Every parliamentary written question tabled by Louie French this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 181–200 of 300 · this parliament
What representations she has received from Cabinet colleagues on her proposals to harmonise betting duty rates.
The Chancellor discusses a variety of issues with Ministers from other government departments throughout the year, including the run up to Budget.
Media and Sport, what the differences are between the (a) Women’s Sport Taskforce, announced in 2025 and (b) the National Physical Activity Taskforce, established in 2023.
The Women’s Sport Taskforce convenes a group of industry experts which aim to understand opportunities and break down barriers to deliver equal access, best in class facilities, ongoing professionalisation of women’s sport, visible role models to inspire future generations of girls and a strong pipeline of UK hosted major events by the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup.The National Physical Activity Taskforce (NPAT) was established in 2023 under a previous government to monitor the delivery of the sport strategy Get Active, which went beyond women’s sport in its focus. This group has now closed.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of harmonising betting duty rates on (a) the number of jobs in the economy, (b) the tax revenue raised and (c) the rural economy.
The Government consultation on proposals to simplify the current gambling tax system by merging the three current taxes that cover remote (including online) gambling into one closed on 21 July 2025. Responses are now being analysed and a response to the consultation will be published at Autumn Budget 2025.If any changes are made to gambling duties at a future Budget following the consultation, they will be accompanied by a Tax Information and Impact Note which will set out the expected impacts.
What discussions she has had with local authorities on the publication of safeguarding data; and if he will make it his policy to require all local authorities publish their safeguarding data annually.
Local Authorities currently submit annual data to the department on all ‘children in need’ and ‘children looked after’ in their authorities. This includes information on Section 47 enquiries, initial child protection conferences and children with child protection plans and is published on the department’s ‘Explore Education Statistics’ website. This contains statistics on serious incidents involving children that local authorities have notified to the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. Safeguarding partners also complete annual reports which focus on multi-agency priorities, learning, impact, evidence, and improvement. These are subsequently sent to the department and National Panel and published in the public domain.
Media and Sport, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help ensure that (a) children, (b) young people and (c) vulnerable adults are safeguarded while participating in (i) regulated and (ii) unregulated (A) grassroots sports, (B) civil society groups and (C) religious groups.
The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone is vitally important. In sport, National Governing Bodies are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm, including through adherence to statutory safeguarding guidance. Our Arm’s Length Body Sport England funds the Child Protection in Sport Unit and Ann Craft Trust to provide guidance and support for the sector regarding safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.For civil society groups, The Charity Commission provides clear guidance on the safeguarding responsibilities of registered charities, and the Government works in partnership with charities and regulators to raise awareness about safeguarding.The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) also provides guidance to all voluntary organisations, including religious groups, on their legal safeguarding responsibilities when working with children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
What discussions she has had with (a) the Betting and Gaming Council, (b) the British Horseracing Authority and (c) the Jockey Club on proposals to equalise betting duty.
As part of the consultation process, the Government engaged with a wide range of stakeholders. We are working with representatives of the horseracing industry to identify any potential unintended consequences for the sector, and how they might be mitigated.
Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of lifting the £50 million ticket sales cap on society lotteries on the public finances.
Society lotteries are a vital fundraising tool for many charities, community groups, sports clubs and other non-commercial organisations. We want to see them continue to thrive, alongside the National Lottery. Society lotteries are not subject to tax and are exempt from paying Lottery Duty, except for External Lottery Managers (ELMs) who do pay Corporation Tax. Independent research found that making further changes to the society lottery sales limits might have a negative impact on National Lottery sales, which would result in a reduction in Lottery Duty revenue for the Exchequer.
Media and Sport, when she last met with her preferred candidate for the Chair of the Independent Football Regulator; and when she next plans to meet with him.
David Kogan has now been appointed as Chair of the Independent Football Regulator and the Secretary of State and I had a formal introductory meeting with him on 14 October.
Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to continue the Future of Cricket Fund.
The Government has demonstrated its ongoing commitment to support the growth of cricket through its recent announcement of funding for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB, the national governing body for cricket) to build two new indoor cricket domes in Farington (near Preston) and Luton. The Future of Cricket ‘Fund’ was an announcement made by the previous Government, which was entirely unfunded. This funding for cricket centres is in addition the £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the nation which was announced following the Spending Review.We will work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans. I met with the ECB, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this. The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding.This includes long term investment to the ECB which receives up to £11.6 million for five years to invest in community cricket initiatives.
Media and Sport, what plans she has to invest in grassroots cricket.
The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding.This already includes long term investment to the England and Wales Cricket Board, the National Governing Body for cricket, which receives up to £11.6 million for five years to invest in community cricket initiatives.The Government also announced another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the nation following the Spending Review. We will work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans. I met with the England and Wales Cricket Board, among other sports, to discuss this last week.
With reference to the 10 Year Health Plan for England, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using (a) chiropractors and (b) other wider healthcare professionals to support the NHS in delivering neighbourhood health centres.
Neighbourhood health centres will provide easier, more convenient access to a full range of healthcare services on people’s doorsteps, and patients will be treated and cared for closer to their home by new teams of healthcare professionals.We have launched the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP). The NNHIP will support systems across the country to test new ways of working, share learning, and scale what works. This programme will inform future strategy and policy development, and outcome metrics will be rigorously monitored.
Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) a National Lido Strategy and (b) a National Lido Fund.
