Lords
Proceedings
10 September 2026
9 contributions
Australia: Social Media Algorithms
My Lords, Australia’s draft legislation was published only on Monday. The Government have therefore not made a full assessment, but as I am sure my noble friend would expect, we are following developments closely. The UK’s Online Safety Act already requires platforms to address algorithmic risks, in…
The Government completely agree with my noble friend that users should have greater control over their online experiences. We have committed to taking steps for 16 and 17 year-olds that go further than Australia’s proposal and Meta’s commitments by switching off teenagers’ personalised feeds by defa…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
8 September 2026
9 contributions
No. 10 North
My Lords, No. 10 North is central to the Prime Minister’s commitment to get good growth in every postcode, drive devolution and bring government closer to the communities it serves. It will put senior decision-makers in the same room as mayors, employers, councils and public services, so that decisi…
On the second point, it will not necessarily increase but we will make sure that invoices and costs are reported in the normal way. On the noble Lord’s first point, I wrote down that he is from Pendle, just in case he went for an anti-Manchester perspective. From my perspective, I went to No. 10 Nor…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
1 September 2026
9 contributions
Touring: Impact of EU Exit
The report provides important new evidence on the economic and practical impacts of EU exit on UK artists touring in the EU for both the UK and the EU. We remain committed to our manifesto pledge and will use the report to strengthen the case that practical solutions will deliver benefits to both th…
The report does indeed provide evidence of an issue many noble Lords have raised with me, and the sector has raised with the Government: the impact of the post-Brexit restrictions on artists. The report provides new evidence of the impact on UK artists and on the EU itself—significant amounts of inc…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
23 July 2026
8 contributions
National Youth Strategy
Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy is a 10-year cross-government plan backed by over £500 million in DCMS funding. We are moving forward with delivering it. We are mobilising our enrichment expansion programme and have launched a delivery partner competition for the youth matters fund. Eigh…
Having seen at first hand the importance of the Fire Cadets when I was working for the Mayor of London, I know, and the department and the Secretary of State know, that uniformed youth organisations provide impactful opportunities for young people nationwide. We have provided over £24 million since …
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
22 July 2026
10 contributions
Performing Artists and Musicians: Access to the EU
My Lords, securing better access to the EU for our creative and cultural sectors is a priority for this Government. We remain committed to pursuing practical, mutually beneficial improvements with the European Commission and member states and welcome the Commission’s recent commitment in its visa st…
Helping touring artists is a manifesto commitment. We continue to engage with the EU and member states to determine how best to improve arrangements for touring across the European continent. We know that there can be additional practical barriers for those at the start of their careers who often ha…
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
21 July 2026
3 contributions
Sporting Events Bill [HL]
My Lords, before the formal Third Reading of the Sporting Events Bill, I will now make a short statement on the position regarding legislative consent. As noble Lords will know, the Bill affects the whole of the United Kingdom. We are seeking consent from each of the devolved legislatures and have b…
My Lords, this Bill seeks to establish a framework that enables certain sporting events to benefit from the enhanced commercial protections needed to preserve the integrity of events and, importantly, offset costs to taxpayers. These provisions will help ensure that the United Kingdom remains an att…
+1 more contribution in this session
Lords
Proceedings
16 July 2026
9 contributions
BBC Royal Charter: Gaelic Broadcasting
My Lords, the Government are clear about the vital role of Gaelic broadcasting: the BBC belongs to all of us and must reflect every community it serves. Charter review aims to put the BBC on a sustainable financial footing so that it can continue to deliver wide public value, including through the p…
I agree with my noble friend on how important our UK languages are. Keeping them alive is part of not just our history but our culture for the future, and it should matter to all of us. The Government recognise the valuable contribution that providers of minority-language broadcasting have and their…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
7 July 2026
8 contributions
Arts Education
My Lords, the Department for Education and DCMS are working in partnership to ensure strategic alignment across government-funded programmes, including the Arts Council, to support arts education and enrichment in schools and communities. Minister Gould at the Department for Education and Minister M…
