Written questions by French.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure organisations funded by her Department promote free speech.

Everyone has the right to express themselves and share ideas without interference from the government. This right is protected by Article 10 of the Human Rights Act 1998.We are committed to freedom of speech, including in the creative and cultural sectors, and the Secretary of State has expressed an unequivocal ambition that the era of the government stoking “culture wars” should be over.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to take steps to ring-fence funds levied through the statutory gambling levy for the research, treatment and prevention of gambling harms.

As set out in the government’s consultation response, section 123 of the Gambling Act 2005 is clear that statutory levy funding will be ringfenced for gambling-related purposes and all spending is subject to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and HM Treasury approval. We will ensure robust governance processes for the levy system as a whole to ensure that funding allocated for research, prevention and treatment to the lead commissioning bodies we have appointed is being used in line with the government’s objectives.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to prevent ticket touts from selling tickets to the Women's Rugby World Cup at inflated prices.

The Government has published a consultation on introducing new consumer protections on the resale of live events tickets, including sporting events such as the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. The consultation, which closes on 4th April, includes a range of proposals, including a price cap on resales and new requirements on resale platforms.Over 220,000 tickets have already been sold for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, double the number bought for the previous tournament in New Zealand 2022. These early ticket sales demonstrate the demand for women’s sport in this country.World Rugby have urged fans to only buy tickets for the tournament via official channels. Fans purchasing tickets from unofficial sources risk having match tickets cancelled and being refused entry to match venues. Tickets will be issued and distributed closer to the tournament, and an official resale service will be available in the coming months.

Whether she plans to amend the charge for the Dartford Crossing, in the context of the potential impact of the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel tolls on levels of congestion.

The level of charges at the Dartford Crossing is kept under review to maintain its effective operation. Given the additional capacity provided by the Silvertown Tunnel and that for most of the day the charges for cars, vans and lorries at the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels will be less than those at the Dartford Crossing, the Department expects minimal changes in total demand at the Dartford Crossing when tolling at the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels begins, and therefore this would not require amendment of the charges levied there.

Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the selling of shares in cricket clubs competing in The Hundred on the level of Government support that will be provided to grassroots cricket teams.

We want a thriving sector, with robust National Governing Bodies (NGBs) that can use their nationwide remit to deliver sport to people across the country. Sustainable investment is important for achieving this. The Hundred will see additional investment into grassroots cricket from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which is welcomed.The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on increasing participation in sport, including cricket, at grassroots level to give more and better opportunities to all.Sport England provides long term investment to the England and Wales Cricket Board, the National Governing Body for cricket, which receives up to £11.6 million for five years to invest in community cricket initiatives. This is a separate consideration to the Hundred sale.

Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to help increase the number of women and girls participating in motorsport.

The Government is dedicated to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, have access to high quality sport. Female role models are vital in encouraging more girls to get active and find a route into the sports they enjoy.We welcome the continued growth of the Formula 1 Academy in providing opportunities for young female drivers to progress to higher levels of competition in motorsport, and are supportive of its focus on uncovering the next generation of young female drivers.I also recognise the work organisations such as Motorsport UK and the British Women’s Racing Drivers Club are taking forward to increase female participation within the sport.In the broader field of motorsport, I also recently met with Formula One to congratulate them on their amazing 75th anniversary last month. This milestone provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the sport’s long history in the UK, of which we are very proud, and we will continue to work closely with them to see how best we can further support the success story of Formula One in the UK.

What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the continuation of funding for (a) the Holiday Activities and Food, (b) School Games and (c) the Primary PE and Sport Premium programmes.

The government recently announced over £200 million funding for the holiday activities and food programme for the 2025/26 financial year. Funding for the primary PE and sport premium has been committed to the end of the 2024/25 academic year. The School Games are the responsibility of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Health and Social Care. The government has confirmed funding for the School Games Organisers until the end of the 2024/25 academic year. Information on future budgets will be made available in due course.

