Written questions by Duncan-Jordan.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that major sporting events such as the Tour de France are available on free to air TV.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to increase funding for youth services in Poole constituency.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the economic impact of licensed greyhound racing.

Greyhound racing makes an important contribution to British cultural life and the department’s priority is ensuring the continued growth of the sport.According to the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, greyhound racing contributes approximately £166 million to Britain’s annual GDP and £52 million to the Exchequer.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the allocation of public funding exclusively to National Portfolio Organisations on non-national portfolio organisations.

The government’s support for culture is not exclusively for National Portfolio Organisations (NPO). In particular, Arts Council England (ACE) capital funding in the current Spending Review period is not limited to NPOs. For example, the Government launched the £425 million Creative Foundations Fund, an open-access capital programme supporting arts and cultural organisations across England to address urgent estate and infrastructure needs. The first £85 million round was open to any eligible organisations, with a further £340 million to be allocated by ACE in due course.The government has also decided to invest additional funding in ACE to support the NPO Programme within the wider context of large-scale open-access funds. As this programme is periodically open to competition, it allows opportunities for new entrants while supporting around 1,000 key cultural institutions across England. The extra funding will help address cost pressures and provide greater stability.

Media and Sport, what plans she has to ensure that public funding supports the parts of the cultural ecosystem most at risk, including the grassroots music sector.

DCMS and Arts Council England (ACE) are already focusing funding on the areas of the cultural sector most at risk, using both dedicated funds and wider investment. We have been clear that significant government investment, such as the £1.5 billion Arts Everywhere Fund, is focused on supporting organisations, particularly in underserved areas, to protect vulnerable cultural infrastructure and local venues, ensuring access nationwide. Arts Council England also directs National Lottery and National Portfolio funding toward underserved areas, prioritising inclusivity, community access and long-term sustainability across the sector. In addition, in response to Baroness Hodge’s review of ACE, we have highlighted the importance of ensuring that support is directed towards the places that need it most. We will also soon publish a Music Plan, drawing together all that the Government is doing to support the music industry. This includes the Government's Music Growth Package of up to £30m over three years, which aims to strengthen the talent pipeline, sustain vital music infrastructure and remove barriers to touring, supporting live performance and providing export opportunities to keep UK music globally competitive. Our Creative Places Growth Fund will provide £150m in total over 3 years to 6 Mayoral Strategic Authorities for them to distribute, according to local barriers and opportunities. This will allow areas to maximise the impact of national interventions, including the grassroots music sector.

Media and Sport, whether she has assessed the potential merits of establishing a Royal Commission on Youth on the challenges facing future generations.

This government recognises the scale of the challenges facing young people and is fully committed to addressing them. That is why we published the ‘Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’ which sets out a 10-year plan to ensure every young person has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them and a community they feel part of. It is underpinned by extensive research and insights, including a national survey and The Big Ambition Analysis for the National Youth Strategy. We will hold yearly national hearings on the progress of the Strategy and publish an interim delivery report in 2027.We recognise that some of the challenges impacting young people have a systemic nature and the government is conducting specific reviews and consultations on key cross-cutting challenges. This includes the independent Milburn review analysing drivers of youth inactivity, the consultation on children’s use of technology as well as the reforms to the SEND system.

Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of appointing a Minister for Youth.

I am the Minister for Youth.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made on the potential impact of 31% of libraries now using unstaffed hours on early literacy rates and access to libraries for children.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within available resources, including the opening hours, staffed and unstaffed, of its libraries. This includes ensuring children and young people have access to their services.As the libraries development agency for England, Arts Council England collects and publishes data on library opening hours in its annual English Public Libraries Location Dataset.The ACE English Public Libraries Location Dataset 2024 indicates that 408 statutory static libraries have an automated system to support the public when this facility is open but unstaffed.DCMS recognises the vital role libraries play in supporting children and young people in their literacy and providing a safe place to study. DCMS’s 2024-25 Participation Survey shows that 16-19 year olds are more likely to use library services than the average adult. DCMS’s Youth Participation Pilot Survey, published in 2024, also shows that 43% of young people (10-19) visited a library in the 12 months prior. DCMS will be considering a range of evidence and best practice in development of the forthcoming Libraries Strategy.

Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues and local authorities to increase the number of community libraries to mark the Year of Reading 2026.

Public libraries are central to the success of the National Year of Reading’s campaign to engage people of all ages with reading, as free and trusted spaces for learning and connection at the heart of their communities.On 2 March DCMS announced £150,000 for public libraries to support the National Year of Reading. Funding will be delivered by The Reading Agency in support of the Go All In campaign to reconnect people with reading for pleasure.Community managed libraries can complement the variety of services available across the public library network, and add value through building upon available services and ensuring close collaboration with the community. However, it is important that councils continue to invest in their statutory library networks, employing skilled and experienced staff.

Media and Sport, what role Young Futures Hubs will play in the delivery of the National Year of Reading.

The National Year of Reading is a Department for Education initiative, in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust. Young Futures Hubs will bring together services to improve access to opportunities and support for young people at community level, promoting positive outcomes and enabling them to thrive. Local Authorities participating in the programme will co-design the services in each hub alongside young people in the community to ensure it meets local needs. Young Futures Hubs are just one part of delivering support within a much wider youth landscape, and will work closely with core services and wider initiatives spanning youth, education, employment, social care, mental health, youth justice and policing.

Media and Sport, what role public libraries will play in the delivery of the National Year of Reading.

