Written questions by Hayes.

Media and Sport, whether she has made a recent assessment the effectiveness of self-regulation by the gambling industry with regard to gambling advertising.

There are a range of robust rules in place to ensure that gambling adverts, wherever they appear, are socially responsible. However, as the Gambling Minister set out in her speech at the GambleAware conference on 4 December, more needs to be done to improve protections. The industry now has a clear task to further raise standards to ensure that levels of gambling advertising does not exacerbate harm, and this work will be monitored closely.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to support new FM licences for radio stations in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

The growth and development of digital radio and changes in listener behaviour have resulted in a clear shift away from analogue listening – digital listening now accounts for 74% of all radio listening (RAJAR Q3 2024). Although AM/FM platforms remain important for smaller commercial and community stations, significant numbers of listeners are migrating to digital platforms.The licensing of AM/FM radio services is a matter for Ofcom, and in October Ofcom set out its current approach to licensing in a progress report on the rollout of small-scale DAB (SSDAB) technology. This report set out Ofcom’s current view that SSDAB offers audiences a wider range of services and makes a more efficient use of spectrum than FM, and committed to at least two further rounds of SSDAB licensing before considering the possibility of any further analogue licensing in the future.

Media and Sport, how many full-time equivalent diversity, equality and inclusion staff are employed by the Charity Commission.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales has no full time equivalent diversity, equality and inclusion staff.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to tackle gambling advertisements (a) online and (b) on television which are targeted at young people.

There are a range of robust rules and restrictions which apply to gambling adverts, wherever they appear, to ensure they are socially responsible.As part of the UK Advertising Codes, issued by the Committees for Advertising Practice (CAP) and Broadcast Committees of Advertising Practice (BCAP), sister organisations of the Advertising Standards Authority, adverts must not be placed in children’s media and advertisers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that under-18s are excluded from their targeted marketing. In addition, content with ‘strong appeal’ to children such as top flight footballers or celebrities popular with children is prohibited from appearing in gambling adverts. As the statutory regulator for gambling in Great Britain, the Gambling Commission requires all licensed operators to abide by the Advertising Codes.As the Minister for Gambling set out in her speech at the GambleAware conference on 4 December, we want to see the gambling industry further raise standards to ensure that levels of gambling advertising does not exacerbate harm. This work will be monitored closely.

Media and Sport, whether external (a) guidance and (b) training has been contracted for discussing (i) unconscious bias, (ii) critical race theory and (iii) decolonisation with staff in her Department.

The information requested is not centrally held.However, Ministers believe that the application of critical race theory threatens to undermine integration and community cohesion, by exaggerating differences within local communities. Instead, we should be seeking to build and strengthen a shared local and national identity across class, colour and creed.The Government has a plan for an Inclusive Britain which will address the causes for racial disparity, which are complex and are not always caused by discrimination or prejudice. The central mission of our approach is to improve people’s lives, and to do that we need to address the root causes of the disparities that they face.

Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to ensure that a proportion of the money raised from the statutory levy on gambling operators will be allocated to (a) charities and (b) other organisations that focus on the prevention of gambling harms and that are not sponsored by the gambling industry.

As set out in the Government’s response to the consultation on the statutory levy, we will introduce a statutory levy charged to all licensed gambling operators to fund the research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm.The government is clear that the third sector will play an important role in the future levy system. NHS England, and appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales, will commission treatment and support services, working collaboratively with the third sector. The levy will also provide sustainable funding to support the development of a coordinated approach to prevention, providing investment for organisations, including in the third sector, to develop and deliver harm reduction activities across Great Britain. Prevention remains a crucial part of the Government’s efforts to tackle gambling-related harm and it is important we take the time to get the policy right. The Department will continue to carefully consider the most effective approach to prevention and will publish a further response document setting out our final decisions in the coming months.

Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the impact of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions on the charity sector.

The recent Budget took the tough choices needed to fix the foundations and restore economic stability. DCMS Ministers have spoken to representatives from the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector and are aware of their concerns about the impacts of the increase to employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs).The government acknowledges that these changes will affect all sectors of the economy, which is why we have put in place mitigations to protect smaller organisations in particular, by more than doubling the Employment Allowance to £10,500. This means that next year, 865,000 employers (43%) will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of employers will see no change or gain overall from this package.We are also expanding eligibility of the Employment Allowance by removing the £100,000 eligibility threshold, to simplify and reform employer NICs so that all eligible employers now benefit. Employers will also continue to benefit from employer NICs reliefs including for hiring under 21s and under 25 apprentices, where eligible.Within the tax system, we provide support to charities through a range of reliefs and exemptions, including reliefs for charitable giving. Our tax regime for charities, including exemption from paying business rates, is among the most generous of anywhere in the world, with more than £6 billion in charitable reliefs provided to charities, Community Amateur Sports Clubs and their donors in 2023 to 2024. The biggest individual reliefs provided are Gift Aid at £1.6 billion and business rates relief at nearly £2.4 billion.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support charities in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

