Commons
Westminster Hall
17 December 2025
Membership-based Charity Organisations
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg, and I am glad to respond to this debate. I begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) on securing this important debate. The hon. Lady’s support for membership-based charities is evident from her speech an…
Commons
Westminster Hall
16 December 2025
2 contributions
Grassroots Cricket Clubs
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I am pleased to respond to this debate, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) on securing it. I applaud his work chairing the all-party parliamentary group for cricket. He is an incredibly importa…
The hon. Lady makes an incredibly important point—one that I am sure all Members agree with. Indeed, I have seen that in my own constituency of Barnsley South. I visited Darfield cricket club a few months ago, and since we last debated cricket in this Chamber, my town lost the late, great Dickie Bir…
Commons
Oral Questions
27 November 2025
2 contributions
Topical Questions
This Government know that football reaches people like nothing else, and in the summer of 2028 it will bring people together across the whole of the UK. I was pleased to chair a meeting of sport Ministers a few weeks ago to discuss the tournament and its legacy. Glasgow is of course due to host five…
My hon. Friend makes an important point. This Government are committed to ensuring that short-term lets actively benefit our local communities, and we will implement a short-term lets registration scheme in England in 2026. I know that this issue is of significant interest to Members from across the…
Commons
Oral Questions
27 November 2025
4 contributions
Women’s and Girls’ Sport: Greater Manchester
This Government believe in the power of grassroots sport, which is why we announced investment of more than £400 million in the future of grassroots facilities. Our ambition is for girls to have equal access to any facility that we fund, doubling access to priority slots for women and girls over thi…
We support all aspects of sport for women and girls, and we are working alongside the sport sector and local leaders to develop a place-based approach to funding. We launched our women’s sport taskforce to drive a decade of change in women’s sport. We will ensure that we deliver facilities that each…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
27 November 2025
2 contributions
Youth Services: Buckingham and Bletchley
We regularly engage with colleagues across Government on issues that affect young people, especially through the development of our national youth strategy. This year alone we are investing over £145 million to deliver projects that reflect young people’s priorities across our country.
Our national youth strategy focuses on rebuilding youth services so that young people have access to people who care, something to do and places to go. A key aspect of our forthcoming youth strategy will be to ensure that funding goes to grassroots organisations such as Bletchley youth centre, and I…
Commons
Oral Questions
27 November 2025
3 contributions
Youth Services
The Government are taking a new approach to youth services, rebuilding the landscape and improving local co-ordination. We regularly engage with colleagues across Government to drive this shift through the development of our national youth strategy that is co-produced with young people.
Indeed, Mr Speaker; we have a brilliant one opening in Barnsley very shortly. My hon. Friend makes an incredibly powerful point. This Government are taking a new approach to youth services, which is why we will be launching our national youth services strategy shortly.
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
3 November 2025
Video Games: Consumer Law
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Mundell. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for South Norfolk (Ben Goldsborough) for introducing this important debate, everyone who signed the petition raising this important issue, and all the contributors to the debate. It has been really interest…
Commons
Oral Questions
16 October 2025
Topical Questions
I am delighted to take on the responsibility of being Minister for Tourism. Over the past month, it has been a pleasure to make a number of visits and to take part in meetings highlighting just how much the sector has to offer. We want the benefits of tourism to be felt across every nation and regio…
Commons
Oral Questions
16 October 2025
3 contributions
Youth Services: Local Authority Statutory Duties
Local authorities play a vital role in delivering youth services and have a statutory duty to provide sufficient leisure-time activities and facilities, in line with local needs. This Government inherited local authorities that were on their knees, and in that context some are struggling to meet the…
Of course, I welcome this investment through the local youth transformation pilot, which will support pathfinder local authorities to start to rebuild a high-quality offer for young people. We want to see greater co-operation and co-ordination, so I join my hon. Friend in welcoming that investment. …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
16 October 2025
3 contributions
Youth Services: Funding
We will soon be launching our national youth strategy, created with young people and designed to tackle the problems affecting them. As part of that work, we engage regularly with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that the problems impacting young people are heard and properly tackled. This financial y…
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for all her work. In our youth strategy, we will set out the next steps to invest in the future of our young people. We want to better co-ordinate youth services and move away from a one-size-fits-all approach from central Government. In short, we want to put power ba…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
16 October 2025
2 contributions
Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation
I know from my own experience, from Members across the House and from my constituents, of the deep unhappiness with CISWO. As Charities Minister, I met representatives of the Charity Commission to discuss CISWO’s support for coal mining communities, and I know the commission is in contact with CISWO…
I understand my hon. Friend’s grave concerns, which are reflected across our coalfield communities. I am deeply troubled to hear the example he shares with the House. Charities must stay true to their charitable purposes and act within the law and the terms of their governing document. Where they fa…
Commons
Oral Questions
16 October 2025
3 contributions
Tourism: Major Energy Infrastructure Projects
The Government are committed to supporting the visitor economy in rural and coastal communities, because we recognise the potential the sector has to contribute to economic growth and to the pride in place of an area. Through ongoing dialogue with other Departments and Ministers, we are exploring ho…
I recognise how important the tourism and hospitality sectors are to Suffolk, and I know that my hon. Friend is a strong champion for them and for her area. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works closely with other Departments, including DESNZ and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
16 October 2025
2 contributions
Motorsport
This Government are proud to play a part in the continued growth and success of the motorsport industry. We have recently published the advanced manufacturing sector plan, which has automotive at its heart, aiming to nearly double the annual business investment in the sector to £39 billion by 2035, …
I would of course like to congratulate McLaren on back-to-back Formula 1 constructors’ championship victories, and I am sure the support it receives in Woking is no small part of that. Alongside the Secretary of State, I attended the British grand prix in the summer and witnessed McLaren and Britain…
Commons
Westminster Hall
10 September 2025
Stockton and Darlington Railway: 200th Anniversary Festival
I will indeed. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Stringer. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor (Alan Strickland) on securing this important debate and shining a light on the Stockton and Darlington Railway 200. The festival is a wonderful cele…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 September 2025
Free-to-air Broadcasting: Cricket Participation
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms McVey. I am pleased to be responding to this debate, and I congratulate the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Max Wilkinson) on securing it. His passion for cricket was incredibly clear in the speech that he gave.
