the Government are giving. I know that in recent years charities have faced significant challenges, including a difficult funding situation. I have seen that at first hand in my own constituency, where I am a patron of BIADS—Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support—which is a charity supporting people across the area. I recently met its representatives, alongside my constituency neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley North (Dan Jarvis)—the Minister for Security—to discuss its challenging circumstances. It is one of a number of brilliant Barnsley charities that support local people; its challenges are reflected across the borough.
The Government are committed to supporting the sector in a number of ways, including direct funding to aid its vital work. That includes the £270 million arts everywhere fund, which delivers on the Government’s “Plan for Change” to support growth and increase opportunities. It can provide support for organisations in need of urgent financial support and infrastructure work. In June, the DCMS published the Government’s first ever dormant assets strategy, setting out our ambitions for boosting participation, ensuring its continued good governance and illustrating how the next £440 million of funding will be distributed. In July, the Chancellor announced £500 million for the better futures fund—the largest outcome fund of its kind in the world—to support 200,000 struggling children, young people and their families through innovative impact funding projects.
Alongside direct funding, the Government continue to support charities via tax reliefs and exemptions. Charities and their donors received about £6.7 billion in tax reliefs in the 2024-25 tax year. The long-running gift aid scheme paid out more than £1.7 billion during that timeframe alone, benefiting more than 67,000 organisations. Charities also benefit from a range of VAT reliefs, estimated to be worth more than £1 billion annually. The Government are committed to removing tax barriers where possible. The Chancellor announced in the Budget that we are introducing a new VAT relief for business donations of goods to charities for onward distribution or use in their services. The new relief will boost the supply of essential items to charities, enabling them to reach the people and communities who need them most.
Cultural organisations, many of which are charities, also benefit from tax reliefs, which help to ensure that they can share their world-class productions, performances and arts with more people across the country. Since April 2025, theatres, orchestras, museums and galleries have benefited from higher tax relief rates of 40% for non-touring productions, and 45% for orchestral and touring productions. Finally, museums and galleries exhibition tax relief was also made permanent.
Charitable giving is one of the most commendable characteristics of British society, and the Government recognise the importance of fundraising to the charity sector. It would be remiss of me not to highlight the remarkable work being done across the impact economy sector and the vast potential for increasing funds for civil society. Charitable giving and philanthropic investment build on the British spirit of generosity. A remarkable £15 billion was donated to charities last year.
I have often heard that more can be done to grow philanthropic investment. That is why earlier this year I outlined how the Government will better connect, unlock and partner with philanthropists. As part of this work, the Secretary of State has committed to the development of a place-based philanthropy strategy. It will set out how the Government can create an environment that encourages philanthropists to support local communities and ensure that the benefits of philanthropy are felt nationwide.
We are going even further to promote investment in civil society. The recently launched Office for the Impact Economy provides a front door for investors and purpose-driven business to partner with Government to extend their social impact across the nation. DCMS will be working closely with the office to build capacity and capability, driving cross-Government strategy at all levels of government to make every pound of public funding go further.
As well as providing funding to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, the Government have committed to reducing administrative burdens on businesses, including charities, by 25% by the end of this Parliament. That is why in October I set out a series of changes that we will make next year to the financial thresholds for charities. Updating the financial thresholds will save charities an average of £47 million each year, while ensuring that the regulation of the sector remains proportionate and effective.
All that work is underpinned by the civil society covenant, which represents a fundamental shift in how the Government work with the sector. It is a recognition of the value that civil society brings, and a commitment to work in partnership to deliver better for citizens and communities. I was pleased to meet a number of civil society organisations at London City Hall a few weeks ago to discuss how the civil society covenant can help the Government to connect across the whole sector.
I am delighted that No. 10 this week announced plans for the civil society council, which will work in partnership with Government at the highest level to drive and oversee implementation of the covenant. Kate Lee, the chief executive officer of NCVO, will chair the council, and an expression of interest process, which opens this week, will identify members from across the diversity of civil society.
I again thank the hon. Member for Gosport, the Chair of the Select Committee, for securing this important debate and giving us all the opportunity to raise the profile of this important subject. I want to continue to further Government support for membership-based charities, whether that is direct or indirect financial assistance, improving the philanthropic environment, or bringing in charities to work more closely in partnership with the Government. I have heard the serious points she made, and I am happy to follow up with her after the debate.
Grassroots Cricket Clubs
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(3 days ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I am pleased to respond to this debate, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) on securing it. I applaud his work chairing the all-party parliamentary group for cricket. He is an incredibly important champion for the sport.
This nation has a rich and proud cricket history, and I am not going to pass judgment on how the Ashes are going—I will leave that to other Members—but I share the optimism of the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East (Joe Robertson), for a comeback.
In mentioning the Ashes, it is important to say that I know that the thoughts of the whole House are with the victims, families and everyone affected by the abhorrent Bondi Beach terrorist attack. Both teams will be wearing black armbands this evening.
I will begin my response to the debate by addressing some of the specific points put to me; I will address others as I progress. My hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield is right to point out that this year 2.5 million people played the game. It is incredibly important to communities up and down the country. I know that from my own constituency.
Monica Harding (Esher and Walton) (LD)
Does the Minister agree that grassroots cricket clubs are essential to community integration? I give the example of Thames Ditton cricket club, which welcomed the Afghan refugee community to play in its youth team. They made solid friendships, which will last for life.
Stephanie Peacock
The hon. Lady makes an incredibly important point—one that I am sure all Members agree with. Indeed, I have seen that in my own constituency of Barnsley South. I visited Darfield cricket club a few months ago, and since we last debated cricket in this Chamber, my town lost the late, great Dickie Bird, who hailed from Barnsley. I pay tribute to all the work he did over a long and happy life.
My hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Edgbaston (Preet Kaur Gill), who is no longer in her place, spoke about the importance of her local club, Harborne cricket club. Indeed, my cousin and his family have been members of that club for many years.
The hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) gave many examples of clubs in his local community, and his colleague from Northern Ireland, the hon. Member for South Antrim (Robin Swann), asked me specifically about engaging with my counterparts. I am always delighted to do that; I visited Northern Ireland a few weeks ago and met with and chaired a meeting of Sports Ministers. I am also due to meet them tomorrow in relation to a separate subject. I am always keen to engage.
There were a number of questions about private schools, and I can see the huge benefit from opening up facilities. A good example from Birmingham was given, and I will certainly reflect on the points made to the Department for Education. The hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) asked me specifically about class, disparity and some of the statistics. I share her concerns and her worry. To close that gap, we want to increase opportunities for state school children. We intend to start a new teacher-training programme, which aims to reach more than 160,000 students over the next year, and to train 1,000 teachers by 2030. I am happy to write to the hon. Lady with more details if she is interested.
My hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes (Melanie Onn) made an important point, which I really appreciate, about flood damage. I had a similar challenge in my own constituency, albeit with a football club, rather than a cricket club. Sport England’s movement fund can offer specific support for flood damaged facilities. I will perhaps write to my hon. Friend after the debate and can facilitate a meeting, if that would be helpful, with Sport England to help her and her club.
The hon. Member for Epping Forest (Dr Hudson), who is no longer in his place, made a point about broadcasting. We debated broadcasting and cricket on 9 September in this very Chamber. Broadcasting revenue is, of course, very important to the ECB and is reinvested into sport. The Lib Dem spokesperson, the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone), made a similar point. It is important to remember that the evidence shows that watching live sport is the thing that most inspires people to get involved, so it is a balance.
I will come to cricket domes shortly, but I want to address the point about funding head-on. Language is very important, and it is particularly important in this place. The hon. Member for Leicester South (Shockat Adam) spoke about a commitment and the previous Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for Richmond and Northallerton (Rishi Sunak). The hon. Member for Bath spoke about funding being cancelled, and the Opposition spokesperson, the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East, spoke about funding being allocated. The simple truth is that the previous Government announced £35 million, but it was not costed or delivered. This Government are not only funding facilities with £400 million over the spending review period, but also through Sport England funding of more than £250 million, and an additional £1.5 million for cricket domes, so I simply do not recognise the characterisation of the points that those three Members made.
The hon. Member for Leicester South made an important point about the importance of cricket to his community and gave an interesting overview of the long history of the sport. I want to pick up the point about the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket. My Department continues to monitor progress. I will reflect his comments to the ECB and I will write to him, and if it is helpful, we can certainly set up a meeting.
I know that I have not covered all the points, but I intend to address them in my speech. As we watch the England men’s team, it is important to remember that each player began their cricket journey at a grassroots club. Grassroots cricket reaches a broad and diverse range of communities. For example, a third of recreational players come from south Asian backgrounds that overwise make up just 8% of the overall population, as the hon. Member for Leicester South said. He asked specifically about women’s cricket, as did a number of other Members, which I will talk about a few times in my speech.
I have been delighted to see growth in women’s cricket, particularly over recent years. The England women’s team has inspired thousands of women and girls to pick up a cricket bat, and I applaud the team for its work to champion the game and for acting as role models for fans across the country. I am thrilled that England and Wales will be hosting the T20 women’s world cup next year. I look forward to watching some great cricket, but it will also be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the sport to new audiences.
The ECB’s investment in community cricket is supporting the growth in participation. I have had the pleasure of visiting a number of ECB’s cricket projects across the country, and I can attest to how that work, coupled with the exceptional and tireless support of volunteers, is helping people to discover a love for the sport. ECB figures show that 2024 was a record-breaking summer for all recreational cricket, with over 190,000 games played across England and Wales, which is up 12,500 on the previous best. I am sure all Members will join me in hoping that that upward trend continues in the figures for 2025 and the years to come.
As participation in the sport continues to grow, it is important that we recognise grassroots clubs and the positive contributions they make in their local communities. The Government recognise that grassroots sports clubs, including cricket clubs, are the beating heart of communities up and down the country. My hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Andy MacNae) asked me to reflect on the value of sport. I am really aware of its value as Sport Minister, and all the club volunteers I have met over the last 18 months have really brought that to life for me. The social value generated by sport and physical activity is calculated to be £123 billion a year, and we are committed to breaking down barriers to ensure that everyone has access to, and benefits from, quality sport and opportunities for physical activity.
Cricket clubs make a huge contribution to their communities, and I know that week in, week out, local people come together to support their clubs, their children’s teams and young players. They engage people from all backgrounds and foster an inclusive environment, as Members from across the House have outlined. I witnessed that during my visit to a women’s and girls’ cricket festival at Sheffield Collegiate cricket club, which brought together four local grassroots clubs. The club is a prime example of how cricket clubs provide important community hubs for a diverse range of people.
Cricket clubs also provide opportunities for young players, like Joe Root, to progress to the elite level. The Government provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests more than £250 million of Exchequer and lottery funding. That includes long-term investment in the ECB, which receives up to £13.4 million over seven years to invest in grassroots cricket initiatives in local communities and get people involved in cricket.
Earlier this year, I saw some of the great work that the Chance to Shine project does to provide opportunities for under-represented children to play, learn and develop through cricket at its 20-year impact report event in Parliament. I was delighted to see that work in action when I visited the Chance to Shine project in my constituency in Worsbrough in Barnsley last year. This Government are committed to supporting such initiatives, which not only break down barriers to participation but allow everyone to get involved in the sport they love.
I am particularly proud of the Government’s recent commitment to invest £1.5 million of capital funding for two new state-of-the-art cricket domes, one at Farington cricket club in Preston and the other in Luton. I was lucky enough to visit Luton women and girls cricket club earlier this year with the local Member of Parliament, my hon. Friend the Member for Luton North (Sarah Owen), and to hear at first hand how this investment will benefit local clubs. It was really inspiring to speak to the young girls involved in the club.
