Oral Answers to Questions

Vicky Foxcroft Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)]

9. What steps her Department is taking to support volunteering.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Vicky Foxcroft)]

I thank my hon. Friend for her support for volunteers who strengthen communities like Blaydon and Consett, and I pay tribute to her first-hand experience as a Samaritan. This year we provided £300,000 for the Big Help Out, promoting nearly 5 million volunteering opportunities across the country. We extended the know your neighbourhood fund, providing an additional £4.5 million to voluntary organisations. We also worked with the Open Data Institute and civil society partners to create a simpler system for advertising opportunities across a range of platforms.

[Liz Twist]

In two weeks’ time, I will hold my annual red kite awards, ensuring that volunteers in Blaydon and Consett know the value of their work—they go above and beyond to help save lives and support whole communities. But for many voluntary organisations rising costs and reduced funding are making that good work ever more difficult. What steps are the Government taking to support voluntary groups and ensure that they are able to continue that vital support?

[Vicky Foxcroft]

First, I congratulate my hon. Friend on all the work she does to ensure that the red kite awards take place. This Government are backing a strong and sustainable voluntary sector, as outlined in the civil society covenant, through VAT reliefs on donated goods, updating charity thresholds, which will save £47 million annually, and the £2 million better commissioning pathways programme. We are supporting voluntary organisations to build resilience and deliver vital support.

[Tom Gordon (Harrogate and Knaresborough) (LD)]

This year, Harrogate International Festivals is celebrating its 60th anniversary. It relies on a small army of volunteers to make it happen, with the fantastic leadership of Sharon Canavar as chief executive and Fiona Movley as chair of the board. Increasingly, arts festivals like Harrogate International Festivals are coming under strain, and we need to do more to make sure that we recruit the next generation of volunteers so that it is there for the future. Will the Minister meet me to discuss what more we can do to ensure that the festivals have another 60 years and beyond?

[Vicky Foxcroft]

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on all the work he is doing to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his local festivals. I would be more than happy to meet with him to discuss it further.

[Tom Collins (Worcester) (Lab)]

10. What steps her Department is taking to improve online safety for children.

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[Tony Vaughan (Folkestone and Hythe) (Lab)]

T8. Folkestone town council recently acquired the grade II listed Grace Hill building, previously home to Folkestone library, which was unfortunately closed by Conservative-run Kent county council. We want the building to be open again for the benefit of the community, so will the forthcoming library strategy include greater support for these community rescues? Will the Minister also meet me to discuss funding opportunities to bring this vital community asset back to life?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Vicky Foxcroft)]

I thank my hon. and learned Friend for championing his constituency. Decisions on the reopening of Grace Hill and the use of the building are matters for the local council, but he has made his case well today, and I am sure that he will continue to do so. I will pass on his request for a visit to the Minister with responsibility for libraries, who I am sure will be keen to visit and to meet him.

[Brian Mathew (Melksham and Devizes) (LD)]

What will the Government do to ensure that councils have the funds to keep libraries open, especially when many people will be struggling to heat their homes this winter and thus have an even more vital need of this service?

[Vicky Foxcroft]

We are working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and colleagues across Government to ensure that we deliver on that.

[Andrew Pakes (Peterborough) (Lab/Co-op)]

The hottest ticket this summer, in many senses, was Peterborough lido, which, like many other historic pools, had its best season ever. However, we all know that many of our historic pools and lidos suffer from old infrastructure, and need tender love and care from our communities and Government. What more can my right hon. Friend do to ensure that this Government back our lidos and historic pools?

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[Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) (Con)]

In his Budget speech, the Chancellor pledged to protect seaside arcades, but the increase in the machine games duty from 20% to 25% threatens businesses in my constituency, such as Leisureland on Bridlington seafront, which I had the pleasure of visiting last week. Will the Minister make representations to the Treasury to ensure that we protect those brilliant local businesses?

[Vicky Foxcroft]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for advocating on behalf of his constituents. Slot games have a higher associated risk of harm than other in-person gambling activities, such as sports betting or bingo games. That is why the Government are increasing the rate of machine games duty from 20% to 25% on machines with stakes over £1 or prizes over £100 from 1 April 2027. There will be no change to the rate for lower-stakes machines, but I am happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss the issue further.

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[Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater) (Con)]

Highbridge Social Club is a not-for-profit club led entirely by volunteers, and it has served our community since it was founded in 1913. Club treasurer Rachel Marsh has written to me to say that the rise in machine games duty announced in the Budget will cost the club £1,500 a year. Coming on top of the employer national insurance charges, this Government’s tax increases threaten the viability of the club. What help and advice can the Minister offer to Rachel as she struggles to balance the club’s books?

[Vicky Foxcroft]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising that really important point. I refer in part to what I said earlier, but let me also say that the measure will raise an additional £130 million a year, which will help to pay for the freeze in business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses. If the hon. Gentleman writes to me, I will ensure that he gets a fuller response.

[Amanda Martin (Portsmouth North) (Lab)]

Hilsea lido is a real jewel in the crown of Portsmouth North; it first opened in 1935, and it holds a special place in our history. Following its fantastic regeneration, it has been wonderful to see hundreds flocking back this summer. Will the Minister join me in thanking Sea Lanes, the lido’s operators? Will she also join me in praising the dedicated trustees and volunteers of Hilsea Lido Pool for the People Trust, who kept the money going and kept the lido running through very dark times, and without whom it would not be open now?

--- Later in debate ---

[Vicky Foxcroft]

I was delighted to go to Newbury races last week, and I would love the opportunity to come to Kempton Park. Please do write to me—I will try to ensure we get a date in the diary.

[Perran Moon (Camborne and Redruth) (Ind)]

With £7 out of every £8 of DCMS funding for museums and galleries going to just 15 national museums and galleries, and cultural investment per head in Cornwall being less than £10 compared with a national average of £15, may I ask for Ministers to meet Cornish MPs to discuss closing this cultural chasm, beyond suggestions of donations and lottery funding?