Public libraries are central to the success of the National Year of Reading’s campaign to engage people of all ages with reading. The Reading Agency has been appointed to work with sector partners to deliver and support public library engagement. The Summer Reading Challenge in 2026, and World Book Night, the annual celebration of reading for adults on 23 April 2026, will be key moments for libraries during the National Year of Reading 2026. Throughout the year, The Reading Agency will provide public libraries with resources, toolkits, and print and digital materials to support their work and boost engagement.Local authorities such as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Hillingdon, Oxfordshire and Nottinghamshire are actively celebrating and participating in the National Year of Reading programmes with various activities and events at their library branches.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help promote tourism in coastal communities.

DCMS is committed to ensuring that tourism contributes to growth and jobs across all parts of the country including in rural and coastal communities.The forthcoming Visitor Economy Growth Strategy will set out a long term plan to increase visitor flows across the UK, boost value, and deliver sustainable growth. Central to this strategy is the delivery of greater regional dispersal, ensuring that visitor income is spread effectively across regional destinations, including rural and coastal communities.VisitEngland is launching a major domestic marketing campaign pilot in February, specifically highlighting the seaside resorts of the North West. This initiative aims to drive a surge in visits and overnight stays during the vital shoulder season, providing essential year-round support for local businesses.

Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Russian Chess Federation's attempt to have sanctions against them lifted.

The UK Government recognises the independence and autonomy of international chess bodies. Decisions on who they include in events and competitions are for the organisers to take, within the framework of their own rules and regulations.

Media and Sport, when the primary school library rollout will begin as part of the government's commitment to ensure every primary school in England has a library by the end of this parliament.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has responsibility for the Dormant Assets Scheme, which is providing funding to support the primary school library commitment, previously announced by the Chancellor. Through the Scheme, £132.5 million has been allocated to increasing disadvantaged young people’s access to enrichment opportunities in the arts, culture, sports and wider youth services, aimed at improving wellbeing and employability over the long term. This includes a commitment to ensuring that every primary school in England has a library space by the end of this Parliament. The Government is working with The National Lottery Community Fund to co-design the programme and develop more of the specifics around its delivery. Further details will be announced in due course, including expected timelines.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to create a Young Futures Hub for young people in Poole constituency.

As set out by the Prime Minister, on 15th July, the Government will open 50 Young Futures Hubs over the next four years. 8 Early Adopter Local Authorities, in areas of high knife crime and/or antisocial behaviour, will establish the first Young Futures Hubs. The 8 locations will be announced shortly. Locations for wider rollout have not yet been confirmed.

Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for publishing the outcome of the Arts Council England review.

Baroness Hodge will share her findings with the government in the Autumn of 2025, and the government will publish the conclusions of the review along with the government’s response in 2026.

Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with UK broadcasters on ensuring that television coverage of the Tour de France remains available to UK viewers.

The Government recognises concerns raised about losing free-to-air coverage of the Tour de France. Ensuring live cycling can be enjoyed by a wide reaching audience is important to growing the sport and inspiring the next generation of cyclists. Professional cycling, in particular the Tour de France, (men’s and women’s Tours) captivates fans with its exciting races and inspires people across the country to get on their bikes every weekend. It is the responsibility of broadcasters and rights holders to think carefully about the balance between generating revenue and ensuring access to sports coverage for their viewers. While I have regular discussions with UK broadcasters on a range of issues, decisions relating to coverage of particular sporting events - including the Tour de France - are ultimately a commercial decision for the relevant broadcaster and/or the rights holder, independent of government.

Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps to ensure that television coverage of the Tour de France remains available to UK viewers.

The Government recognises concerns raised about losing free-to-air coverage of the Tour de France. Ensuring live cycling can be enjoyed by a wide reaching audience is important to growing the sport and inspiring the next generation of cyclists. Professional cycling, in particular the Tour de France, (men’s and women’s Tours) captivates fans with its exciting races and inspires people across the country to get on their bikes every weekend. It is the responsibility of broadcasters and rights holders to think carefully about the balance between generating revenue and ensuring access to sports coverage for their viewers. While I have regular discussions with UK broadcasters on a range of issues, decisions relating to coverage of particular sporting events - including the Tour de France - are ultimately a commercial decision for the relevant broadcaster and/or the rights holder, independent of government.

Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of ceasing television coverage of the Tour de France in the UK on levels of interest in British cycling.

The Government recognises concerns raised about losing free-to-air coverage of the Tour de France. Ensuring live cycling can be enjoyed by a wide reaching audience is important to growing the sport and inspiring the next generation of cyclists. Professional cycling, in particular the Tour de France, (men’s and women’s Tours) captivates fans with its exciting races and inspires people across the country to get on their bikes every weekend. It is the responsibility of broadcasters and rights holders to think carefully about the balance between generating revenue and ensuring access to sports coverage for their viewers. While I have regular discussions with UK broadcasters on a range of issues, decisions relating to coverage of particular sporting events - including the Tour de France - are ultimately a commercial decision for the relevant broadcaster and/or the rights holder, independent of government.

Media and Sport, if she will take steps to ensure that religious organisations’ assets are scrutinised before making decisions regarding an extension of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme offers grants towards the VAT incurred on eligible repairs and renovations and is open to all listed places of worship. The future of the grant scheme will be considered as we work through the output of the Spending Review and Departmental business planning process.Grants for the scheme are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the eligibility of submitted invoices for repair work. The focus is on the nature of the conservation and repair work undertaken on historic buildings, and an organisation's financial assets or standing are not considered in the decision-making process.