We are proud that this investment is in addition to the funding that Sport England provides the ECB to support grassroots participation. In June, we announced that a further £400 million will be invested in new and upgraded grassroots sports facilities, which will remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, including women and girls. This funding will support more women and girls to take part in the sport they love, particularly by ensuring that funded sites across the UK provide priority slots for women and girls. This is vital investment that will improve sports facilities, including cricket facilities, across England and Wales. Part of the work will involve assessing sports facilities in communities—for example, sports facilities that may be made available for wider use, a point raised by a number of Members.
Members have also raised the issue of planning. My hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield mentioned the importance of protecting cricket grounds in planning reforms. I completely agree. Improving the planning system should not be done at the expense of playing fields. As the Minister for Sport, I want to ensure that communities have the sports facilities and playing fields that they need.
The Government are currently consulting on proposed changes to Sport England’s statutory consultee role in the planning regime and the national planning policy framework. I encourage anyone interested to feed into those processes. My hon. Friend acknowledged that that is a MHCLG lead. I have of course spoken to the Minister responsible directly, and this is something I also spoke about when I appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
The Government are very much looking forward to England and Wales hosting the Women’s T20 world cup in 2026. The tournament provides a great opportunity to showcase our world-class cricket venues, while making sure that women and girls have opportunities to see elite female cricketers compete at the highest level. I encourage everyone taking part in today’s debate to get behind the tournament and lend their support—I know from the quality of the debate and from hon. Members’ enthusiasm that they will all do just that.
I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield for securing this debate and all other hon. Members for taking part with such passion and insight. I hope my hon. Friend takes from my response that the Government are committed to supporting grassroots cricket and ensuring that it continues to flourish across our country.
Draft Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) (No. 2) Regulations 2025
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(1 week, 3 days ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
I beg to move,
That the Committee has considered the draft Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) (No. 2) Regulations 2025.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Jardine. I am pleased to speak about the draft regulations, which were laid before the House on 30 October. They form an important part of the foreign state influence newspaper mergers regime, which is designed to protect our newspapers and news magazines from foreign state influence and control, while permitting legitimate investment that can support newspapers to thrive at a challenging time for the industry.
An independent press is crucial for our democracy. Just as we value the importance of a press that is independent from Government in the UK, we must equally ensure that foreign states are unable to assert influence over this sector. The foreign state influence regime carefully balances these two priorities: an independent press and the importance of investment in the sector. In July, the Government introduced targeted exemptions to allow certain state-owned investors to invest up to 15% in UK newspapers and news periodicals. This approach will still limit any scope for foreign state control or influence of news organisations, while giving newspapers much-needed flexibility to seek business investment that supports their long-term sustainability.
The 15% ceiling is lower than the level at which the Competition and Markets Authority generally identifies that material influence arises. The regime has a low bar for intervention. Regardless of whether there is an intention to influence, if the Secretary of State has “reasonable grounds for suspecting” that a foreign power may hold the ability to influence or control the policy of a UK newspaper enterprise as a result of a merger, she must intervene. This is not discretionary.
During the parliamentary scrutiny process in the lead-up to the debate on the 15% targeted exemptions, colleagues raised concerns about a potential unintended consequence that could allow multiple state-owned investors acting on behalf of foreign powers of different countries or territories to each invest 15% in one newspaper enterprise. The argument was made that foreign state-owned investors could collectively own the majority of a newspaper enterprise.
The Government made a commitment to deliver today’s draft regulations; in fact, it was I, as Media Minister, who first made that commitment in the Third Delegated Legislation Committee on 18 June. While we considered it a remote risk, we saw the concerns in this House and in the other place, and committed to putting the matter beyond doubt through an additional statutory instrument. That is what brings us here today, having consulted on the draft regulations, with the response published on 30 October.
The draft regulations will introduce a 15% cap on investments in a newspaper by a state-owned investor acting on behalf of foreign powers of different countries or territories. That will apply to the combined total of direct and indirect holdings of shares or voting rights. To make the limit workable, the regulations also introduce a specific and narrow exemption for holdings of 5% or below in quoted companies. This will apply only when calculating whether the 15% cap has been reached in cases where multiple state-owned investors from different countries or territories all have investments in the same newspaper.
That exemption will avoid a chilling effect on legitimate inward investment by removing the need for state-owned investors to take account of existing, undisclosed, small direct or indirect investments in the same newspaper. Holdings in companies with publicly traded shares are not disclosed unless they cross certain thresholds; 5% is a common benchmark, beyond which the investor must declare the interest to the company and wider market.
The draft regulations also impose new transparency requirements on state-owned investors that acquire shares or voting rights in UK newspaper enterprises. They must notify the Secretary of State if acquiring a direct holding of more than 5% in a newspaper, before the end of a period of 14 days after the relevant transaction is made. If a state-owned investor is required to notify the Secretary of State, they must also publish certain details of their investment within the same timeframe of 14 days. That will allow the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the published details of acquisitions.
The purpose of those requirements on state-owned investors and the regular report is to improve the confidence of both the public and Parliament through greater transparency about news enterprise ownership. We intend for the Secretary of State to report to Parliament every six months, beginning in July 2026, six months after the notification and publication requirements come into force. If a state-owned investor makes an acquisition that results in them having a direct holding in a newspaper of more than 5%, and does not comply with the notification and publication requirements, the Secretary of State will be compelled to issue a foreign-state intervention notice, and refer the case to the Competition and Markets Authority.
Essentially, the regulations address the remote risk of multiple state-owned investors from different countries each investing 15% in one newspaper, and further improve transparency around investment. Both those things benefit the UK press sector and the role that it plays in our democracy.
I commend the draft regulations to the Committee.
Stephanie Peacock
I appreciate the shadow Minister’s comments and the broad support that he and his party have given. I read the Lords Hansard debate, so I am familiar with some of the topics that were discussed in the other place. I join the shadow Minister and other Members in paying tribute to the work of Baroness Stowell; it is a fair representation to say that she felt these regulations were a proportionate way forward. Indeed, DCMS officials have worked very hard with several Members of Parliament.
