Written questions by Huddleston.

Media and Sport, if she will publish an updated assessment of the economic contribution of outdoor visitor attractions to the UK economy; and what recent discussions she has had with industry representatives on the potential impact of weather-related behaviours on their levels of economic contribution.

DCMS recognises the vital role outdoor visitor attractions play in the UK’s visitor economy. These sites, ranging from world-leading zoos and theme parks to historic gardens, contribute to regional investment, local employment and often support learning and biodiversity conservation.At this time, DCMS has not made a specific assessment of the potential financial impact of digital weather forecasting on outdoor visitor attractions. The Government is aware of the concerns raised by the sector regarding how these forecasts can influence visitor behaviour, including the recent campaign led by Chester Zoo.My department continues to represent the interests of the visitor economy across Government and my officials are engaged on this matter. This includes membership of the Public Weather Service (PWS) Customer Group. This Group has been working closely with the Met Office to strengthen the focus on supporting the outdoor economy, including the visitor economy. More broadly, I remain committed to maintaining a close and constructive dialogue with industry representatives to ensure the visitor economy continues to thrive.

Whether he is considering extending the duration of Bereavement Support Payment from 18 months to a longer period.

Bereavement Support Payment aims to provide support during the acute period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. The Government keeps the eligibility of all benefits under review.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on updating VAT guidance to recognise social media advertising as qualifying zero rated charity advertising.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s third largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Taxation is a vital source of revenue that helps to fund vital public services including schools and hospitals. Charities already benefit from a reduced (5%) or zero rate of tax when purchasing some goods and services. More information about VAT relief for charities can be found here: VAT for charities: What qualifies for VAT relief - GOV.UK. The Government has no plans to broaden this list of goods and services to include social media advertising, but takes steps elsewhere in the tax system to ensure that charities receive treatment that takes account of their unique status and invaluable contribution. Our tax regime for charities, including gift aid and an exemption from paying business rates, is among the most generous of anywhere in the world, with tax reliefs for charities and their donors worth just over £6 billion for the tax year to April 2024.

What assessment she has made of the administrative costs to charities caused by the current manual Gift Aid process, including the time and resources spent correcting errors and navigating rules.

HMRC has worked collaboratively with a broad range of charity sector stakeholders to explore the potential of Future of Gift Aid (FOGA). This work included extensive research and analysis of the implications of FOGA and the effectiveness of the existing Gift Aid system.HMRC has not made a formal quantitative assessment of the administrative costs to charities arising from the current Gift Aid process. HMRC will continue to engage with the charities sector to improve the way that Gift Aid works through the use of digital technology.

What discussions she has had with HMRC regarding the Future of Gift Aid pilot, and what assessment has been made of its potential impact on the charity sector.

HMRC has worked collaboratively with a broad range of charity sector stakeholders to explore the potential of Future of Gift Aid (FOGA). This work included extensive research and analysis of the implications of FOGA and the effectiveness of the existing Gift Aid system.HMRC has not made a formal quantitative assessment of the administrative costs to charities arising from the current Gift Aid process. HMRC will continue to engage with the charities sector to improve the way that Gift Aid works through the use of digital technology.

What discussion she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport about the financial burden on charities arising from VAT on social media advertising.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s third largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Taxation is a vital source of revenue that helps to fund vital public services including schools and hospitals. Charities already benefit from a reduced (5%) or zero rate of tax when purchasing some goods and services. More information about VAT relief for charities can be found here: VAT for charities: What qualifies for VAT relief - GOV.UK. The Government has no plans to broaden this list of goods and services to include social media advertising, but takes steps elsewhere in the tax system to ensure that charities receive treatment that takes account of their unique status and invaluable contribution. Our tax regime for charities, including gift aid and an exemption from paying business rates, is among the most generous of anywhere in the world, with tax reliefs for charities and their donors worth just over £6 billion for the tax year to April 2024.

When his Department plans to respond to responses received on the Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.

The government is committed to protecting consumers who enter into subscription contracts. We consulted on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act and have engaged closely with stakeholders. We are carefully considering the points raised and a government response will be published in due course.

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the cooling-off period provision in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on cultural, heritage and tourism organisations operating on a subscription model, including national museums and galleries.

This government recognises the significant public value delivered by the UK’s charitable sector.The government has consulted on the implementation of the subscriptions regime in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024. The consultation received over 70 responses including 15 from charitable organisations, and the government is engaging closely with the sector to understand the impacts on both consumers and these bodies.The impact assessment for the subscriptions chapter in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act can be found here: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment. Together, the subscription measures are anticipated to provide £400m of consumer benefits per year and the estimated net direct cost to businesses is £171m per year. Sector-specific analysis has not been conducted.

Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to extend new capital funding for culture venues to include local independent cinemas.

We are very proud to be delivering a significant package of funding for arts and cultural organisations. I understand the disappointment that funding for independent cinemas was not included in that announcement, though we have no current plans to extend that funding further. We are still operating within a challenging fiscal climate, and across government we have had to make very difficult decisions about where to direct available funding.In recognition of the challenges that continue to face cinemas across the country, we have introduced permanently lower business rates multipliers for eligible cinemas, which will support the independent cinema sector. We will also continue to stimulate production in order to create a strong slate of films that will support our cinemas to thrive; we are doing this through generous tax incentives, investing in production support services, and delivering our £75 million Screen Growth Package under the Creative Industries Sector Plan. And the British Film Institute, as a DCMS Arm’s Length Body, will continue to support cinemas through the Film Audience Network, a network of more than 1800 cinemas and exhibitors, led by ‘Film Hubs’ across the UK.My department will continue to work closely with the BFI, UK Cinema Association, and the wider sector to identify further ways to support this industry, and to ensure that cinemas can continue to make culture accessible to every person across the UK.

How much and what proportion of central Government advertising spend was spent with (a) Meta, (b) Google, (c) Twitter/X, (d) YouTube and (e) TikTok in the last (i) three, (ii) six and (iii) 12 months; and what the total spend was in each of those periods.

As digital and social media become central to how people consume information, Government is adapting its communications approach to meet audiences where they are. Digital and social media channels enable us to reach audiences more cost-effectively, delivering better value from communications budgets. The table shows monthly platform expenditure for the last 12 complete months. Twitter/X is excluded due to zero expenditure. This list is not comprehensive of all social media platforms used. DateGoogleMetaTikTokYouTubeGrand TotalJan 25£1,115,953.00£1,213,342.00£0£702,900.00£3,032,195.00Feb 25£1,514,555.00£1,510,013.00£114,589.00£853,837.00£3,992,994.00Mar 25£2,062,190.00£3,202,959.00£157,767.00£1,366,138.00£6,789,054.00Apr 25£343,556.00£231,438.00£0£153,443.00£728,437.00May 25£394,475.00£197,552.00£0£249,593.00£841,620.00Jun 25£449,914.00£488,775.00£0£214,741.00£1,153,430.00Jul 25£1,058,727.00£772,827.00£0£195,158.00£2,026,712.00Aug 25£1,613,621.00£959,909.00£0£270,287.00£2,843,817.00Sep 25£1,429,652.00£972,581.00£0£273,406.00£2,675,639.00Oct 25£1,863,553.00£1,517,730.00£58,723.00£393,222.00£3,833,228.00Nov 25£2,222,017.00£1,803,863.00£132,931.00£365,748.00£4,524,559.00Dec 25£1,962,956.00£1,692,115.00£259,102.00£469,430.00£4,383,603.00

Media and Sport, how much funding she plans to provide for local cinemas in the next 12 months.

We are very proud to be delivering a significant package of funding for arts and cultural organisations. I understand the disappointment that funding for independent cinemas was not included in that announcement, though we have no current plans to extend that funding further. We are still operating within a challenging fiscal climate, and across government we have had to make very difficult decisions about where to direct available funding.In recognition of the challenges that continue to face cinemas across the country, we have introduced permanently lower business rates multipliers for eligible cinemas, which will support the independent cinema sector. We will also continue to stimulate production in order to create a strong slate of films that will support our cinemas to thrive; we are doing this through generous tax incentives, investing in production support services, and delivering our £75 million Screen Growth Package under the Creative Industries Sector Plan. And the British Film Institute, as a DCMS Arm’s Length Body, will continue to support cinemas through the Film Audience Network, a network of more than 1800 cinemas and exhibitors, led by ‘Film Hubs’ across the UK.My department will continue to work closely with the BFI, UK Cinema Association, and the wider sector to identify further ways to support this industry, and to ensure that cinemas can continue to make culture accessible to every person across the UK.

If she will undertake a review of the Highways Act 1980 in regard to road adoptions, in the context of the cost to residents of petitioning under Section 37 of the Act for roads on a new estate to be adopted when developers go into administration.

The Department is undertaking a dedicated research project examining the current road adoption landscape in England, collating evidence from local highway authorities and stakeholders, and assessing options to streamline processes and improve outcomes. Findings from this work will inform any future policy or legislative considerations. We will consider the implications of the project’s conclusions for developments such as Wychavon in due course and will set out next steps once the research is complete.

Whether the Government plans to update the Highways Act (1980) to support the delivery of news homes, including the Wychavon Town development in Worcestershire.

