🏟️ Oral Answers to Questions

• Rugby League Promotion:
  • The Secretary of State, Lisa Nandy, praised the community work of rugby league clubs and highlighted a £30,000 Sport England grant to Rochdale for grassroots rugby league.
  • Discussions with the Prime Minister focused on using rugby league clubs to support young men’s mental health in coalfield communities, with more announcements expected soon.
• Rugby League and Community Impact:
  • Paul Waugh mentioned Rochdale Hornets’ partnership with Nando’s, emphasizing the club’s community role and its impact on mental and physical health.
  • Lisa Nandy agreed on the importance of rugby league for community health and entertainment.
• Financial Management and Grassroots Sports:
  • Concerns were raised about the management of the Department’s covid loan book, with the Secretary of State stating that 97% of scheduled repayments have been recovered and a response to the Public Accounts Committee’s report is forthcoming.
• Grassroots Sports Funding:
  • The government announced a £100 million investment for grassroots sports facilities across the UK, with specific allocations for Scotland and the north of England.
  • The Football Foundation will deliver funding, targeting deprived areas and under-represented groups.
• Creative Industries and AI:
  • Lisa Nandy discussed the use of AI in creative industries with various sector representatives, emphasizing the importance of protecting the UK’s copyright framework during negotiations with the US.
• Gambling Harms Reduction:
  • A statutory gambling levy will be introduced to fund research, prevention, and treatment of gambling harm, expected to raise £100 million annually.
  • Stake limits for online slot games will be implemented to reduce harm, particularly among young people.
• Free-to-Air Events:
  • The government has no plans to review the list of events designated as free-to-air, believing the current list balances access and broadcasting revenue.
• Support for Musicians:
  • The Minister for Creative Industries, Chris Bryant, is working on support for small music venues and better remuneration for legacy artists and session musicians.
  • A voluntary levy on arena and stadium gigs is being developed to support grassroots venues.
• Tourism and Coastal Britain:
  • The “Starring GREAT Britain” campaign promotes coastal areas, with a goal to increase international visitors to 50 million by 2030.
  • The government is developing a national tourism strategy to address challenges faced by coastal areas, including in Northern Ireland.
• Video Game Industry Support:
  • The government is committed to supporting the video game industry, with £5.5 million allocated to the UK games fund for the next year.
• Cultural Spaces and Funding:
  • Delays in the national portfolio investment cycle have affected cultural organizations, with the government reviewing Arts Council England to ensure better support.
• Church Commissioners and Project Spire:
  • The Church Commissioners are in discussions with the Charity Commission regarding Project Spire, aimed at addressing historical links to slavery.
• Electoral Commission and Political Donations:
  • The Electoral Commission is seeking to increase its enforcement powers and the maximum fine for breaches of political donation rules from £20,000 to £500,000.
• Restoration and Renewal of Parliament:
  • The Restoration and Renewal programme has engaged extensively with MPs, with plans to publish options for the project later in the year.
  • Efforts are being made to ensure that contractors from across the UK benefit from the project, including through apprenticeships and skills training.

The parliamentary session exhibits a moderate level of disagreement, primarily centered around policy differences and critiques rather than intense confrontations. Here is a detailed breakdown of the disagreements observed in the session:

1. Grassroots Sports Funding: There was a notable disagreement between the parties regarding funding for grassroots sports. The shadow Minister, Louie French, criticized the Labour Government for cutting various funds that supported grassroots sports, including the opening school facilities fund and investments in multi-sports and women’s sports facilities. He argued that Labour’s actions were detrimental to the future of community sports. In response, Secretary of State Lisa Nandy defended the Labour Government’s approach, stating their commitment to grassroots sports and highlighting a new £160 million movement fund. This exchange reflects a policy disagreement on the allocation and prioritization of sports funding, but the tone remains relatively civil.

2. National Insurance Contributions: The shadow Secretary of State, Stuart Andrew, raised concerns about the impact of Labour’s national insurance policies on charities, suggesting they faced a £1.4 billion increase. He accused the Government of neglecting charities’ needs. Lisa Nandy countered by pointing out that the previous Conservative government left a challenging economic situation for Labour to handle, and emphasized that the current government was taking steps to support charities through measures like increasing the employment allowance. This disagreement involves different interpretations of financial policy impacts and responsibilities, but it does not escalate into a heated argument.

3. Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme: There were multiple questions and criticisms regarding the future of the listed places of worship grant scheme, with MPs like Gregory Stafford and Mary Glindon expressing concerns about reduced funding and its impact on ongoing projects. Marsha De Cordova acknowledged the concerns and promised to continue advocating for the scheme’s extension and support. While there is disagreement over funding cuts and their effects, the discussions remain constructive rather than contentious.

Overall, the session includes clear points of contention on funding and policy matters, but the disagreements are expressed with a focus on policy critique rather than personal attacks, maintaining a respectful parliamentary atmosphere. Thus, the session warrants a rating of 2 for disagreement displayed.