Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of London-based NFL American football games on the level of tourism to the UK.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Department has not made an assessment of the effect London based American Football games have on the levels of UK tourism, however the latest research from VisitBritain suggests that 6% of inbound travellers come to the UK for live sporting events.
VisitBritain have recently released research entitled ‘International Buzzseekers Football Research’ which includes American sports and their popularity outside of the USA with different markets. VisitBritain also work with London & Partners to promote the American Football games in London through social media.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of UK American Football teams are based outside of Greater London.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
According to numbers provided by the British American Football Association (BAFA), there are currently 258 clubs currently active with the BAFA, 177 in national leagues and 81 in university football. Of those clubs, 22 are within Greater London (within M25), 13 in national leagues and 9 in university football.
Therefore, 236 of the 258 clubs (91.5%) active with the BAFA are based outside of Greater London.
Asked by: Lord Mann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to support smaller American football teams in the UK.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Over the 2017-2021 period, Sport England is investing over £1 billion to support people to get physically active in whatever way best suits them. Since 2004 Sport England has invested over £10 million into projects where American football has been a beneficiary, on its own or as part of a multi-sport project.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on patient health of regular instances of concussion.
Answered by Steve Brine
Repeated concussions or blows to the head have been linked to serious problems, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a type of dementia and is particularly associated with contact sports, such as boxing or American football.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides the guidance on ‘head injury: assessment and early management’, last updated in June 2017. This provides information on minor brain injuries (concussion), as well and the early management of head injuries and information for the public.
Advice and further information on concussion and CTE can be found via the NICE and NHS websites at the following links:
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg176
www.nhs.uk/conditions/concussion/
www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in establishing a National Football League franchise in the UK.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
While a decision on establishing a franchise in the UK is a matter for the National Football League, the Government is very supportive of their ambition to do so. The 2018 London games were another great success, with average attendances of 85,000 demonstrating the strong appetite for American football in the UK. We are delighted at the NFL’s announcement of four London games in 2019, at Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage the development of American football in the UK.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Government is committed to supporting people to take part in sport and physical activity regardless of their background or ability. Over the 2017-2021 period, Sport England is investing over £1 billion to support people to get physically active in whatever way best suits them. Since 2004 Sport England has invested over £10 million into projects where American football has been a beneficiary, on its own or as part of a multi-sport project.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the potential sale of Wembley Stadium on participation rates in (a) association football and (b) American football.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
My Department, along with Sport England and the Greater London Authority will be discussing the potential sale of Wembley stadium with the Football Association over the course of this month.
We will be seeking further detail on how such a deal would help the development of the grassroots game in this country and support more people to participate in sport.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, if he will make an assessment of the legal practicability of introducing into UK law something similar to Rooney's law in the US; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Government is committed to tackling inequality so that everyone can reach their full potential. That is why we have one of the strongest legal frameworks in the world for tackling discrimination and promoting equality for all. The Rooney rule applies specifically to American Football's National Football League and the Government has no plans to introduce a similar provision in the UK. I am unable to say whether an assessment of legal practicability has been made because, by convention, the fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised and the content of their advice must not be disclosed outside Government without their authority.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce into UK law something similar to Rooney's law in the US; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The Government is committed to tackling inequality so that everyone can reach their full potential. That is why we have one of the strongest legal frameworks in the world for tackling discrimination and promoting equality for all. The Rooney rule applies specifically to American Football's National Football League and the Government has no plans to introduce a similar provision in the UK. However, the Government has welcomed the English Football League's Football League rule change from this season that ensures their clubs will always interview at least one applicant from a Black Asian or Minority Ethnic background when coaching positions open up at Academy level with a number of clubs voluntarily agreeing to take that approach also for the head coach roles when in a formal recruitment process.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to support the establishment of an NFL franchise in London.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
As the Chancellor stated in October 2014, the Government fully backs the NFL franchise, and HM Treasury is currently in discussions with the Greater London Authority about increasing the number of NFL matches in London.