What steps his Department is taking to monitor the long-term health and well-being of those born with cleft lips and palates.

The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and raising the healthiest generation of children ever.  NHS England commissions services for children, young people and adults with a cleft lip and/or palate.The patient pathway can start from pre-birth and continues into adulthood. Cleft services provide care through multi-disciplinary teams including orthodontists, speech and language therapists and clinical psychologists. These services are available to children and young people with a cleft lip and/or palate until they are at least 20 years old and to adults at any age. The service specifications outline the stages at which psychological support is provided and includes the requirement that all patients with a cleft lip and/or palate are regularly assessed and offered psychological support if needed. More information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d07-cleft-lip.pdfAll cleft lip and/or palate services are required to submit data to the Cleft Registry and Audit Network, which is hosted and run by the Royal College of Surgeons and funded by NHS England.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2024 to Question 13158 on Sodium Valproate and Surgical Mesh Implants: Compensation, what further progress his Department has made in responding to the Hughes Report.

The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report. The report sets out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex matter involving work with other Government Departments. The Government will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s Report at the earliest opportunity.The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health had an introductory meeting with individuals and stakeholders representing those harmed by sodium valproate on 12 December 2024 and patient groups representing those harmed by Pelvic mesh on 17 December 2024.The meetings were arranged so the Minister could hear individuals’ experiences of the issues raised in the Hughes Report and understand their key concerns around both financial and non-financial redress options.

What support his Department provides to the Cleft Registry and Audit Network.

The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and raising the healthiest generation of children ever.  NHS England commissions services for children, young people and adults with a cleft lip and/or palate.The patient pathway can start from pre-birth and continues into adulthood. Cleft services provide care through multi-disciplinary teams including orthodontists, speech and language therapists and clinical psychologists. These services are available to children and young people with a cleft lip and/or palate until they are at least 20 years old and to adults at any age. The service specifications outline the stages at which psychological support is provided and includes the requirement that all patients with a cleft lip and/or palate are regularly assessed and offered psychological support if needed. More information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/d07-cleft-lip.pdfAll cleft lip and/or palate services are required to submit data to the Cleft Registry and Audit Network, which is hosted and run by the Royal College of Surgeons and funded by NHS England.

What steps his Department is taking to provide a redress scheme for those harmed by Sodium Valproate and surgical mesh implants.

The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report. The report sets out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex matter involving work with other Government Departments. The Government will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s Report at the earliest opportunity.The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health had an introductory meeting with individuals and stakeholders representing those harmed by sodium valproate on 12 December 2024 and patient groups representing those harmed by Pelvic mesh on 17 December 2024.The meetings were arranged so the Minister could hear individuals’ experiences of the issues raised in the Hughes Report and understand their key concerns around both financial and non-financial redress options.

Media and Sport, if she will publish all correspondence she has received from the Union of European Football Association since 5 July 2024.

As was the case under the previous government, the Department does not share private correspondence provided to us, including by international organisations.

Media and Sport, when the Board of Women's Sport (a) last met and (b) next plans to meet; and whether she plans to update the terms of reference of that board.

This Government fully endorses the recommendations of Karen Carney OBE’s Independent Review of Women’s Football, including the recommendation to form a Board of Women’s Sport.The Minister for Sport held a meeting with all stakeholders responsible for implementing the Carney Review in November, and will shortly reconvene groups to focus on specific elements of the review in order to drive tangible progress.The Board of Women’s Sport will be reconvened in spring 2025 to ensure adoption of best practice in key areas and to make sure the learnings of the review, alongside emerging issues, can be explored across the sector.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the upcoming Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel tolls on congestion at the Dartford crossing.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor and TfL is responsible for assessing any impact of tolls on the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels on congestion in the area. However, given the additional capacity provided by the Silvertown Tunnel and that for most of the day the charges for cars, vans and lorries at the Blackwall and Silvertown Tunnels will be less than those at the Dartford Crossing, the Department expects minimal changes in total demand at the Dartford Crossing when tolling begins

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Football Association's decision to scrap FA cup replays on the financial sustainability of (a) EFL teams and (b) non-league football teams.