To respond to concerns raised about the 5% exemption, I highlight the narrow applicability: it applies in very limited circumstances and for an explicit and important purpose—which speaks to the intervention the hon. Member for Bromley and Biggin Hill made—removing any chilling effect that may occur as a result of requiring a state-owned investor to be aware of undisclosed smallholdings from other countries in quoted companies before deciding whether they can invest.
I do not recognise the delay. It is a complex piece of legislation. I took the other instruments through Parliament; I believe that this Government have moved apace and that we will crack on. The shadow Minister will of course appreciate that I cannot comment on The Daily Telegraph, but I draw his attention to the written ministerial statement placed on record by the Secretary of State on 24 November.
Question put and agreed to.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035: UK-wide Bid
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(2 weeks, 4 days ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
On 3 April 2025, FIFA confirmed that the UK is the sole bidder to host the FIFA women’s world cup 2035. I can now confirm that, on 28 November 2025, the four home nations football associations submitted their joint bid to host the tournament, supported by the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.
The Government are committed to hosting major sporting events with pride and impact, with the FIFA women’s world cup being the largest major sporting event the UK has never previously hosted. As the Prime Minister set out in March 2025, hosting this tournament would provide another monumental moment in our sporting history, driving growth, uniting communities and enhancing the UK’s soft power. With the inclusion of prospective host cities and stadia across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland within the bid, we will ensure that the socioeconomic benefits of hosting are felt in every corner of the country.
As the largest single sport women’s event in the world, the FIFA women’s world cup would act as the culmination of this Government’s decade of change for women’s and girls’ sport. From our significant investment in new and upgraded grassroots sports facilities, to our independent expert-led review of the curriculum to ensure all children can engage in PE and sport, we are committed to showcasing the UK as a world leader in all aspects of women’s and girls’ sport by 2035.
Following a thorough evaluation process of the UK-wide bid, FIFA congress is expected to make a decision on the hosts for the 2035 tournament in April 2026.
[HCWS1109]
Oral Answers to Questions
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(3 weeks, 1 day ago)
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Callum Anderson (Buckingham and Bletchley) (Lab)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
We regularly engage with colleagues across Government on issues that affect young people, especially through the development of our national youth strategy. This year alone we are investing over £145 million to deliver projects that reflect young people’s priorities across our country.
Callum Anderson
Bletchley youth centre has been a trusted hub for our town for over 60 years, supporting 400 young people in the town every week by providing affordable activities and outreach to prevent antisocial behaviour, but that service has been stretched due to years of underfunding by the previous Government. There is hope, however, with the new Labour Government and their youth strategy. Will the Minister set out what steps her Department is taking to ensure that Bletchley youth centre and others like it receive the support that they need to help our young people?
Stephanie Peacock
Our national youth strategy focuses on rebuilding youth services so that young people have access to people who care, something to do and places to go. A key aspect of our forthcoming youth strategy will be to ensure that funding goes to grassroots organisations such as Bletchley youth centre, and I would be delighted to visit when my diary allows.
Martin Vickers (Brigg and Immingham) (Con)
Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough) (Lab)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
The Government are taking a new approach to youth services, rebuilding the landscape and improving local co-ordination. We regularly engage with colleagues across Government to drive this shift through the development of our national youth strategy that is co-produced with young people.
Mr Dhesi
Under the previous Conservative Government, youth services suffered the most devastating and deepest cuts in modern times: over £1 billion was slashed, more than 1,000 youth centres shut and young people were left without safe spaces, driving up crime and harming attainment. What exactly are this Government doing to give hope to young people in Slough, the youth capital of Britain, by properly investing in youth services?
Stephanie Peacock
Indeed, Mr Speaker; we have a brilliant one opening in Barnsley very shortly. My hon. Friend makes an incredibly powerful point. This Government are taking a new approach to youth services, which is why we will be launching our national youth services strategy shortly.
Shockat Adam (Leicester South) (Ind)
Many youth services and clubs in my constituency rely on indoor sports facilities in the winter, but due to poorly maintained and financed buildings and decades of chronic underfunding, those youth buildings are now unsafe to use. For example, on St Matthew’s estate, the youth have been left without any community sports hall, after the only facility was forced to shut down due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. What is the Department doing to ensure that provisions and services for our youth get support, so that our children can play during the cold winter months?
Stephanie Peacock
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right and makes an important point. Youth services are vital for giving young people safe, healthy and fulfilling lives. Under the last Government, 1,200 youth centres closed their doors and 4,500 youth workers lost their jobs. That is why this Government are taking a different approach.
Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)
Mrs Elsie Blundell (Heywood and Middleton North) (Lab)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
This Government believe in the power of grassroots sport, which is why we announced investment of more than £400 million in the future of grassroots facilities. Our ambition is for girls to have equal access to any facility that we fund, doubling access to priority slots for women and girls over this Parliament.
Mrs Blundell
I am delighted to see sport for women and girls growing in prominence and recognition across the country. To ensure that we meet the ambition of women and girls in these spaces, we need the facilities and infrastructure to support them, hone their talent, and pave the way for the next generation. What steps are being taken by this Government to provide women and girls with access to high-quality sports facilities, including in my area of Greater Manchester?
Stephanie Peacock
We support all aspects of sport for women and girls, and we are working alongside the sport sector and local leaders to develop a place-based approach to funding. We launched our women’s sport taskforce to drive a decade of change in women’s sport. We will ensure that we deliver facilities that each area needs, so that women and girls can participate in sport in Greater Manchester and across the UK.
Mr Louie French (Old Bexley and Sidcup) (Con)
I refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.
Sport England’s role as a statutory planning consultee promotes participation in grassroot sports, including by girls and women, by protecting vital playing fields across the country from development, including in Greater Manchester. However, this Labour Government are aiming to bulldoze protections, and concrete over grassroots provisions for young people. How will removing the protections in place for playing fields help to improve participation by girls in grassroots sport?
