Asked by: Lord Blencathra (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to expediting the application by Virgin Trains to run a service on the West Coast Main Line; and when they intend to announce their decision.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We note with interest the reports in the media about the application from Virgin Trains, and welcome open access applications where they provide improved connectivity and choice for passengers and do not disproportionately impact taxpayers. Access to the rail network, however, is ultimately a decision for the Office of Rail and Road in its role as independent regulator for the rail industry. The Department therefore awaits further engagement from the ORR and Network Rail on Virgin’s proposals and will provide its views as part of the relevant industry consultation, as is standard process for all open access applications.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications her Department received for the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme from Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme is investing over £325 million between 2021 and 2025 to level up facilities across the whole of the UK. In England, this is delivered through the Football Foundation which is an independent charity and is best placed to discuss any previous or prospective applications. DCMS does not receive or assess any applications, and projects are awarded through the Foundation's independent grant panel.
The Football Foundation plans their investment pipeline based on Local Football Facility Plans, which have been developed in partnership with local authorities and sector leaders. These will shortly be revised to take into account the current landscape and multi-sport usage. Potential applicants can still discuss an application with the Foundation at any time using the email address stated below. Their website also sets out the different grants available. For more information on this process, the Football Foundation can be contacted on enquiries@footballfoundation.org.uk
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Professional Footballers' Association on ensuring adequate support for former football players living with chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
I welcome the practical support being provided by sports and player associations to former players who develop neurodegenerative conditions such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Player associations such as the Professional Footballers’ Association play a valuable role in supporting players by providing short and long-term support to those affected by sporting injuries.
I have discussed the issue of dementia with the Professional Footballers' Association, specifically around the Football Brain Health Fund for players impacted by dementia, which was launched in September 2023. The fund aims to assist former players and their families who have been impacted by neurodegenerative conditions.
I wrote to the Professional Footballers' Association in April 2024 to further seek to understand the current workings of the fund and how they are engaging with former players.
The Government will continue to liaise with the football authorities and player associations to encourage ongoing funding for cross-game initiatives.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will have discussions with the Football Association (FA) on the potential impact of ending FA Cup replays on non-Premier League teams.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
David and Goliath fixtures are part of the magic of the FA Cup. They are also important for the finances of smaller clubs. While this is ultimately a matter for the football authorities, we expect the FA and Premier League to consult with the English Football League and other leagues further down the pyramid on moves such as this and reach agreements collectively.
It is now incumbent on the FA and Premier League to publicly explain this decision and what further support they can provide to affected clubs.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool, West Derby)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Football Association (FA) on consultation with the English Football League on FA Cup replays.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
David and Goliath fixtures are part of the magic of the FA Cup. They are also important for the finances of smaller clubs. While this is ultimately a matter for the football authorities, we expect the FA and Premier League to consult with the English Football League and other leagues further down the pyramid on moves such as this and reach agreements collectively.
It is now incumbent on the FA and Premier League to publicly explain this decision and what further support they can provide to affected clubs.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government which responsibilities have been taken over by the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland since the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024 came into force on 12 April.
Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In line with the Windsor Framework (Implementation) Regulations 2024 Statutory Guidance, the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has exercised direction and control over the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs only with respect to the limited areas set out in the statutory guidance published on GOV.UK. A copy of the guidance is attached to this answer.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff have left the Horserace Betting Levy Board in each year since 2015.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS does not hold this information centrally.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff have left the Gambling Commission in each year since 2015.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS does not hold this information centrally.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024 to Question 20856 on Schools: Veterans, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a training scheme for veterans to become (a) headteachers and (b) members of schools’ Senior Leadership Teams.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Schools are best placed to decide on the development need of their staff and the leadership structure that best suits their pupils. That is why the department has given all trusts and schools the authority to make their own recruitment decisions, including for headteachers and senior leaders, using their own policies and procedures in line with Employment Law, Equality Action 2010 and Safer Recruitment Guidance to recruit appropriate individuals. More information can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/616e92fd8fa8f529777ffc40/Staff_Advice_Handbook_Update_-_October_2021.pdf
Experience at various levels of teaching is an important factor for successful leadership of schools and, as such, almost all senior leaders and headteachers have been awarded qualified teacher status (QTS) and have experience as a class teacher before progressing to senior roles within schools.
For existing teachers and senior leaders, including veterans that have changed career and are working in schools, there is a range of specialist and leadership National Profession Qualifications available to provide training and support at all levels. These provide support to a range of professionals from those who want to develop expertise in high quality teaching practice to those who aspire to be members of school leadership teams and those leading multiple schools across trusts. Interested applicants can learn more about the qualifications and eligibility for scholarship funding by visiting the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-professional-qualification-npq-courses.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Qualifications that overlap with T Levels, updated on 29 March 2023, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of funding for new starts for (a) BTEC and (b) other level 3 qualifications overlapping with T levels from 1 August 2024 on students in further education.
Answered by Luke Hall - Minister of State (Education)
This government is committed to ensuring that students in post-16 education have access to a high quality suite of qualifications that are easy to choose from and that provide the best chances for progression into higher study, or into a skilled job. The department firmly believes that A levels and T Levels are the best route at Level 3 to achieving those outcomes, supported by a range of Alternative Academic Qualifications and Technical Occupational Qualifications that are necessary, high quality and have a clear purpose.
The scale and complexity of the qualifications landscape means it is hard for students to make good choices about what they study. The qualifications currently funded do not consistently offer good progression outcomes and the department’s reforms are designed to fix this problem. The department’s new technical qualifications are based on the Institute for Apprenticeships And Technical Education’s employer led occupational standards, which means that young people can be confident they are studying the skills, knowledge and behaviours that employers need.
An impact assessment was undertaken to consider the post-16 reforms at Level 3 as a whole. It can be read here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1091841/Revised_Review_of_post-16_qualifications_at_level_3_in_England_impact_assessment.pdf.
An additional impact assessment, which is the most recent assessment produced, was conducted on the Wave 1 and 2 overlap list, which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6421be532fa8480013ec0c23/EIA_updated_final_wave_1_2_T_Level_overlap_inc_Health_and_Science.pdf. These waves correlate to the qualifications defunded as of August 1 2024.