Written questions by Niblett.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the condition and usability of publicly accessible sports pitches and playing fields in England since 2020; and how many (a) have been classified as fully usable, (b) require minor repair and (c) are out of use.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to quality sports pitches and playing fields.According to Sport England’s Active Places database, as of March 2026, there are currently 53,531 operational publicly accessible sports pitches in England, and 5,066 out of use.Our Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme provides capital investment for new and improved grassroots facilities. £85m will be invested through the programme in the UK in 2026/27.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the UK comedy industry on (a) the economy and (b) society.

While the Department has not carried out any recent assessments of the impact of the UK comedy industry, the government recognises the sector as a vital performing art which forms part of this country's cultural landscape, enriching lives, and shaping our collective identity. British comedy also generates substantial economic returns, with a recent Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Live Comedy estimating that the live sector generates £1 billion annually.Our arms-length body, Arts Council England (ACE) funds numerous organisations and venues that support comedy. Between the financial years covering 2010/11 to 2024/25 ACE has awarded £12,296,254 in funding where an applicant name, project title or subclassifier contains the word “comedy”. In addition, DCMS will be convening a roundtable discussion in the coming months to hear about issues currently impacting this sector.

Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps to increase the number of grassroots community (a) arts and (b) music venues in rural areas.

The Government recognises the value of the grassroots music and arts sectors - they provide the foundation for both industries, fostering creativity, innovation and cultural expression.The Government response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committ...

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to increase tourism in rural areas.

The Government recognises the importance of tourism to rural constituencies, including its contribution to economic growth and pride in place of an area, and an integral part of the UK’s tourism offering. Britain’s coastline is a particular attraction to ...

Media and Sport, whether she plans to help increase diversity in sports coaching.

The Government is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in sport at all levels. We will continue to work with the sport sector to help it be inclusive and welcoming to its spectators, participants and workforce. Coaches play a hugely important ro...

Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the safety of public spaces for runners.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport regularly engages with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on a range of issues.Sport and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health an...

Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential economic contribution of community (a) arts and (b) literary festivals.

This Government recognises the importance of community arts and literary festivals in bringing local communities together, providing them with high-quality culture, and stimulating local growth.Data collection plays an integral role in how the Department ...

Media and Sport, what plans she to encourage more (a) women and (b) women of minority backgrounds into (i) sports coaching careers and (ii) voluntary roles.

We are dedicated to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, are able to participate in sport and physical activity.Coaches play an important role in facilitating sporting activity and acting a...

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of changing and bathroom facilities for women at grassroots sporting venues.

We are dedicated to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, are able to participate in sport and physical activity.Karen Carney OBE’s Review of Women’s Football included a recommendation on me...

Media and Sport, what plans she has to regulate Women's Football.

Karen Carney OBE led an independent review of domestic women’s football, which was published in July 2023. We agree with the recommendation that the women’s game should be given the opportunity to self-regulate rather than moving immediately to independen...

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 9331 on Football: Women, when the implementation group will next meet; and if she will publish (a) minutes and (b) action points from previou

Minutes from previous meetings of the Implementation Group are publicly available on gov.uk at:https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/womens-football-review-implementation-groupI met Karen Carney to discuss the next phase of implementation of her recommenda...

Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the recent economic contribution of the art and cultural industries to (a) the East Midlands and (b) Derbyshire.

Derbyshire is a very important part of our cultural and artistic heritage, and this Government is committed to supporting these industries to thrive so they continue to bring good jobs and boost growth in all parts of the country.DCMS publishes official s...

Media and Sport, what recent progress her Department has made on implementing the recommendations of the independent report entitled Raising the bar - reframing the opportunity in women's football, published on 1

We are dedicated to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, are able to participate in sport and physical activity.Each of the recommendations outlined in the Carney Review is aligned with ind...