The Department is undertaking a dedicated research project examining the current road adoption landscape in England, collating evidence from local highway authorities and stakeholders, and assessing options to streamline processes and improve outcomes. Findings from this work will inform any future policy or legislative considerations. We will consider the implications of the project’s conclusions for developments such as Wychavon in due course and will set out next steps once the research is complete.

What steps he is taking to recruit more specialist examiners in HM Courts and Tribunal Service.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff in 2026, alongside system process improvements and a programme of upskilling new and existing staff to conduct more specialist examiner work. This will improve the timeliness for applications that require referral to a more experienced probate case worker.

What steps he is taking to improve HM Courts and Tribunal Service response times in cases which require referral for expert probate examination.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff in 2026, alongside system process improvements and a programme of upskilling new and existing staff to conduct more specialist examiner work. This will improve the timeliness for applications that require referral to a more experienced probate case worker.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Fire Service’s powers to prevent fires at illegal waste sites.

No assessment has been undertaken by this Department. Responsibility for tackling illegal waste sites and preventing waste-related fires, sits with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with enforcement undertaken by the Environment Agency and local authorities under the waste regulatory regime.

Communities and Local Government, how many fires there have been at illegal waste and recycling facilities in England in the last three years.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government collects data on fires at waste and recycling facilities attended by fire and rescue services in England. However, it does not specify if the premises was operating legally or illegally.Specifically, the published data shows the number of fires at recycling centres and is published in the Other building fire incident level data set, available here.

What assessment he has made of the potential financial implications for the dairy and yoghurt manufacturing industry of reformulating products if the revised Nutrient Profiling Model results in yoghurt and other dairy-based products being classified as high in fat, sugar, or salt.

As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Heath Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.As part of this, we are committed to updating the standards which underpin the advertising restrictions on television and online and the promotions restrictions in stores and their equivalent places online on ‘less healthy’ food and drink products. The Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) 2004/05 is plainly out of date and updating the standards will strengthen the restrictions by reflecting the latest dietary advice and will more effectively target the products of most concern to childhood obesity.Applying the new NPM to our advertising and promotions policies will further incentivise businesses to reformulate their products, making it easier for consumers to make healthier food choices.We have published guidance to industry on how to determine which food and drink products will be in scope of the advertising and promotions restrictions. Products are classified as ‘less healthy’ for the purpose of the restrictions if they achieve a score within the thresholds of the NPM and fall into one of the categories of food and drink products which are of most concern to childhood obesity, which are set out in the regulations.We will publish a consultation this year to seek stakeholder views on applying the new NPM to the advertising and promotions restrictions on less healthy food and drink products, including an impact assessment of the costs to businesses and intended health outcomes. We set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future that applying the new NPM to these policies is expected to reduce a further 170,000 cases of childhood obesity.

What assessment he has made of the potential financial implications for the dairy and yoghurt manufacturing industry of redesigning labels and packaging as a result of yoghurt and other dairy-based products being classified as high in fat, sugar, or salt under the revised Nutrient Profiling Model.

As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Heath Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.As part of this, we are committed to updating the standards which underpin the advertising restrictions on television and online and the promotions restrictions in stores and their equivalent places online on ‘less healthy’ food and drink products. The Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) 2004/05 is plainly out of date and updating the standards will strengthen the restrictions by reflecting the latest dietary advice and will more effectively target the products of most concern to childhood obesity.Applying the new NPM to our advertising and promotions policies will further incentivise businesses to reformulate their products, making it easier for consumers to make healthier food choices.We have published guidance to industry on how to determine which food and drink products will be in scope of the advertising and promotions restrictions. Products are classified as ‘less healthy’ for the purpose of the restrictions if they achieve a score within the thresholds of the NPM and fall into one of the categories of food and drink products which are of most concern to childhood obesity, which are set out in the regulations.We will publish a consultation this year to seek stakeholder views on applying the new NPM to the advertising and promotions restrictions on less healthy food and drink products, including an impact assessment of the costs to businesses and intended health outcomes. We set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future that applying the new NPM to these policies is expected to reduce a further 170,000 cases of childhood obesity.

What recent discussions his Department has had with Dairy UK and other trade bodies on the potential impact of the revised Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) for the dairy supply chain.

As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever.As part of this, we are committed to updating the standards which underpin the advertising restrictions on television and online and the promotion restrictions in stores and their equivalent places online on ‘less healthy’ food and drink products. The Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) 2004/05 is plainly out of date and updating the standards will strengthen the restrictions by reflecting the latest dietary advice and more effectively target the products of most concern to childhood obesity.The Government has met with a range of stakeholders over the past year to listen to their concerns, and officials met with Dairy UK in August 2025.The Government remains committed to engaging relevant stakeholders and we will consult this year on the application of an updated NPM’s to the advertising and promotion restrictions to ensure they can feed in their views.