Written questions by French.

Media and Sport, what meetings she has held with David Kogan since 4 July 2024.

All the Secretary of State’s meetings are published Quarterly as part of the transparency data available on Gov.uk

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Rt hon. Gordon Brown on gambling duties.

The Chancellor discusses a variety of issues with stakeholders throughout the year, including the run up to Budget.

Pursuant to the answer of 17 November to Question 87901 on Individual Savings Accounts, what assessment she has made of (a) the impact of the property price cap on the number of first-time buyers purchasing homes, (b) the number of first-time buyers by London borough, and (c) if she will make it her policy to provide a separate cap for properties in (i) inner London boroughs and (ii) outer London boroughs.

Data from the latest UK House Price Index demonstrates that the average price paid by first-time buyers is below the LISA property price cap in all regions of the UK. This includes London, where the average price paid by first-time buyers in November 2023 was under £437,000. A single UK-wide cap keeps the Lifetime ISA simple for savers and providers. In 2024/25, 87,250 individuals withdrew Lifetime ISA funds for a house purchase, an increase of around 30,500 on the previous tax year. While HMRC does collect data on regional breakdown of Lifetime ISA account holders, the data quality is not sufficient to provide accurate regional breakdowns or produce statistics on individual London boroughs. In HMRC’s response to the recent Treasury Select Committee’s LISA enquiry (link), a regional breakdown was provided where homes were bought using LISAs: HMRC LISA enquiry response - Tables 1, 2 and 3. The Government keeps all aspects of tax and savings policy under review.

Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on political donations made by the Independent Football Regulator Chair since 2019.

Mr Kogan’s donations are publicly disclosed on the Electoral Commission donation register. On 7 May 2025 Mr Kogan declared additional political donations, beneath the thresholds required by the Governance Code, when he appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 28 October to question 83435, on Gambling: Taxation, if she will set out a timeline for publishing the Terms of Reference for the Levy Board and Advisory Group.

The Department intends to publish the Terms of Reference for the Gambling Levy Programme Board and the Gambling Levy Advisory Group before the end of the year.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) local authority leaders, (b) metro-mayors and (c) the Mayor of London on the value for money of foreign visits.

Local authorities are responsible for their own financial management, and we do not monitor their day-to-day business. We expect all local authorities to take prudent decisions and ensure they manage their finances effectively, in line with “Best Value” guidance, under the Local Government Act 1999.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the trends in the number of houses in multiple occupation on house prices in each local authority.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 75141 on 16 September 2025.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to take steps to support the Deaflympics.

Sport England are exploring a series of small-scale talent pilots for deaf athletes. These pilots will see Sport England, National Governing Bodies, and UK Deaf Sport working together to explore issues around accessibility and suggest potential solutions. Sport England has also awarded UK Deaf Sport £150,000 to fund a specialist Talent Inclusion post to further the work of the pilots. The Government, through the UK Sport grant, supports Olympic and Paralympic success. Beyond this the Government does not provide additional funding to performance sport, in line with our approach to a great many other areas of individual sporting performance.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 3 November to question 84965 on Gambling, what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the statistical analysis in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities' report entitled The economic and social cost of harms associated with gambling in England published on 11 January 2023; and if she will exclude it from use within her Department.

The report that the Honourable Member refers to estimates the economic and social costs of gambling-related harm and provides a useful addition to our evidence base. As we have previously set out in a number of gambling-related impact assessments, we recognise that the report has limitations relating to both data availability and methodology, which means that the cost estimates may be under- or over-estimating the true cost of harm. This is true of many reports that try to estimate the cost of harm. However, we continue to consider this report in the context of the wider evidence base, and as such have no plans to exclude it from use in the Department.

Communities and Local Government, what consideration his Department has given to the potential merits of mandating carbon monoxide detectors in every home with fixed combustion appliances.

