Written questions by Thornberry.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 9065 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Ministers' Private Offices, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024; and on what items this was spent.

DCMS spent £120,687.71 incl VAT on the refurbishment of Ministerial offices during the period 4th July 2022 to 4th July 2024 on new furniture, fittings plus other refurbishment (including moves). This is broken down as follows:New furniture and fittings: £106,736.66Other refurbishment of Ministerial Office including moves: £13,951.04The full itemised list can be found below:i) £83,215.85ii) 5 executive L-shaped desks made of veneered MDF and varnished wood veneer. 5 wood veneer meeting tables with power and media connectors for video conferencing. 5 coffee tables made of veneered MDF. 12 meeting chairs made of mid range fabric and leather arm pads.iii) £23,521iv) x5 soft furnishings and 1 bookcasev) £13,951.04vi) Painting and Decorating of 5 Ministerial offices

Media and Sport, how many government procurement cards were held by staff within (a) her core Department and (b) executive agencies of her Department at the end of calendar years (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

Core Department:A total of 23 DCMS core civil servants held government procurement cards at the end of the 2022 calendar year. A total of 15 DCMS core civil servants held government procurement cards at the end of the 2023 calendar year. This enabled them to make purchases against the Department’s budget, subject to internal policy and approval. Executive Agencies:DCMS does not hold executive agency GPC data.

Media and Sport, how much her Department spent on government procurement card purchases (a) above and (b) below £500 net of refunded payments in (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

DCMS publishes departmental transaction level data on government procurement card purchases for transactions over £500 in accordance with policy. The guiding policy setting out the requirement to publish GPC transactions over £500 remains in place.Guidance is available to all government departments on gov.uk at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e8b402686650c18ce2cb541/Procurement_Cards_-_Pan_Government_Policy_V4_06042020.pdfThe most recent publication of expenditure via GPCs at DCMS is available using the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-spending-over-500-october-2024 With regards to transactions above £500, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport spent the following (minus refunds) via Government Procurement Cards: i. 2022 - £168,578.66ii. 2023 - £125,104.19 In relation to transactions below £500, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport spent the following (minus refunds) via Government Procurement Cards: i. 2022 - £89,996.23ii. 2023 - £89,065.33

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the BBC Board on the potential impact of changes to programming resulting from reductions in funding on Britain’s soft power.

The Secretary of State regularly engages with the BBC Chair on a range of issues, including the BBC World Service.The BBC’s public service output is primarily funded through the licence fee. The World Service is also supported by a grant-in-aid from the government. Government funding for the World Service in FY 25-26 will be determined as part of the upcoming Spending Review.In a time where the world faces huge challenges, the government is fully committed to a successful BBC World Service that continues to provide essential, impartial and accurate news coverage and programming reaching millions of people across the globe. The Government strongly values the BBC World Service as a UK soft power asset.