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
Lords
Statutory Instrument
20 November 2025
Broadcasting (Independent Productions) Regulations 2025
That the draft Regulations laid before the House on 13 October be approved. Relevant document: 39th Report from the Secondary Legislation Committee. Considered in Grand Committee on 18 and 19 November.
Lords
Oral Questions
19 November 2025
11 contributions
Telegraph Media Group
I thank the Minister for that Answer. When the Government hastily tabled the statutory instrument that was specifically designed to allow RedBird to make its acquisition, it was crystal clear to many of us that the deal was wrong. Now the financial wreckage left behind by RedBird’s exit is very comp…
My Lords, it is 18 months since this House effectively forced RedBird IMI to sell the Telegraph . It is more than unacceptable that the Telegraph ’s ownership remains unresolved. Can the Minister confirm that IMI, the Emirati fund, cannot transfer any debt on to the Telegraph that it incurred from p…
+9 more contributions in this session
Lords
Committee Stage
19 November 2025
6 contributions
Football Governance Act 2025 (Specified Competitions) Regulations 2025
My Lords, I am delighted to be speaking to these regulations, which were laid before the House in draft on 13 October 2025. I would like to thank the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee for the scrutiny provided on this draft statutory instrument.
This Government have now fulfilled our promise…
I know we are talking about English football in this debate, but I want to put on record my congratulations to the Scottish team for their epic victory last night and their qualification for the World Cup. Well done to them.
I have a brief question for the Minister about what a future process for e…
+4 more contributions in this session
Lords
Proceedings
18 November 2025
8 contributions
Independent Football Regulator
That was quite a lot of questions in one question. I will do my best to answer the noble Lord, but on his points about UEFA and the success of the Independent Football Regulator, I want to make it very clear that the report does not question the suitability of Mr Kogan as chair of the IFR. The pligh…
The department has reviewed all appointments processes to ensure that this issue does not arise again. We will work with the Cabinet Office and the commissioner, as per the recommendation in the report. On what success looks like for the Independent Football Regulator, I know that the IFR under Davi…
+6 more contributions in this session
Lords
Committee Stage
18 November 2025
5 contributions
Broadcasting (Regional Programme-making and Original Productions) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
My Lords, in moving this Motion, I shall also speak to the Broadcasting (Independent Productions) Regulations 2025.
I am pleased to be speaking to these regulations, which were laid before the House in draft on 13 October 2025; they were recently debated, and subsequently approved, in the House of …
My Lords, in preparing for what will, in general, be a very short contribution—with one or two questions for the Minister —I went back to 1955 and the establishment of ITV in Britain. When it was established, it came in the form of a great number of companies all over the country—admittedly running …
+3 more contributions in this session
Lords
Oral Questions
13 November 2025
9 contributions
Covid-19 Pandemic: Commemoration
I thank the Minister very much for her comments. I thank the Government for their considered and thoughtful response, published today. I thank the Minister and her predecessors, both in this Administration and the last. I thank the Cabinet Office and DCMS officials, who have been outstanding through…
My Lords, I add my sentiments and those of my Benches to remember all those who, sadly, lost their lives. I also pay tribute to the workers, not just in health and care services, who delivered many of our public services while many were able to stay at home and shield.
We recently had a debate on b…
+7 more contributions in this session