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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps Arts Council England is taking to protect (1) free speech within the law, and (2) the expression of gender-critical beliefs, in relation to (a) views expressed by staff within the organisation and (b) the awarding of grants.

Arts Council England (ACE) supports freedom of speech within the limits of the law and recognises the expression of different beliefs - including gender-critical views - as protected under the Equality Act 2010. ACE staff receive training on these matters and are guided by their Dignity at Work policy.

All ACE staff are expected to uphold the Nolan principles, including objectivity, which requires public officials to make decisions fairly, impartially, and based on the best available evidence, free from discrimination or bias. ACE also supports the rights of artists and cultural organisations to express themselves freely, including through work that is challenging, provocative, or political. ACE has published guidance aimed at supporting cultural organisations in managing complex situations that might arise from presenting challenging work, which is available on their website.