Written questions by Stephenson.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 55487 on Tourism: National Landscapes, if she will make an estimate of the economic contribution of tourism to areas with a protected landscape in each of the next five years.

National Parks are vital assets for tourism, attracting millions of domestic and international visitors each year and supporting local economies through recreation, hospitality, and cultural heritage. While there are no plans to make an estimate of the economic contribution of tourism to areas with a protected landscape, DCMS recognises the importance of protected landscapes to the UK’s tourism offering. DCMS continues to work with VisitBritain to champion visits to the British countryside to a worldwide audience. VisitBritain’s new GREAT-funded international marketing campaign, ‘Starring GREAT Britain’, uses the hook of Britain’s rich film and television history to encourage more international visitors to explore across Britain, including many rural destinations, landmarks and National Parks.

Media and Sport, with reference to the press release entitled Cricket domes to bring year-round sport to communities, published on 25 August 2025, what the location will be of the dome in Luton.

On 25 August, the Government announced £1.5 million investment into two indoor cricket domes in Luton and Farington, to be delivered through the England and Wales Cricket Board.Luton’s new state-of-the-art indoor cricket dome will be in Lewsey Park and is expected to open in summer 2026, providing world-class indoor practice facilities for cricket, so local players, schools and grassroots clubs can access the sport all year round.The flexible space will also have the potential to host other sports, such as hockey, tennis and badminton, ensuring as many local people as possible can get active. The new facility will also have a particular focus on encouraging more women and girls into the game ahead of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.Work with the England and Wales Cricket Board is ongoing to monitor the impact and effectiveness of these sites and we’re keen that they benefit as wide a local area as possible.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer to Question 8701, what action her Department has taken since 21 October 2024 to encourage (a) inbound and (b) domestic tourism in Bedfordshire.

The government is committed to expanding the tourism sector and enabling more inbound and domestic visitors to fully experience the UK's diverse offerings in areas including Bedfordshire, home to stately homes such at Bridgerton’s West Park and family attractions including Whipsnade Zoo.To drive more inbound visits across Britain, VisitBritain launched a global screen tourism campaign ‘’Starring Great Britain’’ in January 2025. The campaign uses the country's rich film and television history as a hook to inspire visitors to explore diverse and often rural destinations. The launch was supported by a wider advertising campaign across the UK’s largest and most valuable inbound visitor markets including Australia, the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, France, Germany and the USA. The Government has secured a multi-billion-pound investment in a major new Universal theme park and resort in Bedford. This project will create thousands of jobs and drive millions of visitors, both inbound and domestic to Bedfordshire, reinforcing the UK as a world leader in the creative industries. The Government has also announced the expansion of Luton airport which will significantly increase its passenger capacity enabling it to play a significant role in accommodating international visitors to the Universal theme park. The East West Rail corridor will also include Bedford from 2030, improving connectivity and driving economic growth.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2025 to Question 50630 on Local Visitor Economy Partnership, whether her Department is providing specialised support to areas without a Local Visitor Economy Partnership.

The purpose of the LVEP programme is to attract investment and ultimately drive growth, training, and help places tell their own unique stories to visitors. Through a collaborative approach that unites local authorities, businesses and regional partners, LVEPs enhance the quality of the visitor offer and ensure that the positive impacts of tourism are distributed widely across communities. economy together. 37 Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) are currently accredited across England, covering a broad mix of urban, rural and coastal destinations. In some other places, such as Bedfordshire, LVEPs are still in development. These areas are still working through how best to organise their destination management functions, align multiple local authorities, and secure the long-term funding and governance arrangements required for accreditation. The current geographical distribution reflects a strong spread of partnerships across regions, and the Department continues to work with VisitEngland to provide guidance, regional development support and resources to all destinations. VisitEngland offers dedicated assistance through Regional Development Leads and programme tools to help local areas strengthen governance, build capability and work towards accreditation. This support is available to both accredited and aspiring LVEP areas, including Bedfordshire. LVEP performance is monitored locally through delivery plans and nationally through evaluation by VisitEngland. VisitBritain/VisitEngland’s Business Plan 2025-26 allocated £1.5 million to supporting regional and local growth. This includes working with LVEPs to achieve local growth strategies and supporting the LVEP structure. VisitEngland’s regional leads and the regional pilots in the NorthEast and West Midlands have also benefited from a direct £1.35 million funding boost in 2025/26 to help the regions attract even more tourists and investment to the UK.

Media and Sport, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) other reviews undertaken by her Department since 4 July 2024.

The information requested is not centrally held in an easily accessible form as there are no expenditure categories that just cover consultations or reviews.Due to this any response could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Media and Sport, how much her Department plans to spend on maintaining the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme in (a) 2025-26 and (b) 2026-27.

For the 2025/26 financial year, the total budget for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme is £23 million. Of the £23 million, there is a remaining £10,986158 to distribute. The 2025/26 Scheme will close on 31 March 2026, or once the £23 million budget has been reached, whichever is earlier. The future of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme after March 2026 will be announced when the outcome of the Spending Review and business planning processes have completed.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50272 on Local Visitor Economy Partnerships, whether her Department plans to provide support to areas without Local Visitor Economy Partnerships.

