Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Lawn Tennis Association on the accessibility of lawn tennis to people with (a) different socioeconomic backgrounds and (b) the protected characteristics listed in section 4 of the Equality Act 2010.

Everyone, regardless of their age, background and level of ability, should feel able to get involved in sport and physical activity. The government and Sport England strategies, Sporting Future’ and ‘Towards an Active Nation’, place a clear emphasis on targeting those who are hardest to reach and less likely to be active, including those from lower socio-economic groups and those with protected characteristics.

I have regular discussions with national governing bodies of sport, including the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), on a range of issues including diversity.