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1220355

registered interest
date	03/07/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Charities: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what fiscal steps he is taking to support the charity sector in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Clwyd South
tabling member printed	Simon Baynes
uin	68446
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2020 answer text <p>DCMS is continuing to work closely with the civil society sector to assess the needs of the sector and how the government can best support it to continue its vital work. The Government has committed a £750m targeted funding package to support the Voluntary and Community Sector, which builds on the significant package of support available across sectors, including the Job Retention Scheme. A further £150 million from dormant bank and building society accounts has been unlocked to support urgent work tackling youth unemployment, providing emergency loans for civil society organisations and improving the availability of fair, affordable credit to people in vulnerable circumstances.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Ensuring charities can begin fundraising activities will be a crucial part of the sector’s recovery. DCMS has published a collection of guidance for DCMS sectors relating to COVID-19. This includes practical guidance and resources from the Fundraising Regulator and Chartered Institute of Fundraising supporting charities to safeguard the public, staff and volunteers as they plan to return to fundraising activities in a safe and responsible way. This can be viewed at;</p><p><strong><br></strong><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-dcms-sectors-in-relation-to-coronavirus-covid-19" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/guidance-for-dcms-sectors-in-relation-to-coronavirus-covid-19</a>.</p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 10/07/2020 09:07:56 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4800 label Biography information for Simon Baynes

1220344

registered interest
date	02/07/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Music Venues and Sports: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will bring forward proposals to grant (a) music venues, (b) community sporting venues and (c) semi-professional sports clubs temporary charitable status for the purpose of donations during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Dr James Davies
uin	68385
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2020 answer text <p>It is not within DCMS’s gift to grant charitable status on a temporary basis and there are no plans to widen the definition of charity. Some music venues, community sporting venues and amateur sports clubs already qualify for charitable status and can therefore benefit from gift aid on donations. In England and Wales, charitable status is dependent on meeting the definition of a charity set out by Parliament in the Charities Act 2011. The advancement of arts, culture or amateur sport for the public benefit are determined to be charitable purposes within scope of the Charities Act 2011. To meet the definition of charity, organisations must exist for public benefit rather than private benefit. Further detail is set out in the Charity Commission’s Guidance on ‘Charitable Purposes’.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Arts and sporting organisations can benefit from the broad range of support the Government has made available to support organisations through the crisis, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. In addition to the £750 million funding package the Government has provided specifically for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, the Government has unlocked £150 million from dormant bank and building society accounts, part of which will provide emergency loans for civil society organisations and improve the availability of fair, affordable credit to people in vulnerable circumstances.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has also provided more targeted provision to support arts and sporting organisations through the crisis. On the 5th July, the Government announced a £1.57bn targeted rescue package to protect the arts, cultural and heritage industry. This represents the largest one off investment in culture, and will include investment in music venues to ensure future sustainability of the sector. Sport England has provided up to £210m of funding to support community and grassroots clubs facing financial challenges over the period of the COVID-19 crisis. This includes £35m of public funding under the banner of Community Emergency Funding (CEF) available to community clubs.</p><p><strong><br></strong><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charitable-purposes/charitable-purposes#the-advancement-of-the-arts-culture-heritage-or-science" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charitable-purposes/charitable-purposes#the-advancement-of-the-arts-culture-heritage-or-science</a>.</p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 10/07/2020 14:23:05 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4476 label Biography information for Dr James Davies

1220417

registered interest
date	02/07/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Scouts and Guides: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits to children's mental health of allowing UK scouting to recommence as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
tabling member constituency	Chatham and Aylesford
tabling member printed	Tracey Crouch
uin	68319
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2020 answer text <p>Government recognises the unprecedented impact which Covid-19 has had on young people, particularly on their mental health.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We recognise the impact Uniformed Youth groups like the Scouts have on the wellbeing of young people, helping them to develop life skills and be a part of their communities.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Youth centres and Uniformed Youth groups are able to re-open from 4th July, and DCMS has supported the National Youth Agency to produce guidance for youth organisations on operating safely during Covid-19.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 10/07/2020 09:06:36 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	3950 label Biography information for Dame Tracey Crouch

1220440

registered interest
date	02/07/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Sports: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to (a) allow the reopening of five-a-side football premises and (b) permit small numbers of people to take part in contact sport as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
tabling member constituency	Gateshead
tabling member printed	Ian Mearns
uin	68325
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/07/2020 answer text <p>Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active. The Government has made it clear that it will adopt a phased approach based on scientific and medical advice, and that the primary goal is to protect public health. The Government is in discussions with representatives from the sport and physical activity sector about the steps required to restart grassroots sport and will update the public when it is deemed safe to reopen indoor sports venues and facilities, including five-a-side football premises.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 06/07/2020 12:57:51 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	4000 label Biography information for Ian Mearns

1219749

registered interest
date	01/07/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Sports: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to allow snooker clubs and other indoor sport venues to reopen as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	67570
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2020 answer text <p>Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active. Snooker clubs have been allowed to open since 4 July, as long as they can follow the COVID-secure guidelines.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government is committed to reopening other facilities as soon as it is safe to do so, including indoor gyms and sports venues. The Sport Working Group, led by myself, feeds into the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce and ensures strong sector and expert support for the co-development of guidelines and will help leisure facilities become COVID-secure and re-open as early as possible in July.</p><p> </p><p>As with all aspects of the Government’s response to COVID-19, we will be guided by public health considerations to ensure that as restrictions are eased people can return to activity safely.</p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 09/07/2020 15:53:21 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1219791