Charities play a vital role in supporting our communities, and have a rich understanding of the local areas in which they are embedded, such as in South Holland and the Deepings.DCMS is supporting the sector across England in a number of ways, including through the provision of grants through, for example, the VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme and the Know Your Neighbourhood fund. DCMS also supports charities by growing other sources of funding such as the social investment market and the dormant assets scheme, and building the capacity of VCSEs to bid for government contracts through the Contract Readiness Programme, which increases their sustainability.Last year, the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund distributed £76 million to VCSE organisations to support them with the rising cost of living. This included funding to organisations in the East Midlands - a full list of recipients can be found online.The Government values the work that charities do. Resetting the relationship between civil society and Government is a priority, and we want to ensure that the sector is recognised as a trusted and independent partner whose voice is heard. That is why DCMS has been working closely with key civil society bodies to develop a framework for a new Covenant between government and civil society, which was launched by the Prime Minister in October.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve the provision of youth services in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

As set out in section 507B of the Education Act 1996, 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. At the Autumn Budget, we announced £1.3 billion of extra funding through the Local Government Finance Settlement for the next financial year.This Government is committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential and recognises the vital role that youth services and activities play in improving their life chances and wellbeing. That is why, on 12 November 2024, the Secretary of State announced the launch of a new National Youth Strategy coproduced with young people, which will prioritise delivering better coordinated youth services and policy at a local, regional and national level.Alongside this, the Government will be allocating over £85 million of capital funding to create fit-for-purpose spaces for young people. This includes launching the new £26 million Better Youth Spaces fund (equipment and small refurbishments for youth clubs, led by young people) and the completion of Youth Investment Fund projects such as youth clubs in communities that need them. We will also be launching the Local Youth Transformation pilot, which will provide tools, guidance, peer challenge and funding to build back local authorities’ lost capability in the youth space.

Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing funding for the Spalding Flower Parade.

I think of floristry as one of the great unsung British creative industries, with florists providing imaginative joy for vital family and civic occasions and for private happiness in every constituency in the land. The reinstatement of the Spalding Flower Parade in 2023 ensures that there is once again a great opportunity to celebrate Lincolnshire’s flower industry .As part of DCMS’ restructuring of destination management in England, VisitEngland have recently accredited Destination Lincolnshire as the Local Visitor Economy Partnership with the skills and experience to grow visitor numbers and spend in the region. Destination Lincolnshire would be best placed to make an assessment of the value of the parade to future tourism in the region.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to increase funding for arts and culture in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

After 14 years of indifference and cultural vandalism, this government is committed to making sure that arts and cultural activities will no longer be the preserve of a privileged few. We are working with Arts Council England and others to understand what the challenges and opportunities are for our sectors. As part of the Government’s “Creating Growth” plan, DCMS is also undertaking a review documenting current and past funding for the arts, culture, and heritage sectors.Arts Council England’s open funding programme, National Lottery Project Grants, is accessible to organisations and individuals across the country, including those in the South Holland and the Deepings constituency, and across Lincolnshire. This programme provides over £100 million of support annually, and is open to new and emerging artists.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has provided funding to the Runnymede Trust in the last ten years.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has checked all available records which show no funding has been provided to the Runnymede Trust in the last ten years.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of levels of funding for grassroots rugby infrastructure.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding.This includes long term investment to The Rugby Football Union, the National Governing Body for rugby in England, which receives up to £13.8 million for five years to invest in community rugby initiatives that will benefit everyone.Furthermore, as part of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Impact Facility Fund between 2023 and 2027 the RFU will receive £7 million investment to enhance the grassroots rugby experience for women.

Media and Sport, whether Ministers in her Department have met representatives of Arden Strategies since 5 July 2024.

Neither the Secretary of State nor other DCMS ministers have held meetings with representatives of Arden Strategies in their ministerial capacity to date. Ministers attend non-governmental events which Arden Strategies representatives may also attend.

Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to decriminalise non-payment of the television licence fee.

The Culture Secretary believes it is important that the television licence fee has a fair enforcement regime that does not disproportionately impact vulnerable people.As part of the next Charter Review, the government will engage with the BBC and others to consider how to ensure the BBC thrives well into the next decade and beyond. This will include discussions on a range of important issues, including future funding models for the BBC, and their enforcement.