Stephanie Peacock
MP for Barnsley South · Labour · United Kingdom
“It is a pleasure to conclude this debate. I am grateful to Members for their contributions and for the broad consensus that households facing fuel poverty and energy debt should receive support quickly, fairly and effectively. At its heart, this draft statutory instrument makes three targeted changes.”
“Secondly, the amendments, laid by the then Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 6 July, specify that Department under the existing fuel poverty objective, enabling the Government Department responsible for data policy to support work assisting people living in fuel poverty, including the national data library kickstarter p…”
“We have cut VAT on electricity bills, expanded the warm home discount to around 6 million households, and are delivering the warm homes plan and fuel poverty strategy to reduce bills, improve energy efficiency and help to lift up to 1 million households out of fuel poverty by 2030.”
“I know that the right hon. Gentleman was a little bit late in arriving, but I did say that the scheme is the responsibility of the relevant Department. These regulations provide the legal framework for the data sharing. I now turn to the third amendment, which concerns the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.”
“Member for North East Cambridgeshire asked me some questions about who is in scope and who will benefit from the scheme. Again, had he been listening to my contribution, he would have heard—I will repeat my comments—that the precise design of any scheme remains in development by the Government and Ofgem.”
“They provide the legal data-sharing basis that would allow an appropriately designed scheme to operate effectively. If such a scheme proceeds, it is estimated to reduce the administrative burdens involved in identifying eligible households and providing further support to families in need.”
The complete record
Every one of 609 lines we hold for Stephanie Peacock, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 13.
“The Government recognise that grassroots facilities are at the heart of communities up and down the country, which is why we have committed £400 million to transform grassroots facilities across the UK. I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss how we will be rolling that out. We recognise that too many children and young people are less active than they should be, which is why we have campaigns such as “Let’s Move!”, which aims to support children to enjoy being active in sport, play and everyday movement. I was pleased to see one of those sessions in action myself before Christmas.”
“I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising this important point. Everyone should have the opportunity to play sport and be physically active. We are committed to tackling persistent inequalities, especially for disabled people, an aim that is reinforced by Uniting the Movement, the 10-year strategy of our arm’s length body, Sport England. It ensures that its programmes directly impact disabled people through partnerships with a range of both disability and martial arts organisations and initiatives such as We Are Undefeatable, a campaign that supports the 15 million people who live with one or more long-term health condition in England to get active. I met Activity Alliance to discuss this issue a few months ago, and would be delighted to discuss it with my hon. Friend.”
“I will get to the bottom of why the hon. Lady has not had a reply—I apologise for that. I would be delighted to meet her to discuss the matter further.”
“The hon. Gentleman makes an important point. It was a pleasure to meet him yesterday to discuss a different issue. This is exactly why we have launched our national youth strategy—supporting young people with their mental health is an absolutely key part of that. I know how important that is, both as a former teacher and from my constituency.”
“I recognise the vital role that football clubs like Wealdstone FC play in the community. While stadium negotiations are primarily a matter for clubs and local authorities, I understand the importance of securing a future at Grosvenor Vale, and I would be happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss how we can best support the club for the future.”
“The governance of rugby union is a matter for the Rugby Football Union, which is independent of Government, but the Government monitor the financial situation of rugby union closely. The DCMS continues to work with the RFU and I am happy to discuss that further with the hon. Gentleman.”
“We are all very excited that the Tour de France is coming to this country. I am really excited to be going to Leeds later today for the route announcement, and I am pleased that the Government have invested over £30 million. It is really important that the tournament inspires the next generation.”
“That includes S4C, which I was pleased to visit as Media Minister last year to see its work first hand. Many hard questions will be raised through this charter process, but it is important that it is the start of the conversation. There will be many more debates in this place as we have this discussion. The intention of the Green Paper is to spark debate and get Members from across the House and people across the country to share their views. We will continue to engage with the public and Parliament, and we will of course get the chance to have a full debate. In the meantime, I thank all Members for their contributions.”