registered interest
date	01/07/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Dance: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether dance studios can reopen for educational activities for school children if they adhere to the same covid-19 social distancing measures as schools.
tabling member constituency	Putney
tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
uin	67797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2020 answer text <p>A dance school (or other sport activity for children) which operates for fewer than 18 hours per week would generally be considered to be an out-of-school setting. As the Prime Minister confirmed in his announcement on 23 June, providers who run community activities, holiday clubs, after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school provision for children can operate over the summer holiday, with safety measures in place. Providers of these settings have been able to open since 4 July, provided that they follow the protective measures set out by government. However, providers should check the latest government guidelines on which businesses and venues can open and for which purposes as some premises may only be able to open for certain limited purposes.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Protective measures guidance for community activities, holiday clubs, after-school clubs, tuition and other out-of-school provision can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Providers who offer indoor sports activities for children should refer to the guidance for Keeping workers / volunteers and customers safe during COVID-19 for providers of grassroots sports and gym / leisure facilities. As announced on the 9 July, indoor gyms, sports courts and fitness and dance studios will be able to reopen from 25 July. They cannot be used for holiday clubs and activities for children until that point.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Sports activities that would typically take place in a gym, sports venue, or a fitness or dancing studio are permitted to take place in any venue legally able to open, such as an indoor community facility, subject to DfE guidance on protective measures being followed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 21/07/2020 16:45:44 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1219794

registered interest
date	01/07/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Swimming Pools: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to permit the reopening of (a) small tuition and (b) therapy swimming pools as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased; and whether the reopening of those pools will be earlier than the reopening of larger leisure centre swimming pools.
tabling member constituency	Putney
tabling member printed	Fleur Anderson
uin	67798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2020 answer text <p>The government recognises the importance of re-opening our indoor and outdoor pools and we agree that swimming is a great way for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy. The consideration of different venues and the activities involved are underpinned by an understanding of the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 associated with particular activities. There are concerns about transmission around points of contact within such facilities, like changing rooms due to the high volume of contacts. As such, we need to provide reassurance that these facilities will be safe, and are working hard to achieve this in the coming weeks.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The government is actively working towards a safe way to re-open these facilities, with supporting guidance.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Worcestershire answering member printed Nigel Huddleston question first answered 08/07/2020 09:28:27 answering member 4407 label Biography information for Nigel Huddleston
tabling member	4788 label Biography information for Fleur Anderson

1219826

registered interest
date	01/07/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Museums and Galleries: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what financial support is (a) his Department, (b) Arts Council England and (c) other public bodies making available for independent museums during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Bromsgrove
tabling member printed	Sajid Javid
uin	67614
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2020 answer text <p>Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis officials and ministers have been in even more regular contact to understand the impact of the pandemic and the measures the Government has taken to fight it. And to understand what support museums and heritage organisations need and how best to get it to them.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>DCMS arms’ length bodies have created sector specific support. Arts Council England launched a £160 million Emergency Funding Package, the National Lottery Heritage Fund launched the £50 million Heritage Emergency Fund, and Historic England launched a £2 million Emergency Fund. That is over £200 million of emergency support especially for culture and heritage. This emergency short-term funding will help address pressures over the next 3-6 months for those organisations most in immediate need.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Furthermore, the Prime Minister has just announced a £1.57 billion investment to protect Britain’s world-class cultural, arts and heritage institutions. The money, which represents the biggest ever one-off investment in UK culture, will provide a lifeline to vital cultural and heritage organisations across the country hit hard by the pandemic. It will help them stay afloat while their doors are closed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has also announced unprecedented support for business and workers, to protect them against the current economic emergency. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and VAT payment deferrals. We know that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, in particular, has been a lifeline for these sectors. The Chancellor announced further extensions to this scheme, taking it through to October</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government continues to monitor the impact of these and other measures.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 09/07/2020 09:23:00 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	3945 label Biography information for Sir Sajid Javid

1219830

registered interest
date	01/07/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Performing Arts: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the timescales for permitting the return of live arts performances (a) with and (b) without social distancing restrictions as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
uin	67814
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2020 answer text <p>The Secretary of State and DCMS are committed to supporting the cultural sector to reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, and ensure appropriate support and guidance is provided.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>To that end, DCMS has established the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and the Entertainment and Events working group which will be focusing on ensuring that COVID-19 secure guidelines are developed in line with the phasing ambitions and public health directions, building on the existing guidance and providing intelligence and sector-specific expert input.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Secretary of State recently announced a five stage roadmap that the Government will work through to get the performing arts sectors back up and running. The first two stages of the plan - rehearsals and training adhering to social distancing, and performances for broadcast only - are already underway in some places, and further decisions on the remainder of the stages will be made in line with expert medical advice and the latest public health guidance.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 09/07/2020 09:21:35 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1219833

registered interest
date	01/07/2020
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Charities: Gift Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to help increase levels of revenue contributed through Gift Aid to support the civil society sector.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	67702
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting charities through Gift Aid; Gift Aid claimed by charities was worth around £1.3billion in 2018-19. Gift Aid already results in full tax relief on the tax paid on donations, with basic rate relief being claimed by the charity and higher rate relief being claimed by the taxpayer where relevant. Increasing the rate at which Gift Aid is paid would break the link with the basic rate of Income Tax paid on qualifying donations. Additionally, less than 20% of UK charities claim Gift Aid, so any increased payments linked to this tax relief would only benefit a small proportion of charities, with most being paid to a very small number of the very largest charities.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>There is ongoing work between the Government and charities to improve eligible Gift Aid take-up and ensure that Gift Aid is fit for the future, and we understand the need to raise awareness among charities and donors of the benefits of Gift Aid.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Maldon answering member printed Mr John Whittingdale question first answered 08/07/2020 08:52:02 answering member 39 label Biography information for Sir John Whittingdale
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day