The Government has made no assessment on the potential merits of a National Lido Strategy or a National Lido Fund. The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to and benefits from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.Sports facilities, such as swimming pools and lidos, provide important community hubs for people of all ages to be active and connect people to the places in which they live.The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, and the Government continues to encourage local authorities to invest in leisure facilities. We are committed to supporting Local Government, recognising the significant financial challenges faced by the sector and by ensuring that funding goes to the places that need it most through the Local Government Finance Settlement.We will continue to engage with Swim England, ukactive, and other key stakeholders to explore how we can work towards securing a vibrant future for swimming pools and lidos, enabling them to continue delivering their full potential for public health, economic growth, and the wellbeing of our communities. Last month, the Culture Secretary announced that following the Spending Review, at least £400 million is going to be invested into new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities in communities right across the UK, supporting the Government's Plan for Change. We will work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans.
Media and Sport, whether the funding announced for her Department in the Spending Review 2025 is (a) new funding and (b) was funding allocated to the Department by the previous Government.
Spending Review 2025 (SR25) formally set all Departmental budgets for the upcoming SR period, no budgets had been formally set before for this period. As such, all SR25 funding was agreed by the current government.
How many and what proportion of Gift Aid claims have been rejected in each of the last five years.
The average processing times for Gift Aid claims over the last five tax years are below: Tax YearAverage Working Days to Pay06/04/2024to05/04/20253.1606/04/2023to05/04/20243.2406/04/2022to05/04/20232.8406/04/2021to05/04/20223.4906/04/2020to05/04/20214.08 HMRC does not hold information centrally on what proportion of Gift Aid claims have been rejected in each of the last five years.
What the average processing time was for Gift Aid claims in each of the last five years.
The average processing times for Gift Aid claims over the last five tax years are below: Tax YearAverage Working Days to Pay06/04/2024to05/04/20253.1606/04/2023to05/04/20243.2406/04/2022to05/04/20232.8406/04/2021to05/04/20223.4906/04/2020to05/04/20214.08 HMRC does not hold information centrally on what proportion of Gift Aid claims have been rejected in each of the last five years.
Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of London Sport’s campaign entitled More Ball Games.
The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our arm’s length body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport at grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all as set out in its “Uniting the Movement” strategy.For 2022-27, London Sport received £14,644,735 from Sport England as System Partner investment to contribute to delivering Uniting the Movement. Sport England have not given money directly to fund the “More Ball Games” campaign, but London Sport have a degree of autonomy on how they allocate their System Partner funding to contribute to Uniting the Movement.Sport England will continue to work with its System Partners such as London Sport to increase opportunities for everyone to play grassroots sport and take part in physical activity.
Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that children have access to (a) safe and (b) welcoming spaces for (i) play and (ii) sport within their communities.
Playgrounds are a vital part of our social infrastructure. They contribute to the health and development of children and young people across the nation and build on the Government’s mission of opportunities for all by ensuring everyone has the best start in life.The National Design Guide demonstrates how new development can promote inclusive design by creating buildings and spaces that are safe, social and inclusive. This should include spaces for comfort, relaxation and stimulation, including play.In addition, everyone should be able to take part in sport safely. National Governing Bodies (NGBs) are responsible for the regulation of their sports and for ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to protect participants from harm. Whilst NGBs are independent of Government, we are clear that health and safety of participants, including children, must be their top priority.The Government is investing £100 million through the Multi Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme to build and upgrade high-quality grassroots sports pitches and facilities in the communities across the UK that need it most, including children and young people.On 20 June 2025, the Culture Secretary announced that following Spending Review, at least £400 million is going to be invested into new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities in communities right across the UK, supporting the Government's Plan for Change. We will work closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what each community needs and then set out further plans.
Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to provide funding for London Sport’s campaign entitled More Ball Games.
The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our arm’s length body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport at grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all as set out in its “Uniting the Movement” strategy.For 2022-27, London Sport received £14,644,735 from Sport England as System Partner investment to contribute to delivering Uniting the Movement. Sport England have not given money directly to fund the “More Ball Games” campaign, but London Sport have a degree of autonomy on how they allocate their System Partner funding to contribute to Uniting the Movement.Sport England will continue to work with its System Partners such as London Sport to increase opportunities for everyone to play grassroots sport and take part in physical activity.
Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the growth in unregulated large-scale prize draws on National Lottery ticket sales.
Prize draws are a significant and growing market. We want people who participate in prize draws to be confident that proportionate protections are in place.We will be introducing a Voluntary Code for prize draw operators later this year. This Code will provide a uniform approach across the sector to strengthen player protections, increase transparency and improve accountability.This approach allows us to take swift action collectively with the sector. The success of this code will dictate whether this Government decides that greater regulation may be required, including legislation.Further information on this can be found in a Written Ministerial Statement published on Thursday 26 June 2025.The independent research into the prize draws sector was published on 26 June 2026 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-report-online-prize-draws-and-competitions-market-study-assessment-of-harm-and-review-of-potential-interventions). The research gathered views from lottery stakeholders on the perceived impact of the prize draw market on the lotteries sector, including the National Lottery, but did not make a full assessment of this impact.
Media and Sport, when she plans to publish a timetable for consulting on the regulation of large-scale prize draws.
Prize draws are a significant and growing market. We want people who participate in prize draws to be confident that proportionate protections are in place.We will be introducing a Voluntary Code for prize draw operators later this year. This Code will provide a uniform approach across the sector to strengthen player protections, increase transparency and improve accountability.This approach allows us to take swift action collectively with the sector. The success of this code will dictate whether this Government decides that greater regulation may be required, including legislation.Further information on this can be found in a Written Ministerial Statement published on Thursday 26 June 2025.The independent research into the prize draws sector was published on 26 June 2026 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-report-online-prize-draws-and-competitions-market-study-assessment-of-harm-and-review-of-potential-interventions). The research gathered views from lottery stakeholders on the perceived impact of the prize draw market on the lotteries sector, including the National Lottery, but did not make a full assessment of this impact.