The purpose of the LVEP programme is to attract investment and ultimately drive growth, training, and help places tell their own unique stories to visitors. Through a collaborative approach that unites local authorities, businesses and regional partners, LVEPs enhance the quality of the visitor offer and ensure that the positive impacts of tourism are distributed widely across communities. economy together. 37 Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) are currently accredited across England, covering a broad mix of urban, rural and coastal destinations. In some other places, such as Bedfordshire, LVEPs are still in development. These areas are still working through how best to organise their destination management functions, align multiple local authorities, and secure the long-term funding and governance arrangements required for accreditation. The current geographical distribution reflects a strong spread of partnerships across regions, and the Department continues to work with VisitEngland to provide guidance, regional development support and resources to all destinations. VisitEngland offers dedicated assistance through Regional Development Leads and programme tools to help local areas strengthen governance, build capability and work towards accreditation. This support is available to both accredited and aspiring LVEP areas, including Bedfordshire. LVEP performance is monitored locally through delivery plans and nationally through evaluation by VisitEngland. VisitBritain/VisitEngland’s Business Plan 2025-26 allocated £1.5 million to supporting regional and local growth. This includes working with LVEPs to achieve local growth strategies and supporting the LVEP structure. VisitEngland’s regional leads and the regional pilots in the NorthEast and West Midlands have also benefited from a direct £1.35 million funding boost in 2025/26 to help the regions attract even more tourists and investment to the UK.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 64204 on Parthenon Sculptures: Tourism, if she will make that estimate.

There are no plans to make such an estimate.

Media and Sport, if she will publish a regional tourism strategy for the east-west rail corridor.

East West Rail (EWR) will improve connectivity and drive economic growth, enabling people to travel easily and sustainably to the wide variety of existing and proposed tourist destinations along the route. The improved connectivity that EWR will provide, including its key interchanges with the UK’s major railway lines, will bring visitor attractions in Oxford, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge within easier reach for people living both in and outside the region. The relevant local authorities, Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) and the EWR Company will work together, engaging with relevant stakeholders (including residents, businesses and cultural institutions), to ensure that opportunities for tourism are considered and developed through the project. Opportunities would then be captured in the relevant Destination Management Plans and Growth Plans for the regions concerned. The Government is committed to supporting the sector through the forthcoming Visitor Economy Growth Plan. This will set out a long term plan to increase visitor numbers to the UK and ensure more of these visitors reach our unique regional destinations, of which improved connectivity is a key driver.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 54458, with reference to the press release entitled Six pubs a week shutting their doors for good, published on 17 February 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the estimated rate of pub closures on the attractiveness of tourism in the UK.

The Government recognises the vital role of pubs and hospitality businesses in both local communities and the attractiveness of the UK as a visitor destination. While DCMS has not made a formal assessment, we continue working with other Government departments to ensure that targeted support is provided for the sector. The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. We plan to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000.  We have also reduced alcohol duty on qualifying draught beer products, saving the sector over £85 million annually. The Government is also working to reduce barriers to growth for businesses, including those in the hospitality sector by streamlining the licensing system. For example, in April, we launched the Licensing Taskforce to guide reforms. As part of the Small Business Strategy launched at the end of July, a new National Licensing Policy Framework will simplify outdated rules making it easier and more affordable to open and run hospitality venues. We’ve introduced a Hospitality Support Scheme and, in rural areas, £440,000 is being invested to help pubs diversify as community hubs, creating jobs and enhancing the visitor offer - helping to sustain a vibrant hospitality sector that supports the UK’s tourism appeal.

Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential benefits for her policies on tourism of appointing a full-time Tourism Minister focused exclusively on tourism.

The Government has a Minister responsible for Tourism, within a portfolio that also includes Sport, Civil Society and Youth. As ambitions to promote growth and improve the productivity of the tourism sector are reliant on a cross-government approach, DCMS works collaboratively with other government departments. This collaboration facilitates wider discussions to find solutions that help support the Visitor Economy, which in turn can help support the objectives of other departments and cross-government interests on foundational matters such as spreading opportunity, creating jobs and growth across all parts of the UK. DCMS is supported by the joint industry and government-led Visitor Economy Advisory Council. The Council aims to act as a candid sounding board and challenge function for Government policy decisions. It is also supporting the Government in delivering the Visitor Economy Growth Plan which will set out a long term plan to increase visitor flows across the UK, boost value, and deliver sustainable growth.

Media and Sport, with reference to the press release entitled Prime Minister unveils new opportunities for young people to re-connect with their communities, published on 5 August 2025, how much additional funding will be available in Bedfordshire.