The curriculum and assessment review considered media literacy and preparing young people for life and work. The revised curriculum will strengthen media literacy through English and citizenship, enabling pupils to critically engage with content through different media channels. Schools can continue…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
29 June 2026
7 contributions
Media Green Paper
The noble Lord makes an interesting point. The whole idea of prominence is to ensure that people know the difference between trusted sources of news and opinion, and that is where the prominence issue comes in by looking at ways we can make sure that such sites come further up in the searches that p…
One of the real strengths of the BBC is that it is such a trusted source of news, and that is behind a lot of the issues within this. On the ongoing discussions with the FCDO, I am happy to meet the noble Baroness to discuss that. As she is aware, another Minister in the department deals with this. …
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
24 June 2026
Sporting Events Bill [HL]
I thank the noble Lord for tabling Amendment 58, which would introduce an exception to prohibition on unauthorised association. I understand that this amendment seeks to ensure that a licensed premises’ use of representations in pre-existing advertising material will not breach the prohibition, prov…
Lords
Debate
22 June 2026
Sporting Events Bill [HL]
I thank the noble Lords, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, Lord Markham and Lord Fuller, for these amendments, and the noble Lord, Lord Addington, for speaking to this group. I also join the noble Lord, Lord Parkinson, in welcoming the noble Baroness, Lady Grainger, to your Lordships’ House; I look for…
Lords
Proceedings
4 June 2026
8 contributions
EU-UK Creative Sector Cultural Exchange Arrangements
The Government recognise the importance of strong cultural exchange between the UK and the EU. On 24 March, the Minister for Creative Industries co-led the first UK-European Commission high-level meeting on culture, with Commissioner Glenn Micallef, building on commitments made at the inaugural UK-E…
As my noble friend Lord Hanson made clear, the creative industries are a key sector for this Government. Supporting touring artists is a government manifesto commitment and we deeply value and promote the importance of cultural exchange across Europe. We recognise, as I think my noble friend does, t…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
3 June 2026
10 contributions
World Cup Ticket Prices
My Lords, I would like to take the opportunity of a sporting-related Question to congratulate the Ladies of your Lordships’ House on a very impressive victory in yesterday’s tug-of-war with the other place. I understand that there was another team available, but I am going to move swiftly on.
The G…
The Government do and will always work with event owners to ensure that the UK is an excellent host and partner, and that we can meet our commitments at the same time as protecting the interests of fans. We have worked closely with UEFA on its approach to Euro 2028, which seeks to put fans first wit…
+8 more contributions in this session
Lords
Debate
3 June 2026
Sporting Events Bill [HL]
My Lords, major sporting events matter. They matter to the fans who fill our stadiums and line our streets; they matter to the athletes who train for years for the chance to compete for our country on the world’s biggest stage; they matter to our communities, our local economies and our national sto…
Lords
Proceedings
20 May 2026
9 contributions
2026 FIFA World Cup: Replica Kit Pricing
This summer’s World Cup is a brilliant opportunity to unite communities across the country, and we know just how much wearing the team colours means to fans. Unfortunately, while we recognise and share concerns over costs, setting prices remains a matter for manufacturers and the respective football…
We strongly condemn the sale of counterfeit merchandise, which fuels organised crime and bypasses critical safety standards. Buying fake kits directly funds serious criminal networks and deprives grass-roots football of vital investment. Furthermore, fake kit may not be subject to UK safety regulati…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
27 April 2026
9 contributions
National Museums and Galleries
My Lords, it is disappointing that the Government are even considering this. They do not seem to realise what a precious, globally recognised brand universal free entry is. Apart from the negative logistical and financial implications of applying a selective charge, including the lack of universal I…
My Lords, as the co-chair of the Arts and Heritage All-Party Parliamentary Group, I will say that several institutions have expressed to me their many and varied concerns about how the introduction of the charging of international visitors might negatively affect not just them but the wider tourism …
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
20 April 2026
8 contributions
Charity Giving