“Member for Maldon has previously raised concerns about the potential for advertising on the BBC to impact commercial providers. A thriving media sector involving ITV, Channel 4, our diverse local media providers and others is vital for the UK, and I wish to reassure him that we will carefully consider the potential impacts on this ecosystem. I have heard the points he has made today and of course we debated them at length during the passage of what is now the Media Act 2024. We are also considering options for funding the World Service, of which I know he is a great supporter—as are many other Members across parties who have spoken brilliantly and given many examples—and for funding minority language broadcasting so that the rich linguistic heritage of our communities can continue to thrive and grow.”
“At this stage, we are keeping an open mind on the issue and the Green Paper sets out a range of options that we are exploring, including how the BBC can operate more efficiently, how it could generate more commercial revenue, and how the licence fee could be reformed. This is a complex topic, and the public consultation will provide an opportunity for the public to have their say. In the interests of time, I am really sorry that I cannot respond in detail to some of the points raised today, though I had made notes to do so. I will make sure that I or the Media Minister write in answer to some of the specific questions. We know that some funding options would represent a significant shift for both the sector and the BBC, as well as for audience experiences. The right hon.”
“We know that to achieve all of this the BBC must be funded in a way that is fair and sustainable for the long term. The right hon. Member for Maldon secured a debate on this topic in December 2024, where he highlighted challenges with the licence fee, noting, as we do in our Green Paper, that the landscape has hugely changed since he was responsible for drawing up the current charter. He spoke during that debate about some of the alternatives to the licence fee, which also have their challenges, and he rightly identified the need for those to be considered alongside broader decisions about the future of television. Our thinking is certainly accounting for these points. Indeed, it was in Westminster Hall during my last debate as Media Minister that I responded to a debate—about the future of television—incredibly relevant to today’s topic.”
“People right across our nation must be able to access content that genuinely reflects their lives, their communities and their contributions, so that all of us can see ourselves reflected in our national story—a point that my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Kevin Bonavia) spoke about. The BBC must commission, produce and distribute stories that are truly rooted in diverse UK experiences and promote British stories and creativity to the world. I have seen that in my own area, whether it is the BBC’s long read on the history and regeneration of our brilliant town centre, thanks to our Labour council, or the who to watch in the Yorkshire music scene, which are just a couple of pieces of coverage that the BBC has done from my own area.”
“Friend the Member for York Central (Rachael Maskell). We are considering how the BBC can deliver more through others, working collaboratively and in partnership with organisations across the creative economy and the local news sector—something I have heard from my own local paper. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid Derbyshire (Jonathan Davies) made a very important point about that. But the BBC role extends beyond economic growth and innovation. Whether it is to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles or to cheer on Britain’s gold medal wins at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, the BBC has the power to bring the nation together.”
“It is absolutely vital that the BBC is trusted by the British public and commands confidence in its impartiality as our national broadcaster. The charter review will support that aim and provide an opportunity to ensure the BBC remains the trusted independent source of news for UK citizens that it has been for over 100 years. As the current Media Minister has said, the corporation’s future should not be tainted by the “problems of today”. The charter review will also ensure that the BBC remains an engine of growth, driving good jobs, skills and creativity across the UK. As part of this, we are considering how the BBC can further support the production sector across the nations and regions, including by ensuring that budgets and decision-making powers for commissioners are spread across the UK—a point well made by my hon.”
“140WH.] The new charter will formally set the terms of the BBC for the future with a clear ambition to set it on a path to thrive, well into the latter half of this century. Our Green Paper, published on 16 December, represents the first step on that path as we set out our vision for future-proofing our national broadcaster. The four sections outlined in the paper include governance and trust, funding, mission and purpose, and technology and digital. The BBC must remain independent, genuinely accountable to the public it serves, and critically, it must continue to command public trust. Further afield, the BBC must also continue the World Service’s vital work in providing trusted and truthful news internationally. Members have given a number of examples.”
