Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 28 November 2024 · 15 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 11 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Manuela Perteghella raised concerns about the impact of extreme weather events on sports clubs in rural constituencies and their role in youth engagement.
  • Rachael Maskell highlighted the issue of intellectual property rights being breached by companies like Temu and SHEIN, affecting artists' livelihoods and creativity.
  • Ben Goldsborough inquired about the government's measures to support the creative industries' coordinated strategy for growth, receiving a positive response from the Secretary of State.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Manuela Perteghella Lib Dem Stratford-on-Avon
Climate Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Sports clubs in rural constituencies, such as Shipston rugby club and Stratford sports club, face challenges due to extreme weather events like flooding.

Question

Sports clubs in my constituency such as Shipston rugby club and Stratford sports club are doing fantastic work with young people, but for rural constituencies like Stratford-on-Avon, where sports play a vital role in youth engagement, the impact of extreme weather events means that many sports clubs consistently lose access to their facilities due to flooding throughout the year. Will the Secretary of State confirm whether the new youth strategy will consider the challenges posed by the climate on youth sports activities?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

The hon. Lady will know that for young people in particular, the climate crisis is an enormous priority. As she knows, we have announced that we are co-producing and creating the national youth strategy with young people. I would be amazed if the impact of climate change on the things that matter most to them is not an essential part of that strategy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitments or actions addressing climate challenges for youth sports activities were not provided

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Q2 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The question addresses the issue of artist Amanda Mountain's work being replicated by online retailers such as Temu and SHEIN, causing economic harm.

Question

My constituent Amanda Mountain is a phenomenal artist, painting the most outstanding designs and then placing them on stationery. However, Temu and SHEIN are ripping off her work, and many artists' work, in breach of intellectual property controls. They are undercutting her business, at serious cost to her. What steps will the Minister take to protect artists and their businesses, and ensure that online retailers are held to account?

Answer from Chris Bryant

Copyright and the protection of artists' moral and economic rights is an absolutely essential part of ensuring that they are properly remunerated for their creativity. We will do everything in our power to make sure that the copyright regime remains, is strong, and is strongly enforced.

Answered
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Q3 Stuart Andrew Con Daventry
Economy Culture, Media & Sport Business & Trade
Context

The question discusses potential economic impacts of proposed government tax changes.

Question

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and a very happy birthday to the Clerk of the House. As we have heard time and again today, and in the past few weeks, the Government's jobs tax could cost £2.8 billion to the Department's sectors—to the arts, sport, music, hospitality and tourism. Was the Secretary of State blindsided by the Budget, as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs claims, or was she aware of that? Has she, as we have asked several times, done a sector-by-sector impact assessment? If not, why not? If so, will she publish it?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

I gently say to the right hon. Gentleman that unlike the previous Government, we do actually like one another and work together across Government, so I had a number of discussions about the Budget with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor in advance. She is very aware of the importance of creative industries, and of all our sectors, to the UK economy. That is why we have put them at the heart of our industrial strategy and our economic plan. We are working closely with the industries to make sure that they continue to thrive.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Secretary did not confirm whether an impact assessment was done or will be published.

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Q4 Stuart Andrew Con Daventry
NHS Taxation
Context

Charities face significant financial impacts due to government policies, with some having to find millions of pounds extra.

Question

So it sounds like the right hon. Lady did know, which is interesting, given that she cares about charities as much as I do. They face a £1.4 billion bill. When they needed help the most, we gave them £100 million. Her Government are now going to take 14 times that amount back from them. We heard yesterday that the Teenage Cancer Trust will have to find an extra £300,000, and Marie Curie reports having to find nearly £3 million. Where does the Secretary of State suggest that such organisations find the money to pay this charity tax, and who will fill the gaps if charities have to scale back on their work as a result of this Government's decisions?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

Under the last Government, charities faced a perfect storm. Not only did they receive very little support from the Government—in fact, they were silenced and gagged, and were told by one charities Minister that they should be “sticking to their knitting”, which, in my view, was deeply offensive—but they had to deal with the rising pressures of the cost of living crisis, and the mess that the right hon. Gentleman's party was making of running the country. Our Government are determined to take action on this, and we were elected on a pledge to do so. As I have told the right hon. Gentleman's colleagues previously, we are protecting our charities, as was announced in the Budget, and I will take no lectures from the Conservatives on how to run this country.