I thank my noble friend for that response. The road map that she mentions is indeed an excellent and most welcome initiative to boost place-based philanthropy, and it is much appreciated by the voluntary and community sector. However, the fall in the amount donated is of great concern to charities, …
My Lords, according to the Charities Aid Foundation report, nearly one in three non-donors indicated that they were not engaged with or interested in charities, with an even higher figure for young people. Initiatives such as the Family Volunteering Club show how young people can engage in building …
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
5 March 2026
9 contributions
Class Inequality in the Arts
My Lords, my takeaway from a report that makes many crucial points is how much the starving of arts funding over many years has contributed to the neglect of a particular part of the workforce. Does the Minister agree that, if there is fiscal headroom, there should be major reinvestment not just in …
My Lords, the Music and Dance Scheme schools, such as Chetham’s in Manchester and the Hammond school in Chester, give talented children from disadvantaged backgrounds access to world-class training. These eight schools are a success story, yet their future is endangered after funding was frozen or c…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
2 March 2026
11 contributions
UK Streaming and Cinema Sector
My Lords, noble Lords will be aware that on Friday, Netflix, doubtless terrified of the prospect of this Oral Question and the ferocious scrutiny of your Lordships’ House, withdrew its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery in favour of Paramount Skydance. Will the Minister join me in welcoming the news, wh…
My Lords—
+9 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
26 January 2026
9 contributions
Uniformed youth groups: Promoting Skills and Resilience in Young People
I thank my noble friend the Minister for that fabulous reply. I could not agree with her more. We know that uniformed youth groups will play a vital role in delivering the Government’s new youth strategy. Groups such as the Scouts, the Girl Guides, all our cadets, the Jewish Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade…
My Lords—
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
22 January 2026
9 contributions
Creative Industries: Freelance Champion
I thank the Minister for her response. As she says, freelancers are an essential part of our creative industries and these Benches have been asking for a freelance commissioner for a long time. We thank the Government for the champion. The Covid pandemic exposed the truth: a financial and benefits s…
My Lords—
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
15 January 2026
9 contributions
In-game Purchases: Protections for Children
My Lords, I am grateful for that reply. Is it not time that loot boxes were recognised for what they are—a form of gambling highly addictive to children? The last Government opted for industry-led regulation, but independent research shows that it is not being effectively applied. Will the Governmen…
Last year, research published in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions found that, of 394 popular mobile console and PC games containing loot boxes, only 8.4% correctly disclosed their presence. Action on non-compliance by the Advertising Standards Authority is taken through informal resolution, with…
+7 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
12 January 2026
7 contributions
Heritage Craft and Building Sector
My Lords, I thank the Minister for the meetings we have had in this area. Does she agree that, with our heritage in crisis with regard to the repair and maintenance not just of our historic homes and churches but of much pre-1919 build, specialist skills are needed more than ever for an industry tha…
My Lords, there are approximately 60,000 thatched properties in the United Kingdom. The great majority are in the county of Devon in which I live; in fact, I live in a thatched property. Thatch used to be a sign of poverty; it is now deemed to be a sign of wealth—I cannot quite get my head around th…
+5 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
8 January 2026
Broadcasting: Recent Developments
My Lords, I am not remotely going to attempt a further summing up. We had a very good summing up from the Minister, and I congratulate her and the two spokesmen of the political parties on what they have said.
The debate has proved and established what I said at the beginning, which is that if you …
Lords
Oral Questions
26 November 2025
9 contributions
Charities: Advancement of Religion
My Lords, I am grateful for that Answer. All charities have certain responsibilities to fulfil to qualify as charities and receive the generous tax allowances and kudos of the status of being a charity. However, some charities register under the charitable purpose of advancement of religion to promo…
My Lords, the founders of different religions put forward straightforward ethical teachings of responsibility in our short journey through the world. Unfortunately, those ethical teachings have been overlaid by cultures, with culture even creeping into religious texts. Does the Minister agree that i…
+7 more contributions in this session