DCMS and the National Lottery Community Fund launched Phase 3 of the Million Hours Fund, a £19 million joint investment, to provide youth organisations with funding to deliver additional hours of positive activities for young people in areas with higher levels of anti-social behaviour. Wards who were eligible for the Million Hours Fund in Bedfordshire can be found here. Additionally, organisations in Bedfordshire are eligible to apply to the Adventures Away from Home Fund which will support organisations to deliver outdoor learning experiences for disadvantaged or vulnerable young people. Funding by area will be known once all awards have been made. Applications are open until Friday 26th Sept 2025 through the UK Youth website. Bedfordshire is not eligible to apply for the Better Youth Spaces Fund nor a participant in the pilot phase of the Local Youth Transformation programme. However, local areas who were not selected this year may not be excluded from participating in any future rounds depending on geographical eligibility.

Media and Sport, whether she has made an estimate of the potential impact of the Parthenon Marbles on the economic value of tourism.

No.

Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Chair of the British Museum on the Parthenon Marbles.

As the British Museum is a DCMS Arm’s Length Body, I regularly meet and talk with the Chair. The Parthenon Sculptures is one of a number of issues that we occasionally discuss.Decisions relating to the care and management of the Parthenon Sculptures are a matter for the British Museum Trustees, acting within the law.The Government has no plans to change the law that would permit a permanent move of the Parthenon Sculptures.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer on 7 February 2025 to Question 27307 on Tourism: Local Government, whether her Department has made an estimate of the potential impact of increasing inbound tourism by 50 million visitors per year on tax receipts.

The Department has not made an estimate of the potential tax receipts from an increase of 50 million inbound visitors per year.Inbound tourism already delivers significant value to the UK economy. In 2023, the tourism sector is estimated to have directly contributed £58.2bn in GVA, accounting for 2.5% of the UK economy. DCMS continues to work with other government departments and the tourism sector to support the recovery and long-term competitiveness of the UK’s visitor economy.

Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to encourage higher numbers of international tourists to visit protected landscapes.

Yes, we want to encourage international tourists to experience the full range of the UK’s visitor attractions including our world class museums, our internationally-renowned bars and restaurants, or indeed our protected landscapes. International tourists are increasingly drawn to the UK's national parks, coastal areas, and gardens and are interested in eco-tourism and sustainable travel.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support the film industry, in the context of President Trump’s announcement of 100% tariffs in the US on films produced in the UK.

Although an authorisation for the Dept of Commerce to introduce tariffs on films produced outside the US was announced on 5 May, no such tariffs have so far been introduced.The deep ties between the US and UK film industries provide mutual economic and cultural benefits to both countries as film production is an inherently international business with global audiences. .The UK agreed a landmark economic deal with the US on 8 May, and we are committed to maintaining our strong partnership.

Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to the level of funding for Natural England's National Landscapes programme on the number of tourists visiting protected landscapes each year.

Tourism is a critical part of the local economy, particularly in regions like Dorset, which benefit from a unique natural landscape and internationally recognised sites such as the Jurassic Coast.I am fully aware of the importance of protecting these natural landscapes across England.The Government is committed to promoting sustainable tourism practices, working with local partners to manage visitor numbers responsibly, and supporting projects that focus on conservation. VisitEngland also provides guidance on sustainable tourism to help protect these areas.National Landscapes play a crucial role in improving public health and wellbeing across England. As well as being essential for our nation’s health, Protected Landscapes protect communities from flooding, fight climate change, and foster a thriving green economy.In recognition of this, we have committed to empower Protected Landscapes to be greener, wilder and more accessible. In December we announced plans to strengthen their underpinning legislation and introduce regulations to ensure that public bodies deliver better outcomes in Protected Landscapes. We have also extended programmes such as Farming In Protected Landscapes, providing £30 million to support projects in our National Parks and Protected Landscapes, until March 2026.We understand resourcing remains a challenge and recognise that the Defra core grant is vital to support England’s Protected Landscapes. The Government is facing a very challenging wider fiscal context. This has meant that Defra has had to make difficult decisions about funding. Given these pressures on public finances, we are also committed to working with Protected Landscapes organisations to identify additional sources of funding and foster innovation to ensure their future for generations to come.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the beer and pub sector on UK culture and tourism.

The Pub and beer sector hold a special place in British culture, as well as being a core attraction for tourists and local people alike. They are an essential part of the visitor economy and found in every single community across England. They are a place for social gatherings, entertainment, food and drink as well as overnight accommodation.According to research published by The British Beer and Pub Association when asked about their go-to spots during UK holidays, 6 in 10 respondents said they visit pubs, placing them just behind restaurants (73%) and on par with historic landmarks (63%).The Government remains dedicated to ongoing collaboration with the DBT who oversees policy for hospitality to ensure stakeholder views are represented. This commitment will help ensure the UK has an attractive and competitive hospitality offer for both domestic and international visitors.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support British filmmaking businesses, in the context of the announcement of 100% tariffs on films produced in the UK by the US President on 5 May 2025.

Although an authorisation for the Dept of Commerce to introduce tariffs on films produced outside the US was announced on 5 May, no such tariffs have so far been introduced.The deep ties between the US and UK film industries provide mutual economic and cultural benefits to both countries as film production is an inherently international business with global audiences. .The UK agreed a landmark economic deal with the US on 8 May, and we are committed to maintaining our strong partnership.