Stephanie Peacock
The hon. Gentleman refers to a consultation being carried out by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and I have spoken to my ministerial counterpart. I remind the hon. Gentleman that it is this Government who have announced £400 million for grassroots facilities.
Mr French
No commitment there to stop the concreting over of sports pitches. Alongside the National Lottery, the regulated gambling sector provides more than £400 million of crucial sponsorship to British sports, whether that is horseracing, the Betfred Super League, Sky Bet EFL, William Hill’s sponsorship of Scottish football, or direct funding for grassroots programmes. After Labour’s short-sighted £1 billion tax raid yesterday, which will fuel the illegal black market, will the Minister tell the House how her Department will fill the black hole in funding for British sports, and say what impact assessment it has made on that and on job losses across the sector?
Stephanie Peacock
The Chancellor set out the Budget yesterday. We believe that we have made fair choices. The Minister responsible for gambling will have heard the hon. Gentleman’s question, and I will relay it to her.
Andrew Cooper (Mid Cheshire) (Lab)
Martin Rhodes (Glasgow North) (Lab)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
This Government know that football reaches people like nothing else, and in the summer of 2028 it will bring people together across the whole of the UK. I was pleased to chair a meeting of sport Ministers a few weeks ago to discuss the tournament and its legacy. Glasgow is of course due to host five matches at the tournament, which will bring significant benefits.
Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)
Joe Powell (Kensington and Bayswater) (Lab)
Stephanie Peacock
My hon. Friend makes an important point. This Government are committed to ensuring that short-term lets actively benefit our local communities, and we will implement a short-term lets registration scheme in England in 2026. I know that this issue is of significant interest to Members from across the House, and I would be delighted to meet him to discuss it further.
Joe Robertson (Isle of Wight East) (Con)
The Isle of Wight Youth Trust is set to lose £200,000-worth of funding by the end of the financial year. Early support hubs will lose funding across the country, and up to half the 24 surveyed said that they may close services. Will the Secretary of State speak to cross-departmental colleagues to ensure that bridge funding is put in place, so that no young person loses out?
UEFA European Football Championship 2028: Funding and Benefits
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(1 month ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
In 2028, UK and Ireland will host the UEFA European football championship. This will be the largest sporting event ever jointly staged between our nations, spreading benefits across the whole of the UK and Ireland. The impact and legacy of the tournament will start far before the first ball is kicked and extend far beyond the final whistle. It will champion the power of football, including its ability to bring people together in stadiums, fan zones and communities across the UK and build cohesive communities.
To enable a safe and successful tournament, the UK Government have confirmed a funding contribution of up to £557 million for planning and delivery costs. This has been benchmarked against best practice in the delivery of major events to ensure it provides value for money, as well as the necessary funding to maximise the benefits of hosting, support host cities, and deliver on our legal obligations. Funding contributions will also be provided by the devolved Governments and Government of Ireland, host cities, and UEFA, which is are primarily responsible for ensuring successful delivery.
As part of this funding, the UK Government will contribute £23 million towards a wider commitment from Government and football partners to a central legacy and impact fund of around £45 million, which will deliver socioeconomic benefits for communities across the UK and Ireland. Following an updated assessment, hosting the tournament is forecast to generate £3.6 billion in socio- economic benefits across the UK and Ireland, with £3.2 billion expected for the UK alone.
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Video Games: Consumer Law
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(1 month, 2 weeks ago)
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Westminster Hall is an alternative Chamber for MPs to hold debates, named after the adjoining Westminster Hall.
Each debate is chaired by an MP from the Panel of Chairs, rather than the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. A Government Minister will give the final speech, and no votes may be called on the debate topic.
This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Mundell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for South Norfolk (Ben Goldsborough) for introducing this important debate, everyone who signed the petition raising this important issue, and all the contributors to the debate. It has been really interesting and thought provoking to hear the different perspectives and experiences. Some of the figures shared during the debate really brought to life the importance of the sector. It contributes £7.6 billion and tens of thousands of jobs to the economy, and, as the Opposition spokesperson, the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East (Joe Robertson) mentioned, millions of gamers up and down the country enjoy gaming daily.
The Government recognise that gaming makes a huge economic contribution and that it is a cultural powerhouse, in the words of my hon. Friend the Member for South Norfolk. My hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Daniel Zeichner) spoke about the wider benefits of gaming. I am aware of the “Power of Play” report, which gives an insight into the social purpose of gaming. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid and South Pembrokeshire (Henry Tufnell) spoke about the vital importance of our creative landscape, and I will address his points on ownership and consumer rights throughout my speech, but I will answer his questions with a simple yes—it is important that we have effective advice and information. I am delighted to be a champion for the creative industries. I am indeed standing in for the Minister of State. This is not my policy area, but it is an area shared between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business and Trade.
At DCMS, we are very pleased to be championing video games across Government. The Government take their role in supporting video games, both as an industry and as an art form, very seriously. We are all aware of the economic power and potential for growth in the sector. That was highlighted in the creative industries sector plan and is why we have committed £30 million investment through our games growth package. Gaming’s place in culture is equally important, and that has really featured in the debate. For more than 40 years, video games have been entertaining audiences of all ages, and today, the vast majority of young people will grow up playing video games and making memories that they will carry with them throughout their lives. Video games, much like films and music, have become cultural touchstones.
With that in mind, the Government recognise the strength of feeling behind the campaign that led to the debate. The petition attracted nearly 190,000 signatures. Similar campaigns, including a European Citizens’ Initiative, reached over a million signatures. There has been significant interest across the world. Indeed, this is a global conversation. The passion behind the campaign demonstrates that the core underlying principle is a valid one: gamers should have confidence in the right to access the games that they have paid to play.
At the same time, the Government also recognise the concerns from the video gaming industry about some of the campaign’s asks. Online video games are often dynamic, interactive services—not static products—and maintaining online services requires substantial investment over years or even decades. Games are more complex than ever before to develop and maintain, with the largest exceeding the budget of a modern Hollywood blockbuster. That can make it extremely challenging to implement plans for video games after formal support for them has ended and risks creating harmful unintended consequences for gamers, as well as for video game companies.