How: Silenced And Gagged, Sticking To Their Knitting

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Q5 Ben Goldsborough Lab South Norfolk
Culture, Media & Sport Business & Trade
Context

The UK exported significant amounts of creative goods and services but faces challenges in sustaining growth.

Question

In 2021, the UK exported £9.1 billion-worth of creative goods and £45.6 billion-worth of creative services, but we can and must do better. May I press the Secretary of State on what she is doing to support the creative industries' co-ordinated strategy for growth?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

You can see how eager we are, Mr Speaker. We are champing at the bit to support the creative industries. As my hon. Friend the Member for South Norfolk (Ben Goldsborough) will know, we have announced a series of measures over the last few months to support these industries, including tax credits for independent film and special effects. We are broadening the curriculum to ensure that there is a pathway enabling young people to work in the creative industries, and we have held an international investment summit, to which the industries were central. We will be announcing more in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific future measures or timelines for coordinated growth strategy not mentioned.

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Q6 Olly Glover Lib Dem Didcot and Wantage
Economy Culture, Media & Sport Local Government
Context

Council-owned arts centres face financial challenges due to rising costs, impacting their ability to support art and culture.

Question

Council-owned arts centres in my Oxfordshire constituency, such as Cornerstone in Didcot and the Beacon in Wantage, face rising energy and staffing costs. Given that most external funding sources do not support operating costs, will the Secretary of State press her Cabinet colleagues to back multi-year funding settlements for local government, to help art and culture to thrive?

Answer from Chris Bryant

Yes!

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Q7 Rupa Huq Lab Ealing Central and Acton
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Following the announcement of her Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill, Rupa Huq has received significant support for the initiative aimed at preventing ticket price scams like those associated with Oasis.

Question

Since the announcement of my Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill, which makes provision for transparency on ticket prices, I have been deluged with suggestions and support worldwide from people who do not want another Oasis-style ticket scam. Will Ministers meet me to discuss working together on this, given the chance that on 6 December, Opposition Members' shenanigans will sink the thing without trace?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

I thank my hon. Friend for raising an issue that is so important to fans throughout the country. The Government, including my right hon. Friend the Business Secretary, have acted decisively in announcing a consultation in order to consider how best to put fans back at the heart of ticketing, not whether to do it. We will say more about this imminently.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Meeting to discuss working together on Rupa Huq's Sale of Tickets Bill

How: Under Review

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Q8 John Whittingdale Con Maldon
Culture, Media & Sport Science & Technology
Context

The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee report highlights the threat from unauthorized use of news content to train AI models, urging for stronger legislation.

Question

May I commend the report from the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee, entitled “The future of news”? It highlights the threat from the unauthorised use of news content to train AI models. Will the Secretary of State consider, as a matter of urgency, strengthening the legislation in this area, and consider the introduction of a licensing scheme, as the report recommends?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

I know that this matter is of huge concern not just to the right hon. Gentleman but to the Chair of the Select Committee, the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage), and to many other Members. As he knows, the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism has responsibilities in both this Department and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and has taken a keen interest in the issue. We have read the report and are considering its recommendations, and I will shortly be in a position to update the right hon. Gentleman on the action that the Government intend to take.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Strengthening legislation against unauthorized use of news content for training AI models

How: Under Review

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Q9 Emma Foody Labour (Co-op) Cramlington and Killingworth
Culture, Media & Sport Children & Families
Context

Hazlerigg Victory Club, like many other football clubs in the constituency, faces challenges with poor quality pitches and high rental costs.

Question

Hazlerigg Victory Club is just one of many fantastic football clubs in my constituency that are run by local champions for the benefit of our community. They have said that pitches are too often of poor quality, and are eye-wateringly expensive to hire. How can we ensure that that the big Dan Burns and Grace Donnellys of the future have access to appropriate facilities?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

Our Government are acutely aware that there are not enough facilities in communities in the UK to keep pace with demand. We know that these facilities are a visible symbol of whether we value our children and young people, whether we value those communities, and whether we stand with them. We are working with the Football Association and the Premier League to create new state-of-the-art facilities across the country to inspire the stars of the future, and I would be glad to discuss that further with my hon. Friend to ensure that it is of benefit to her.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans or commitments regarding facility improvements for upcoming football stars

How: Working On

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Q10 Siân Berry Green Brighton Pavilion
Culture, Media & Sport Local Government
Context

There is concern about the difficulty in enforcing the agent of change principle in relation to licensing and planning for grassroots music venues.

