Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has been made of the cultural and historical importance of Blackpool’s heritage trams as a nationally significant example of working transport heritage.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Blackpool’s tramway, which opened in 1885, was the first permanent electric tramway in the UK. They are an important living link to the UK’s rich industrial heritage and one of the elements that makes Blackpool a jewel in the crown of England's visitor economy in the North West.
There has been no formal assessment of the cultural and historical importance of the trams.
Asked by: Andrew Snowden (Conservative - Fylde)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the national heritage significance of Blackpool’s heritage tram fleet.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Blackpool’s tramway, which opened in 1885, was the first permanent electric tramway in the UK. They are an important living link to the UK’s rich industrial heritage and one of the elements that makes Blackpool a jewel in the crown of England's visitor economy in the North West.
There has been no formal assessment of the cultural and historical importance of the trams.
Asked by: Lord Patten (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution made by canals and waterways to (1) the economy, and (2) the environment and wildlife.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Our inland waterways are important for the natural environment by providing green corridors along which biodiversity can flourish. They also directly contribute to the growth of local economies, through domestic tourism and facilitating active transport links. They have a wider positive benefit for our economy and culture through providing many public benefits, including health and wellbeing, leisure and recreation uses, and industrial heritage attractions.
Defra officials meet regularly with the Trust to discuss a range of issues. The Trust publishes its annual Impact Report on its contribution to the economy, environment, and wildlife. The Environment Agency has not undertaken specific quantitative assessments of the contribution its waterways make to the economy, environment, and wildlife; however, its previous navigation plans acknowledge the benefits they bring.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to form a cross-departmental group for craft drawing together the responsibilities in this area of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Education and the Department for Business and Trade.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is committed to supporting the creative industries, including the craft sector, which is why we put them front and centre of our Industrial Strategy, including publishing the Creative Industries Sector Plan last year. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working closely with all other relevant government departments to support the craft sector and deliver on the Sector Plan. DCMS currently has no plans to form a cross-departmental group for craft, however DCMS and Skills England jointly run a Creative Sector Skills Forum, which has a rolling cast list and includes representation for the crafts sector depending on the agenda. This includes the Crafts Council, Heritage Crafts and Officials from DWP and DfE as needed.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of heritage skills training to support employment and regeneration in rural and post-industrial areas.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 November 2025 to PQ 89153 regarding investment in skills to support technical routes and work-based learning in England, including heritage skills training. At Budget, the Government announced a package of £725 million additional investment to deliver the next phase of the Growth and Skills Levy in England.
The Government recognises the importance of skills training to supporting employment, including in rural and post-industrial areas. As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we are reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new service across Great Britain that will enable everyone to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them to progress in work, including through an enhanced focus on skills and careers.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many and what proportion of full-time equivalent staff in her Department work on the (a) promotion and (b) preservation of industrial heritage; whether industrial heritage sites are eligible to apply for funding through Historic England; what criteria are used to assess such applications; and what proportion of the (i) £15 million allocated to the Heritage at Risk Fund and the (ii) £4.85 million allocated to the Heritage Revival Fund in 2025–26 will be directed towards industrial heritage projects.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Within the Department for Culture, Media & Sport there is a small team that oversees Historic England, a team delivering heritage policy, and a team leading on the designation of listed buildings and monuments. Whilst it does not have dedicated staff dealing specifically with industrial heritage, it is part of a wider workstream.
Historic England, the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment, is responsible for managing and protecting heritage, including industrial heritage.
The £15 million Heritage at Risk Capital Fund and the £4.85 million Heritage Revival Fund do not have a pre-allocated proportion for industrial heritage. Funding decisions are based on criteria including Heritage Significance, Level of Risk, Community Benefit, Financial Need, Project Viability.
Industrial heritage sites can apply for Historic England funding, with sites such as Woodhorn’s Iconic Mining Heritage which received £997,265 Heritage at Risk Capital Funding and the Pump House, Ellesmere Port, which received £252,282 Heritage at Risk Capital Funding.
Asked by: Rachel Gilmour (Liberal Democrat - Tiverton and Minehead)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support the (a) preservation and (b) public accessibility of the legacy photographic archives documenting the (i) industrial and (ii) cultural heritage of Tiverton and Minehead constituency; and if she will allocate funding to ensure their (A) full restoration and (B) public release.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Since 2013, The National Archives has served as the archive sector leader in England, and is responsible for providing guidance and support to archives.
The National Archives is a non-ministerial government department which is sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Archival institutions which require information and support on how best to protect their collections, and ensure such collections are accessible to the public, are encouraged to contact officials in The National Archives.
Asked by: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a coastal strategy which includes the Cornish language.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
The government is committed to promoting economic growth in all parts of the country including coastal communities. It has introduced a new, targeted approach to support regional growth, tackle deprivation, and restore pride to communities. These new programmes are just one component of the government’s strategy, which also includes the publishing of the Industrial Strategy; and the expansion of devolution.
MHCLG Area Teams will continue to work with local stakeholders to understand challenges and opportunities from across all communities, reflecting these into the relevant government departments and policy teams.
On 19 May, Defra launched the “Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund” that will invest £360 million over the next 12 years to help support the UK fishing industry and revitalise coastal communities. Defra will be engaging with stakeholders to understand how to target this funding where it matters most.
MHCLG will continue to work with Cornwall Council and its partners to encourage the further development of Cornish culture and heritage. This will follow up work including the funding of £500,000 for Cornish language and culture as part of Cornwall’s Devolution Deal in 2023.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many full-time equivalent staff in her Department are working on (a) promoting and (b) preserving Britain's industrial heritage; and if she will make it her policy to publish a strategy on the restoration of industrial heritage.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Historic England, the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment, is responsible for managing and protecting heritage, including industrial heritage, across the country. As well as funding Historic England, the government announced new, additional funding for heritage in 2025/26 - £15m for the Heritage At Risk fund and £4.85m for the Heritage Revival Fund.
Within the Department for Culture Media and Sport, there is a small team that oversees Historic England, a team delivering heritage policy, and the designation of listed buildings and monuments. There are no current plans to publish a strategy on the restoration of industrial heritage but for all these workstands, industrial heritage is an important part of what they do and we will look at what more we can do to preserve and restore significant sites and structures.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the importance of industrial heritage to the culture of historically industrial (a) cities and (b) towns.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
DCMS has not made a formal assessment of the importance of industrial heritage to the culture of historically industrial cities and towns. However, this government is dedicated to supporting Britain's industrial heritage. Historic England, the government's statutory adviser on the historic environment is funded by DCMS and is actively engaged in the protection, conservation, reuse and public presentation of England’s industrial heritage.
As an example, many of Historic England's High Street Heritage Action Zones, funded by DCMS in 2019 -2024 has revitalised 67 historic high streets across England, and focused on industrial heritage, including the 200 year celebration of the Stockton and Darlington Railway. Historic England’s Mills of the North project looks to promote textile mill reuse to provide much needed new homes, accommodate businesses and mixed uses playing a positive role in wider regeneration.
Historic England recently acquired Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, a key Industrial Revolution site, and is undergoing a £28.4 million conservation project to bring it back into public use.