Written questions by Glen.

Media and Sport, with reference to the press notice entitled Government outlines ambitious plans to level up activities for young people, published on 1 February 2022, whether it remains her Department's policy to maintain the level of spending on young people to that of the National Youth Guarantee.

This government recognises the transformative role that youth services play in young people’s lives. That is why we are co-producing a new National Youth Strategy with young people and the sectors that support them.We committed to maintaining or increasing funding for our other youth programmes, following the closure of NCS. DCMS will invest £145 million in youth programmes in 2025-26, which is consistent with funding in 24/25, taking into consideration the planned tapering of the Youth Investment Fund. This investment will provide stability to the youth sector and ensure young people can access opportunities, as we transition to the National Youth Strategy. This includes over £28 million to increase access to more and better enriching activities, over £3 million to increase sector and workforce capacity, £8.2 million to improve local youth offers, and over £107 million to invest in ensuring safe, welcoming, fit-for purpose youth centres.Additionally, on 2nd June we announced £132.5 million of Dormant Assets Funding will be allocated to support the provision of services, facilities or opportunities to meet the needs of young people. This will increase disadvantaged young people’s access to enrichment opportunities in the arts, culture, sports and wider youth services, aimed at improving wellbeing and employability.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8809 on 11 Downing Street: Art Works, what was the cost to the public purse of removing the artworks.

It is standard practice, as followed by the previous government, of which he was a member, for new ministers to select works from the Government Art Collection for their ministerial offices. All such changes of displays of works from the Government Art Collection constitute 'business as usual' for the Collection, so all costs are met from within existing budgets. All the newly installed artworks are part of the Government Art Collection, and no works have been acquired or procured for this new display. The whole collection, which is about to celebrate its 125th anniversary, shows great British art at its best in ministerial offices, departments, museums, galleries, embassies and consulates. Its diversity is a key part of its appeal and its championing of British art at home and abroad.

Media and Sport, whether the Government has received representations from the Greek Government on (a) loaning and (b) donating the Elgin Marbles to Greece.

Yes.

Media and Sport, whether she has held recent discussions with the Premier League on the potential implications for his policies of foreign investment in football.

This government is pro-business, and wants to see football continue to thrive. We recognise and are proud of the Premier League’s position as the world’s foremost football league. Investment in the Premier League has been one of the key drivers behind this success.We are establishing a new Independent Football Regulator and have engaged extensively with the Premier League as we have finalised the legislation to deliver this. This Bill will deliver sustainability for clubs which will help support continued long-term investment in the game.

Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) removing portraits of men from 11 Downing Street and (b) procuring new portraits and paintings; what the process will be for procuring new portraits and paintings; and whether she plans to remove the portraits of former Chancellors of the Exchequer.

It is standard practice, as followed by the previous government, for new ministers to select works from the Government Art Collection for their ministerial offices. All such changes of displays of works from the Government Art Collection constitute 'business as usual' for the Collection, so all costs are met from within existing budgets. All the newly installed artworks are part of the Government Art Collection, and no works have been acquired or procured for this new display. The whole collection, which is about to celebrate its 125th anniversary, shows great British art at its best in ministerial offices, departments, museums, galleries, embassies and consulates. Its diversity is a key part of its appeal and its championing of British art at home and abroad.

Media and Sport, how many people have been appointed to civil service positions without open competition in her Department since 4 July 2024; what their (a) job titles and (b) salary bands are; and on what basis each was appointed.

The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 requires that selection to the Civil Service must be on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition. There may be instances where a role may meet the requirements for use of a Civil Service Commission exception. As part of this, the Civil Service Commission requires that departments provide a quarterly return on their use of Exceptions at SCS2 and above. This information can be found on the CSC website.The information requested could lead to individuals being identified therefore we are not able to provide job titles and salary bands (due to the potentially low numbers of people in each).The information about the overall number of people who have been appointed to civil service posts in their Department without open competition will take a disproportionate amount of activity to analyse and provide.

Media and Sport, what (a) direct ministerial and (b) other public appointments to her Department and associated bodies have (i) been (A) removed from their posts and (B) asked to resign and (ii) made since 4 July 2024.

DCMS does not routinely record and collect the reasons for appointees leaving their positions and the reasons why an appointee leaves their role cannot be shared due to GDPR regulations.Appointments are routinely published and can be found on gov.uk.