Written questions by Snell.

Media and Sport, whether representatives of the visual arts sector will be included in the membership of the working group on independent and smaller creative organisations.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, what recent progress she has made on establishing a working group on independent and smaller creative organisations on the impact of AI on creators, and when she expects the working group to hold its first meeting.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, whether the proposed working group on independent and smaller creative organisations will consider measures to improve access to licensing and rights management mechanisms for visual artists, ceramicists, and other creators.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, whether the proposed working group on independent and smaller creative organisations will consider measures to prevent the unauthorised use of copyright-protected works by AI systems.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, whether the Government’s assessment of gambling duty changes includes modelling of potential consumer displacement to illegal gambling operators during high-volume betting periods, including the

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of gambling duty revenue arising from UK consumers using illegal gambling websites and operators during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, what estimate her Department has made of the value of stakes that may be placed by UK consumers with illegal gambling operators during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has had discussions with payment providers on reducing the flow of funds from UK consumers to illegal gambling operators ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of a) number of bets placed with and b) total value of stakes wagered with illegal gambling websites and operators during the Royal Ascot festival.

The Government does not hold this information. We are taking action on the illegal gambling market, and as part of the 2025 Budget, HMT announced £26 million had been allocated to the Gambling Commission to increase investment, resources and capacity to f...

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Financial Risk Assessments on tax revenues from the regulated betting and gaming sector.

The Government remains committed to supporting the implementation of key measures in the 2023 white paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs). Following the conclusion of its pilot on FRAs, the Gambling Commission has continued to engage with gambling operators. As the independent regulator, the Gambling Commission will decide how to implement FRAs based on the best available evidence. The existence of the online gambling illegal market does not mean that we should avoid appropriate controls on licensed operators. However, as stated in the white paper, we recognise that the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist. This is why we are working to give the Gambling Commission increased powers to support disruption and enforcement activity, and why we have announced £26 million of funding over 3 years to the Commission to enable them to increase their activity. We have also set up an Illegal Gambling Taskforce to test what more can be done to tackle the threats posed by the illegal market. Any assessment of the impact of policies on taxation revenues is a matter for HM Treasury.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Financial Risk Assessments on consumer migration to the unregulated gambling market.

The Government remains committed to supporting the implementation of key measures in the 2023 white paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs). Following the conclusion of its pilot on FRAs, the Gambling Commission has continued to engage with gambling operators. As the independent regulator, the Gambling Commission will decide how to implement FRAs based on the best available evidence. The existence of the online gambling illegal market does not mean that we should avoid appropriate controls on licensed operators. However, as stated in the white paper, we recognise that the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist. This is why we are working to give the Gambling Commission increased powers to support disruption and enforcement activity, and why we have announced £26 million of funding over 3 years to the Commission to enable them to increase their activity. We have also set up an Illegal Gambling Taskforce to test what more can be done to tackle the threats posed by the illegal market. Any assessment of the impact of policies on taxation revenues is a matter for HM Treasury.

Media and Sport, what proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in her Department was made by a British manufacturer.

The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and ensuring they have the best chance to win public contracts. The new Procurement Act creates a simpler and more transparent system that will support British businesses bidding for work. The Act also allows contracting authorities to set standards that recognise the quality and standard of UK businesses and products. Alongside this, the National Procurement Policy Statement encourages contracting authorities to consider this government’s Industrial strategy and the sectors vital to our economic growth. DCMS does not own its offices, and therefore decisions regarding formal crockery and tableware are largely made by the property management companies. However, to supplement this, the department did purchase some crockery in early 2024, before the Procurement Act came into place, that were procured through a British company but manufactured in China.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of closures of (a) libraries and (b) other cultural spaces on the availability of early years services.

Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service.Public libraries significantly contribute to early childhood development by offering a variety of events like storytimes, rhymetimes, and craft sessions. These activities, along with access to a diverse collection of reading materials for all ages, are crucial for enhancing speech, development, and social skills in young children.Where local authorities are proposing changes to their statutory library service, including closures, DCMS expects the local authority to be able to demonstrate that proposals are supported by an assessment of local needs, together with a rigorous analysis and assessment of the potential impact of their proposals and a demonstration of the steps to be taken to mitigate the impact.The Secretary of State has a statutory power to intervene by way of local inquiry if she considers that a local authority is not providing a comprehensive and efficient library service. She takes this role very seriously and should a complaint be received, Ministers will challenge the local council and carefully consider evidence before deciding if a local inquiry is needed.Arts and culture should reach all children and young people and connect with them in a unique way - and this government is committed to ensuring that the Arts can continue to provide opportunities for children up and down the country. Seventy-nine percent of Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisations, which includes theatres, museums and galleries, work with children and young people.The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme provides access to joined up early years support and family services, with over 500 hubs now open across the country. Local authorities should consider existing infrastructure and local need when deciding where to locate services. Libraries and community spaces can, and often do, form part of family hub networks.

Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's Statutory guidance for local authorities’ youth provision, published on 27 September 2023, what progress local authorities have made on conducting Needs assessments in their area; and whether her Department has plans to publish he results of what local authorities deliver.

Local Authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people in their area. Although there is no legal requirement for local authorities to publish their plans, the guidance encourages local authorities to publish their assessment of local needs for youth services as well as the rationale for their actions and decisions. The department does not hold this information centrally and has no plans for a publication on needs assessments

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support local authorities that have been issued a section 114 notice with the provision of youth work.

Local authorities hold the statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people. Local Authorities fund youth services from their Local Government Settlement in line with local need, and this was increased to more than £69 billion in 2025/26 - a 6.8% increase in cash terms compared to 2024/25.Additionally, we will be launching the Local Youth Transformation pilot this year, which will support local authorities to build back capability to improve local youth offers. We will share more information in due course.

Media and Sport, whether planned funding arrangements for Young Futures Hubs will include provision for long-term funding.

The Government is committed to breaking down barriers to success and opportunity. Too many children and young people today do not have access to the same enrichment opportunities as their peers, suffer from poor mental health, and, in some cases, end up b...

Media and Sport, whether she plans to continue funding for research into shared impact measurements for youth services.

This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we are committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential.We are also committed to improving the evidence ba...

Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps to provide ring-fenced revenue funding for universal and open-access youth services for all young people all year round.

This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we are committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential.Next financial year, in 2025/26, we are increasing...

Media and Sports, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Design and Artists Copyright Society’s report entitled, UK Visual Artists a survey of earnings and contracts, p

My department has made no recent assessment of the potential impact of digital copying on artists' and performers' remuneration. However, the Government wants to see remuneration arrangements that create the right conditions for sparking and driving innov...