A number of Members have made points about ownership. It is important to note that games have always been licensed to consumers rather than sold outright. In the 1980s, tearing the wrapping on a box to a games cartridge was the way that gamers agreed to licensing terms. Today, that happens when we click “accept” when buying a game on a digital storefront. Licensing video games is not, as some have suggested, a new and unfair business practice.
However, the video game industry has changed a lot over recent decades in ways that directly impact the way that these licences are sold under law. First, video game development today is more complex, and it is done at a much greater scale than 40 years ago. Secondly, the format of video games has shifted from physical to digital. As a result, the approach to protecting intellectual property has changed, including the “always online” functionality—the most relevant to this debate—which requires games to maintain a constant connection to an online server. For gamers used to dusting off their Nintendo 64 to play “Mario Kart” whenever they like—or in my case, “Crash Bandicoot” on the PlayStation—without the need for an internet connection, that can be frustrating, but it is a legitimate practice that businesses are entitled to adopt, so it is essential that consumers understand what they are paying for. Existing legislation is clear that consumers are entitled to information that enables them to make informed purchasing decisions confidently.
Under existing UK legislation, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 requires that digital content must be of satisfactory quality, fit for a particular purpose and described by the seller. It also requires that the terms and conditions applied by a trader to a product that they sell must not be unfair, and must be prominent and transparent. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 requires information to consumers to be clear and correct, and prohibits commercial practices that, through false or misleading information, cause the average consumer to make a different choice.
Points and questions about this issue were made by a number of Members, including the hon. Members for Dundee Central (Chris Law), for Stratford-on-Avon (Manuela Perteghella) and for Harrogate and Knaresborough (Tom Gordon), and my hon. Friends the Members for Colchester (Pam Cox), for Leeds Central and Headingley (Alex Sobel) and for Leeds South West and Morley (Mark Sewards). Points were made about consumer law and ownership. UK law is very clear: it requires information to consumers to be clear and correct. The Government are clear that the law works, but companies might need to communicate better. In response to a specific point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds South West and Morley, I should say that it is particularly important in cases where projects fail or games have to be pulled shortly after launch that the information provided to consumers is clear and timely.
Furthermore, I understand that campaigners argue that rather than just providing clear information, games should be able to be enjoyed offline after developer support has ended, either through an update or a patch, or by handing over service to the gaming community to enable continued online play—in other words, mandating the inclusion of end-of-life plans for always online video games. The Government are sympathetic to the concerns raised, but we also recognise the challenges of delivering such aims from the perspective of the video game industry.
First, such a change would have negative technical impacts on video game development. It is true that there are some games for which it would be relatively simple to patch an offline mode after its initial release. However, for games whose systems have been specifically designed for an online experience, this would not be possible without major redevelopment. Requiring an end-of-life plan for all games would fundamentally change how games are developed and distributed. Although that may well be the desired outcome for some campaigners, it is not right to say that the solutions would be simple or inexpensive, particularly for smaller studios. If they proved to be too risky or burdensome, they could discourage the innovation that is the beating heart of this art form.
Secondly, the approach carries commercial and legal risks. If an end-of-life plan involves handing online servers over to consumers, it is not clear who would be responsible for regulatory compliance or for payments to third parties that provide core services. It could also result in reputational harm for video game businesses that no longer officially support their games if illegal or harmful activity took place. The campaign is clear in its statement that it would not ask studios to pay to support games indefinitely. However, it is hard to see solutions to these issues that do not involve significant time, personnel and monetary investment.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly from the perspective of gamers, there are the safety and security impacts to consider. Under the Online Safety Act 2023, video game companies are responsible for controlling exposure to harmful content in their games. Removing official moderation from servers or enabling community-hosted servers increases the risk that users, including children, could be exposed to such content. Security threats could also be more likely if player data is no longer protected on official servers. Although the Government are, of course, supportive of businesses that are able to implement end-of-life plans voluntarily, we do not think that a blanket requirement is proportionate or in the interests of businesses or consumers. Our role is to ensure that those selling and purchasing games are clear about their obligations and protections under UK consumer law.
I will touch briefly on the subject of video game preservation, which is an important issue for the gaming community, and one that my hon. Friend the Member for South Norfolk rightly spoke about. The Government recognise the cultural value of games and actively support initiatives that promote and support that, whether through cultural institutions such as the National Videogame Museum and London’s Science Museum, digital distribution platforms, or individual video game companies donating their games and hardware to preservation organisations.
We recognise that preserving games can be uniquely complex, in particular when they rely on specific hardware or software to function as intended. We welcome ongoing discussions between the industry, national museums, libraries and archives about developing standards for game preservation. We encourage video game developers and publishers to continue considering preservation efforts when developing, releasing and supporting their games.
In the Government response to the petition, we pledged to monitor the issue and to consider the relevant work of the Competition and Markets Authority on consumer rights and consumer detriment. We do not think that mandating end-of-life plans is proportionate or enforceable, but we recognise the concerns of gamers about whether information on what they are purchasing is always sufficiently clear. With that in mind, DCMS, as the lead Department for video game policy, and DBT, as the lead Department for consumer protection, have engaged the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. The institute maintains the Business Companion guide to businesses on complying with consumer law, including in relation to digital content. Following this debate, our two Departments will consider the case for asking the institute to develop guidance to help businesses to ensure that the information provided to video game consumers accurately reflects existing consumer protections.
It is vital to take into account the rights of consumers, while continuing to support the growth of our world-leading video game industry, with its benefits to the wider economy. I again thank all Members who spoke this afternoon, and everyone who signed and engaged with the petition to enable this debate to take place.
