Oral Answers to Questions

Will Stone Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Nandy]

I thank my hon. Friend for his advocacy for Parkrun, which has been one of the real bright spots on the sport landscape in recent years—I am a keen participant in my local Parkrun at Haigh Hall and across the borough. I take this opportunity to congratulate all the volunteers at Junior Parkrun, because without them these amazing events would not happen. He is right to point to the challenges we still have with women and girls’ participation. There is no single solution, but I can assure him that I and my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport are treating this as one of the top priorities in the Department.

[Will Stone (Swindon North) (Lab)]

4. What steps she is taking to support development of the new theatre in Swindon.

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

I was delighted to see £20 million allocated for a new cultural venue in Swindon via the growth mission fund, thanks to the tenacity of my hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Member for Swindon South (Heidi Alexander). Officials will continue to work on plans for the theatre with the new Conservative council, which I believe is assessing whether it should take this forward. The investment remains subject to a final business case demonstrating the project’s viability and affordability. I welcome this investment in the arts and communities in Swindon, and I thank my hon. Friend for his question.

[Will Stone]

I thank the Minister for his response. I am actively encouraging the Conservative administration in Swindon to proceed with the plans for a new theatre, following the funding successfully secured by my right hon. Friend the Member for Swindon South (Heidi Alexander) and me. In the interim, we have to think about our beloved Wyvern theatre. Is there any additional support to retrofit existing theatres in the interim?