I refer the hon. Member to answer given to Question UIN 80767 on 20 October 2025.The Building Regulations 2010 apply to new building work and are intended to protect people’s safety, health and welfare. They apply when a building is being designed, constructed, or subject to major re-design, so that minimum standards for size, space and materials are included. The Regulations, which are supported by statutory guidance in Approved Document J, set minimum performance standards for new building work including, at Schedule 1 Part J, provisions for detection and early warning of carbon monoxide. The statutory guidance makes clear that where a new or replacement fixed gas or solid fuel burning appliance is installed in a dwelling, a carbon monoxide alarm should be provided in the room where the appliance is located.The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015 provide important protections for renters, private and social, requiring landlords to fit smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their homes. In addition to these regulations, fire and carbon monoxide safety requirements can be found in the Housing Act 2004, the Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022, and government will protect tenants further through our review of the Decent Homes Standard and the new requirements to address health and safety hazards under Awaab’s Law.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November to question 84964 on Gambling, what steps she is taking to ensure that her department uses (a) impartial, and (b) accurate data, and commissions (i) impartial, and (ii) accurate data on gambling harms.

The Government recognises the importance of using impartial, accurate and up-to-date statistics on gambling behaviour and harms. We are committed to ensuring that policy decisions are guided by the best available evidence from a broad range of reliable sources. Developing impartial and accurate evidence on gambling-related harms is a key priority for the statutory gambling levy. That is why 20% of funding will be directed towards high-quality, independent research to fill gaps in the evidence base, which will be used to inform policy related to tackling gambling-related harm.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 5 November to question 85955 on Betting: Excise Duties, if she will list the stakeholders she has met since 4 July 2024.

DCMS Ministers have had regular meetings with a range of stakeholders about gambling taxation.Ministerial meetings and engagements are published through quarterly transparency reports on GOV.UK.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the value for money of funding distributed by the Arts Council England.

The government ensures value for money from Arts Council England (ACE) funding by holding it accountable through performance reporting, financial controls, and grant-management standards set by DCMS. ACE also reports against key performance indicators and strategic outcomes in its annual report.The government has also strengthened performance measurement by developing long-term impact indicators, including a participation survey, to measure the outcomes of funded arts activity. Alongside this, through the Culture Heritage Capital programme, DCMS and its arms length bodies are developing new methodology and guidance to measure the value for money of investment in culture. In December 2024 DCMS published Embedding a Culture and Heritage Capital Approach, which set out the ambitions for the programme.

When she last met the Police Federation; and when she next plans to meet the Police Federation.

Home Office Ministers have regular meetings as part of the process of policy development and delivery.As part of Government transparency information about meetings is published on a quarterly basis on gov.ukThe Police Act 1996 establishes the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) as the representative body for police officers in the federated ranks in England and Wales.

Media and Sport, whether she has plans to bring channels which stream online under an Ofcom licence under Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code.

Ofcom has launched a review of broadcast regulation which will, amongst other things, consider the licensing framework and the impact of the digital environment. This is in recognition that much of our existing legislation was designed for linear television and radio consumption. The Government will engage with Ofcom as that work progresses. Through the Media Act 2024, the Government will be designating mainstream video-on-demand (VoD) services, bringing them under enhanced regulation by Ofcom. Ofcom will then draft and enforce a new VoD Standards Code, which will be similar to the Broadcasting Code, and which will set appropriate standards for content, including rules on harmful and offensive material, accuracy, fairness, and privacy.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of grassroots music venues that will be affected by the new higher multiplier rate of retail, hospitality and leisure relief; and what assessment her Department has made of how they will be affected.

The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026/27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that eligible grassroots music venues benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government is sustainably funding this by introducing a higher tax rate on properties with RVs of £500,000 and above.The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the Government can factor the revaluation outcomes and broader economic and fiscal context into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

What steps she is taking to support grassroots music venues which will have higher business rates under the new multiplier.

The Government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026/27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that eligible grassroots music venues benefit from much-needed certainty and support. The Government is sustainably funding this by introducing a higher tax rate on properties with RVs of £500,000 and above.The final design, including the rates, for the new business rates multipliers will be announced at Budget 2025, so that the Government can factor the revaluation outcomes and broader economic and fiscal context into decision-making. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

What discussions she has had with gig economy operators on (a) trends in the level of people (i) driving and (ii) delivering through their platforms without appropriate driving licences and (b) steps they are taking to prevent such practices.