Question

In Brighton Pavilion, we love our grassroots music venues, and we often need to make robust use of the “agent of change” principle to protect them when it comes to licensing and planning, but it is hard work to enforce that and ensure that it happens. Is the Minister having any discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government about putting the “agent of change” principle on a statutory footing?

Answer from Chris Bryant

Those meetings have already taken place and will continue to take place. The hon. Lady makes a very good point. I have visited Brighton Pavilion many times, so I know that other music venues there can, I hope, come online in the near future. I know that the Secretary of State met Ed Sheeran last week—she has told me about it about 25 times—to discuss precisely that issue.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific updates or commitments on discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

How: Under Review

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Q11 Gill German Lab Clwyd North
Culture, Media & Sport Business & Trade

Question

A recent report by the Federation of Small Businesses Wales highlights the thriving creative businesses that exist in coastal areas like mine. What can the Secretary of State do to increase awareness of them and ensure that the next round of the creative clusters programme focuses on areas such as Clwyd North?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

I was very pleased to visit Blackpool recently to see the incredible work that Blackpool pleasure beach is doing. Coastal communities have an enormous role to play in our creative industries, and we are absolutely determined to do everything we can to support them. They have a very special place in the life of the nation; I think most people holidayed there as children. We hope that they continue to thrive, and I will be in a position to update the House soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures or commitments regarding awareness raising for coastal creative businesses and inclusion in creative clusters programme

How: Under Review

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Q12 Paul Holmes Con Hamble Valley
NHS
Context

Mountbatten hospice, which receives a significant portion of its income from charitable donations, faces financial risks due to the national insurance contributions policy.

Question

Mountbatten hospice, which serves my constituency and Hampshire more widely, receives 70% of its income through charitable donations. It has told me and my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight East (Joe Robertson) that its viability is under risk because of the national insurance contributions policy that this Government have brought forward. Can the Secretary of State outline what pressure she will put on the Treasury to make sure that the policy changes? The charitable sector is in real danger because of this Government's decisions.

Answer from Lisa Nandy

My right hon. Friend the Health Secretary and I have already had a discussion about the situation facing hospices. He is acutely aware of it, and is working with the hospice movement in order to provide the best possible support.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific pressure on Treasury regarding national insurance contributions policy affecting hospices

How: Under Review

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Q13 Alan Strickland Lab Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor
Culture, Media & Sport

Question

Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating Newton Aycliffe youth football club on being runner-up in FA club of the year in Durham, and will she join me in congratulating all the parents, volunteers and young people involved in grassroots sports?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

I thank my hon. Friend for being such an outstanding champion of his community, and I extend my warmest congratulations to Newton Aycliffe. He is right to highlight the invaluable contribution that families make to the success of young people. They often pitch in as volunteers and coaches, and take children and young people to matches come rain or shine—I imagine that in his neck of the woods, like mine, it is more often rain than shine. I am really glad that they have such a good champion.

Answered
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Q14 Lincoln Jopp Con Spelthorne
Culture, Media & Sport

Question

The Minister with responsibility for sport graciously met me to discuss the future of London Irish in my Spelthorne constituency, and she undertook to ensure that the club would get the meeting with Sport England that it so desperately desired. Can the Minister give us an update?

Answer from Stephanie Peacock

I was grateful to the hon. Gentleman for coming to speak to me about this issue. I will speak to my officials and make sure that we approach Sport England very speedily.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline or confirmation of meeting with Sport England for London Irish

How: Under Review

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Q15 Alison Hume Lab Scarborough and Whitby
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The library in Newby and Scalby, Scarborough has received a King's award for voluntary service. The library offers innovative services such as a summer reading challenge for children, an IT buddy programme, and a garden that produces food.

Question

I would like to highlight the richly deserved King's award for voluntary service that has been given to the 60 volunteers at Newby and Scalby library in Scarborough. The library's services are innovative, including a summer reading challenge for children, an IT buddy service and a garden growing produce. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating Newby and Scalby library on its award, and on the enormous contribution that it makes to our community in Scarborough?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

I am very happy to congratulate Newby and Scalby library. I thank my hon. Friend for drawing attention to the enormous work that libraries do in helping to promote children's literacy in this country, which could not be more important.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specifically congratulating the library on its award was partially addressed but lacked a direct acknowledgment of the innovative services and contribution highlighted by the questioner.

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