The Government recognises the emotive and financial significance of the FA Cup, especially for smaller clubs.The matter of FA Cup scheduling, including replays, is ultimately a matter for the football authorities. We expect the FA and Premier League to consult with the EFL and other leagues further down the pyramid on moves such as this and reach agreements collectively.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the potential impact of proposed statutory uniform limits on the rate of participation in school sports what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the potential impact of proposed statutory uniform limits on the rate of participation in school sports.

School uniforms play a valuable role in creating a sense of common identity among pupils and reducing visible inequalities; however, too many schools require high numbers of branded uniform items, including branded PE kit.The government has, in line with its manifesto commitment, introduced legislation to limit the number of branded items of uniform and PE kit that schools can require, to bring down costs for parents and remove barriers from children accessing sport and other school activities.We expect schools to ensure that all pupils can participate in all aspects of school life, including PE and sport. No pupil should be discouraged from participating in any aspect of school life, such as interschool competitions, because of the cost of additional uniform requirements. This limit allows school leaders to prioritise branding the uniform and PE kit items which best reflect the needs of their school.Research also suggests that the more choice that girls in particular have over what to wear for PE, the more they are comfortable and the greater the likelihood of their long term participation in sport. This research is available here: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/43602/documents/216689/default/.Guidance already encourages schools to select PE kit items that are comfortable, practical and appropriate for all students. Together with new limits on unnecessary branded items, this approach will help to ensure that all students, including girls, feel confident and able to participate fully in physical activities.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the VAT exemption for disability-adapted motor vehicles.

Wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) are subject to a zero rate of VAT when purchased by a disabled person for their personal use, or by a charity that will make the vehicle available to disabled people. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with (a) the Football Association, (b) the Women's Super League and (c) football clubs on the adequacy of the provision of mental health services for female professional football players.

The Government is committed to supporting every aspect of women’s sport, including player welfare.In 2023, Karen Carney OBE published a major Independent Review of Women’s Football. The Review placed a significant emphasis on the importance of player welfare and recommended uplifting the medical support requirements within licensing criteria, as well as extending players’ access to medical provision for a period of six months following retirement. The Review also highlighted the importance of performance psychologists within high-performance sports. It recommended that this role become mandatory, to provide players with a clearly identifiable route, should they wish to raise any concerns regarding their wellbeing.This Government fully endorses those recommendations and looks forward to ensuring tangible progress is made. The Minister for Sport met with women’s football stakeholders - including the FA and the Women’s Professional Leagues Limited (WPLL) - in November 2024 to advise them of her intent to track progress against the Review recommendations. At this meeting, the Minister emphasised the importance of the welfare and duty of care to players, and advised stakeholders that she is keen to drive progress in this area. The Minister will shortly reconvene the group to understand progress against the recommendations of the Review, including around mental health provision for players.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the impact of the proposed two-tier test system on (a) grass-roots and (b) county level cricket in England and Wales.

Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game, and provides vital funds that filter down to the grassroots game. County level and international cricket competition formatting, and consideration of its impact, is the responsibility of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Whether it is her policy to continue the Opening Schools Facilities funding.

This government is determined to create the healthiest generation ever and break down the barriers to opportunity for every child.We are working across government to ensure that our funding is coherent and effectively contributes to a lasting and sustainable impact on children’s physical activity levels and the provision of more opportunities for all children to participate in sport. The work sits alongside that of other system levers, for instance the Curriculum and Assessment Review which is examining how to deliver a curriculum which is rich and broad, so that children and young people do not miss out on subjects such as sport.The Opening School Facilities programme will end in March as planned. The learning from the programme will help inform the department’s ongoing work to support high-quality PE, school sport and physical activity for all pupils.