Football Governance Act 2025: Statutory Guidance
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(1 month, 3 weeks ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
Today I am updating the House to confirm that, following Royal Assent of the Football Governance Act 2025 in July, the Government have laid before Parliament a draft of the statutory guidance on the meaning of “Significant Influence or Control” under schedule 1 to the Act. As per the Act, the draft guidance is laid in Parliament for 40 days, during which either House may resolve not to approve it. If no such resolution is made, the Secretary of State may publish the guidance.
As set out in the Act, the independent football regulator will operate a new suitability and approval regime for owners, directors and senior executives of regulated clubs. The guidance supports the schedule 1 definition of an “owner” by providing interpretative detail on “significant influence and control.” Its purpose is to help ensure that fans can identify the real persons exercising control of their clubs, notwithstanding any opaque or complex ownership structures. This will give fans the much-needed transparency they deserve.
In developing the draft, we have drawn on the approach used in the Companies Act “Persons with Significant Control” regime, to ensure that we are aligned with current precedent. We have included industry-specific examples, which have been tested with the football industry to make the concept more tangible for all who will have to interpret it, especially clubs, and to ensure that the guidance is suited to the regulated industry.
In both Houses, we committed to laying this draft guidance before clubs are required to identify their owners in their personnel statements. Laying the draft now delivers on that commitment and provides clarity for clubs in advance of the regime for testing owners commencing.
The laying of this draft guidance is a key step in implementing the Football Governance Act 2025. This delivers the Government’s election promises to combat poor governance and financial mismanagement of football clubs in this country, and to put fans back at the heart of English football.
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Oral Answers to Questions
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(2 months ago)
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Mr Will Forster (Woking) (LD)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
This Government are proud to play a part in the continued growth and success of the motorsport industry. We have recently published the advanced manufacturing sector plan, which has automotive at its heart, aiming to nearly double the annual business investment in the sector to £39 billion by 2035, with 84% of advanced manufacturing jobs based outside London.
Mr Forster
As well as congratulating McLaren, which is based in my constituency of Woking, for winning the Formula 1 constructors’ title for the second season in a row, will the Minister also agree to ask the Chancellor to change the tax on sustainable fuel, so that this country can continue to have a leading place in the motoring industry?
Stephanie Peacock
I would of course like to congratulate McLaren on back-to-back Formula 1 constructors’ championship victories, and I am sure the support it receives in Woking is no small part of that. Alongside the Secretary of State, I attended the British grand prix in the summer and witnessed McLaren and Britain’s own Lando Norris claim victory. My Department will continue to stay in close contact with Formula 1, and I will reflect his comments to the Chancellor.
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Suffolk Coastal) (Lab)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
The Government are committed to supporting the visitor economy in rural and coastal communities, because we recognise the potential the sector has to contribute to economic growth and to the pride in place of an area. Through ongoing dialogue with other Departments and Ministers, we are exploring how best to support communities and businesses, including through our forthcoming visitor economy growth plan.
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Suffolk Coastal is proud to be the tourism capital of Suffolk, but we also wear the badge of hosting possibly the highest number of nationally significant infrastructure projects within a small, 10-mile radius. Suffolk Coastal is home to Aldeburgh, Southwold, Woodbridge and Saxmundham, and every day I speak to businesses and constituents about the impact of the lack of co-ordination of these NSIPs in a very small geography. Investing in energy infrastructure and tourism do not need to be in conflict. Is the Minister having conversations with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero about how we can better co-ordinate? If she is not, will she?
Stephanie Peacock
I recognise how important the tourism and hospitality sectors are to Suffolk, and I know that my hon. Friend is a strong champion for them and for her area. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works closely with other Departments, including DESNZ and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to ensure that the needs of the visitor economy are considered as part of the planning and delivery of large-scale projects. The Government acknowledge concerns that numerous projects may be consented to in one region, and the cumulative impacts of schemes are considered as they move individually through the NSIP regime. I will reflect her comments to MHCLG, but of course such large infrastructure projects are important for the country.
David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con)
My constituency has the largest number of wind turbines, either constructed or consented to. Does the Minister share my concern that the Scottish Government continue to override the views of local councils and local communities in consenting to further projects that are to the detriment of the landscape and therefore the local tourist industry?
Stephanie Peacock
I have heard the right hon. Gentleman’s point. I am sure that the relevant Secretary of State and indeed the Scottish Government have heard it. I would be happy to meet him to discuss it further.
Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington) (Lab)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
I know from my own experience, from Members across the House and from my constituents, of the deep unhappiness with CISWO. As Charities Minister, I met representatives of the Charity Commission to discuss CISWO’s support for coal mining communities, and I know the commission is in contact with CISWO. I encourage the chief executive officer and trustees to reflect on how they deliver their charitable purposes in the light of the dissatisfaction expressed by hon. Members and local communities, and I strongly encourage CISWO to strengthen its engagement with the local coalfield communities that it was established to support.
Ian Lavery
The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation dates back to the 1920s. Its main function then and its main function now is to support the mining communities, but sadly many mining MPs are witnessing exactly the opposite. The chief executive officer’s rigid enforcement of decades-old covenants and dogged intransigence is working against our mining communities. In my patch of Blyth and Ashington, the eviction of the Bedlington Terriers from a ground they have played on for more than 50 years is a prime example. The trustees believe themselves to be untouchable and have tret the coalfield MPs with the utmost contempt. Will the Minister agree to meet me and the chair of the coalfield group to discuss how together we can reverse the current mindset of the CISWO trustees and reflect the real needs of the people in our mining communities?
Stephanie Peacock
I understand my hon. Friend’s grave concerns, which are reflected across our coalfield communities. I am deeply troubled to hear the example he shares with the House. Charities must stay true to their charitable purposes and act within the law and the terms of their governing document. Where they fail to do so, it is right that we have the Charity Commission as the independent regulator to investigate. I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss his concerns in more detail. That invitation is open to any Member of the House, as it is clear to me that concerns regarding CISWO are sincerely held. I once again reiterate my encouragement for the CEO and trustees to reflect on how they deliver their charitable purposes for the coalfield communities they are meant to represent.
Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
We will soon be launching our national youth strategy, created with young people and designed to tackle the problems affecting them. As part of that work, we engage regularly with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that the problems impacting young people are heard and properly tackled. This financial year, DCMS is investing over £145 million in youth funding.
Liz Twist
I welcome the Government’s work on the national youth strategy and their investment in youth services so far. How do they expect the move away from a one-size-fits-all approach to benefit young people from different backgrounds in my constituency and in general?
Stephanie Peacock
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for all her work. In our youth strategy, we will set out the next steps to invest in the future of our young people. We want to better co-ordinate youth services and move away from a one-size-fits-all approach from central Government. In short, we want to put power back in the hands of young people and their communities.
Shockat Adam (Leicester South) (Ind)
Youth services deliver huge benefits to our community, both socially and economically, reducing knife crime and antisocial behaviour and, in turn, saving the country £500 million a year. Yet the clubs that I meet in my constituency, including Wesley Hall youth club and Eyres Monsell club for young people, tell me that there is a real recruitment and retention crisis in the sector. With over 4,500 workers leaving in the past decade, what measures is the Minister taking to address this issue?
Stephanie Peacock
The hon. Member is absolutely right to outline the importance of youth services, particularly in the prevention of knife crime and other issues. Of course, we saw a 73% reduction in real-terms spending over the last 14 years under the Conservative Government. We will not be able to reverse that overnight, but that is why we look forward to our youth strategy, which will be published by the end of the year.
David Williams (Stoke-on-Trent North) (Lab)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
Local authorities play a vital role in delivering youth services and have a statutory duty to provide sufficient leisure-time activities and facilities, in line with local needs. This Government inherited local authorities that were on their knees, and in that context some are struggling to meet their duties. That is why, as part of our wider investment in young people, we are investing over £8 million this year to support local authorities.
David Williams
I know the Minister will join me in welcoming the recent £600,000 investment to improve the offer for young people in Stoke-on-Trent. With the upcoming review of arm’s length bodies such as Sport England and the Arts Council, will the Minister ensure that greater collaboration will mean that our young people always have somewhere to go and something to do on their weekends, their evenings and during their school holidays?
Stephanie Peacock
Of course, I welcome this investment through the local youth transformation pilot, which will support pathfinder local authorities to start to rebuild a high-quality offer for young people. We want to see greater co-operation and co-ordination, so I join my hon. Friend in welcoming that investment. It is really important that young people have something positive to do during their evenings and weekends, and I have seen that in my own area of Barnsley, where, for example, the Barnsley youth choir supports hundreds of young people. Having attended their concert on Saturday, I wish them well in competing in Spain this week.
Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
I thank the Minister for her answers. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and we wish her well and thank her for all she does. The local Youth Justice Agency team in my constituency makes important rehabilitative interventions for young people. Has the Minister had an opportunity to discuss what is happening here with the Department of Justice back home, to ensure that the benefits here come back to us in Northern Ireland as well?
Stephanie Peacock
I am incredibly grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s kind comments. I have visited Northern Ireland twice in my capacity as a DCMS Minister. I speak with my counterparts, and I would be delighted to discuss that further with the hon. Gentleman.
Grahame Morris (Easington) (Lab)
Andrew Pakes (Peterborough) (Lab)
You may be interested to know, Mr Speaker, that today is the launch of Peterborough tourist board, and our new Discover Peterborough website. That brings together our great attractions, such as our 900-year-old cathedral and our great museum, as well as the great outdoors such as Nene park and Flag Fen. Will the Minister join me in welcoming the formation of Discover Peterborough, and say what more she can do to support the visitor economy and great attractions in places such as mine?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
I am delighted to take on the responsibility of being Minister for Tourism. Over the past month, it has been a pleasure to make a number of visits and to take part in meetings highlighting just how much the sector has to offer. We want the benefits of tourism to be felt across every nation and region, and a key strand of that work will be increasing the number of visitors who are aware of the offer outside London. I welcome the work that my hon. Friend is doing to promote Peterborough and I look forward to a visit with him.
Greg Smith (Mid Buckinghamshire) (Con)
Football Governance Act: Statutory Instrument on Specified Competitions
Stephanie Peacock Excerpts(2 months ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stephanie Peacock)
I am updating the House on the introduction of the Football Governance Act 2025 (Specified Competitions) Regulations 2025, which were laid before Parliament today and will be debated in due course. These regulations are subject to the draft affirmative procedure for secondary legislation.
They are made under powers provided to the Government by the Football Governance Act 2025. As was discussed in detail during the Act’s passage through both Houses, it will be important to set the scope for this regulator as soon as possible through its delegated power. This eliminates any uncertainty for clubs, and to allow the independent football regulator to proceed with its set-up, including its “State of the Game” report, that requires its scope to be set before publishing the report.
The statutory instrument laid today proposes that the scope of the regime will be the top five professional leagues in English football. This will include the premier league, the championship, leagues one and two, and the national league.
This was the proposal in the fan-led review in 2021, the previous Government’s White Paper in 2023, and has been discussed and consulted on by all relevant stakeholders at great length. The rationale for these leagues are that the issues that the regulator is concerned with most typically and markedly arise in the top five leagues of the men’s game, where the financialisation of clubs is greater and where the right balance between benefits versus costs of regulation is achieved.
We do not believe extending the scope beyond the top five tiers would be proportionate to the burden on the smaller clubs below the national league, where the issues the IFR is aiming to resolve are less prevalent.
On the women’s game, Karen Carney led an independent review of domestic women’s football, which was published in July 2023 and recommended that the women’s game should be given the opportunity to self-regulate rather than moving immediately to independent statutory regulation. Given the rapid growth and opportunity in the women’s game, the Government support this recommendation, so women’s football will not be in scope of the IFR.
By continuing the set-up of the independent football regulator, this Government continue to deliver on their election promises, to combat the poor governance and financial mismanagement of football clubs in this country, and to put fans back at the heart of English Football.
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