Cricket is one of our nation’s most b…
Commons
Westminster Hall
4 September 2025
Future of Terrestrial Television
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Twigg. I begin by congratulating the right hon. Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (David Mundell) on securing this important debate on the future of terrestrial television. It is really welcome.
I will start by highlighting the imp…
Commons
Debate
3 September 2025
4 contributions
Diabetes in Sport
I am really pleased to be responding to this debate, and I begin by congratulating my hon. Friend the Member for Redditch (Chris Bloore) on securing it. This has been a well attended Adjournment debate, and I put on record my thanks to Members for their attendance and the interventions. We have had …
My hon. Friend makes an incredibly important point, and I will come on to discuss that shortly.
We all share a responsibility to enable, support and include people who are managing health conditions such as diabetes, including in sporting environments. Increasing physical activity and reducing inac…
+2 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
21 July 2025
2 contributions
Victory over Japan: 80th Anniversary
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the 80th anniversary of Victory over Japan.
It is an honour to open today’s debate as we come together as a House and as a country to mark 80 years since victory over Japan, which brought an end to fighting in the far east. The anniversary will be comm…
The right hon. Gentleman makes an incredibly important point. I hope I have outlined this in my contribution, but I reiterate that we want veterans to be front and centre of these commemorations.
Importantly, commemorative activity is taking place across the UK, with each of the devolved Government…
Commons
Westminster Hall
9 July 2025
Sport England: Tackling Racism
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford West (Naz Shah) on securing this important debate. She outlined the huge contribution that Onna Ju-Jitsu has made to her area. I join her in thanking that organisation for the contribution…
Commons
Debate
8 July 2025
2 contributions
Combat Sports for Children: Safeguarding
I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool Walton (Dan Carden) for securing this important debate and for his moving speech. The death of his constituent, Alexander Eastwood, as a result of a kickboxing bout is devastating. I know that my hon. Friend cares deeply about child safeguardi…
I am incredibly grateful to my hon. Friend for his work, his moving contribution and for putting that important point on the record. As he said, sport should be a safe and welcoming environment that participants, parents and carers can have confidence in. Many martial arts providers work hard to saf…
Commons
Debate
8 July 2025
7 contributions
Football Governance Bill [Lords]
I am pleased to be responding on Report as the Football Governance Bill enters its final stages in the House of Commons. I begin by sending my condolences to the family of Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, who tragically lost his life last week at just 28 years of age, alongside his brother. I am sure the who…
My hon. Friend makes a very good point.
“I hope that whoever wins the election on 4 July will see this as a good Bill to crack on with, because it is important for the future of football and, crucially, for the future of football fans.” –– [ Official Report, Football Governance Public Bill Committe…
+5 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
3 July 2025
2 contributions
Topical Questions
My hon. Friend is a good champion for his constituency. The Government recognise that sports facilities, including swimming facilities, are incredibly important, and I would be delighted to meet him to discuss it further.
I look forward to attending the cricket at Edgbaston later today, and I know it is hugely important to communities up and down the country. I would be delighted to meet the hon. Member to discuss her question in more detail.
Commons
Oral Questions
3 July 2025
2 contributions
Access to Sport for Young People: Dormant Assets Funding
The Government recently published their first ever dormant assets strategy, setting out how £440 million will be distributed in England. Some £132.5 million will increase disadvantaged young people’s access to enrichment opportunities in the arts, culture, sport and wider youth services.
The Government will work with the National Lottery Community Fund to decide on the specific programmes, and we will outline how that funding will be allocated shortly. I pay tribute to the organisations in my hon. Friend’s constituency for their work and activities, and I would happily meet her to d…
Commons
Oral Questions
3 July 2025
2 contributions
Charities: National Insurance Contributions
The Government highly value the charity sector and its positive contribution. However, we have had to take a number of difficult decisions on tax, welfare and spending to fix the public finances, fund public services and restore economic stability.
I reiterate that we really value the charity sector, but we have had to make some very difficult decisions.