The department has not had any discussions with gig economy operators about trends in the level of people working as delivery drivers through their platforms without appropriate driving licences, or steps being taken to prevent such practices. Drivers must hold a full licence to work as a delivery driver. Motorcyclists must hold a valid provisional licence to work as a delivery rider. Employers have a duty to manage the risks of their work activities, including where driving for work is required. Employees and self-employed workers have a responsibility to drive appropriately and comply with relevant laws.The department with the Health and Safety Executive updated joint guidance called ‘Driving and riding safely for work’ in September 2021 that sets out those obligations. In December 2024, Minister Simon Lightwood MP wrote to the Chief Executives of the largest food delivery companies to remind them of the importance the Government places on the safety of food delivery riders and other road users, and of their responsibilities and obligations towards them. It is essential that delivery drivers and riders follow The Highway Code. The department has not made an assessment about people engaged in delivery work without valid documentation on road safety, or about the merits of increasing regulation of people driving delivery and courier vehicles for any reason. We are considering plans to review the training, testing, and licensing requirements for motorcycles. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police who will decide, on the evidence of each individual case, whether an offence has been committed and the appropriate action to take. The Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. More details will be set out in due course.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing (a) the regulation of and (b) enforcement against people driving vehicles for (i) delivery and (ii) courier work with L plates but without valid driving licences.

The department has not had any discussions with gig economy operators about trends in the level of people working as delivery drivers through their platforms without appropriate driving licences, or steps being taken to prevent such practices. Drivers must hold a full licence to work as a delivery driver. Motorcyclists must hold a valid provisional licence to work as a delivery rider. Employers have a duty to manage the risks of their work activities, including where driving for work is required. Employees and self-employed workers have a responsibility to drive appropriately and comply with relevant laws.The department with the Health and Safety Executive updated joint guidance called ‘Driving and riding safely for work’ in September 2021 that sets out those obligations. In December 2024, Minister Simon Lightwood MP wrote to the Chief Executives of the largest food delivery companies to remind them of the importance the Government places on the safety of food delivery riders and other road users, and of their responsibilities and obligations towards them. It is essential that delivery drivers and riders follow The Highway Code. The department has not made an assessment about people engaged in delivery work without valid documentation on road safety, or about the merits of increasing regulation of people driving delivery and courier vehicles for any reason. We are considering plans to review the training, testing, and licensing requirements for motorcycles. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police who will decide, on the evidence of each individual case, whether an offence has been committed and the appropriate action to take. The Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. More details will be set out in due course.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of people without valid (a) work and (b) driving documentation being engaged in delivery work on road safety.

The department has not had any discussions with gig economy operators about trends in the level of people working as delivery drivers through their platforms without appropriate driving licences, or steps being taken to prevent such practices. Drivers must hold a full licence to work as a delivery driver. Motorcyclists must hold a valid provisional licence to work as a delivery rider. Employers have a duty to manage the risks of their work activities, including where driving for work is required. Employees and self-employed workers have a responsibility to drive appropriately and comply with relevant laws.The department with the Health and Safety Executive updated joint guidance called ‘Driving and riding safely for work’ in September 2021 that sets out those obligations. In December 2024, Minister Simon Lightwood MP wrote to the Chief Executives of the largest food delivery companies to remind them of the importance the Government places on the safety of food delivery riders and other road users, and of their responsibilities and obligations towards them. It is essential that delivery drivers and riders follow The Highway Code. The department has not made an assessment about people engaged in delivery work without valid documentation on road safety, or about the merits of increasing regulation of people driving delivery and courier vehicles for any reason. We are considering plans to review the training, testing, and licensing requirements for motorcycles. Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police who will decide, on the evidence of each individual case, whether an offence has been committed and the appropriate action to take. The Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. More details will be set out in due course.