“We are not looking to expand free TV licences or give them free to those in receipt of benefits. An example from Germany was taken out of context from the Green Paper; I can be clear about that now. To go into a little more detail, the BBC has clearly reached a critical juncture. The market has changed significantly, and the charter review is a timely opportunity to set the BBC up for success in a new and dynamic world. The right hon. Member for Maldon had responsibility for the last charter review 10 years ago. In a debate in December 2024 he said that the changes in the broadcasting landscape that have taken place during the 10 years since then have been “huge and continue to accelerate.” —[ Official Report, 18 December 2024; Vol. 759, c.”
“We will debate all of those not just over the 12-week consultation but over the coming year as we debate the charter. If I have time I will come back with a little more detail. My hon. Friend the Member for Salford (Rebecca Long Bailey) spoke powerfully and gave a number of examples important to her own constituency. I was pleased to visit when I was the Media Minister. I want to put it on the record that I have heard the points around minority languages and the issues raised by colleagues in Northern Ireland, the hon. Members for East Londonderry (Mr Campbell) and for Strangford (Jim Shannon). Indeed, the December before last the hon. Member for East Londonderry held a debate in the main Chamber. I will address a point put to me by the shadow Minister on concessions.”
“As the Secretary of State set out to the House in November, the chair of the BBC has accepted that there have been “editorial failings”, and this is simply not good enough. That has clearly had an impact on trust, as reflected in the statistics shared by the Chair of the Select Committee, the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage). The funding is a complex issue and I will address the questions put to me in as much detail as I can in a moment. In broad terms, we want to ensure that the cost is as low as possible. We want to examine how efficiently the BBC operates, how it provides services, the way they are delivered and whether that should be revisited. The Chair of the Select Committee put big questions to me on the long-term sustainability, the funding settlement, changing viewer habits and the scope and size of the BBC.”
“I appreciate that there are different perspectives, as this debate has reflected, and I will address some of the specific points, questions and ideas put to me. In the interests of time, perhaps I will not be able to go into much detail, but I can say directly to the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Droitwich and Evesham (Nigel Huddleston), that there will be ample opportunity to debate this topic further in this place. The right hon. Member for Maldon (Sir John Whittingdale) opened the debate by highlighting that the BBC has had a number of challenges, issues and scandals, as indeed hon. Members from across the House have pointed out. As the shadow Minister said, some—if not many—of those are of its own making. Where the highest standards have not been met, that is unacceptable.”
“Friend the Member for Walsall and Bloxwich (Valerie Vaz) and my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich (Sarah Coombes). The BBC provides vital educational content for all ages, and of course it is where millions of us turn for high-quality entertainment. “The Celebrity Traitors” final had over 11 million people tuning in live and sharing in that moment together—a point that the Liberal Democrats, I thought, made very well. It is no wonder that the BBC remains the most used media provider in the UK, with an average of 94% of adults using its services each month. The BBC is one of the UK’s greatest cultural exports, recognised across the globe and standing strong as the “light on the hill”, as the Secretary of State would say: a shining beacon in times of darkness and a trusted voice amid all the noise.”
“First, I would like to begin by saying that for over 100 years the BBC has been at the very heart of our national life and our successful media ecosystem. It tells us the story of who we are—our people, our places and the communities that make up life across the UK. Throughout its long history, the BBC has been guided by the Reithian principles of informing, educating and entertaining. It is one of the most trusted news providers, both at home and abroad, at a time when the need for trusted news and high-quality programming is so essential to our democratic and cultural life and to our place in the world—a point made by the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for the BBC, my hon. Friend the Member for East Worthing and Shoreham (Tom Rutland), as well as by my right hon.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I am pleased to respond to this debate on behalf of the Media Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh South (Ian Murray), who is in the main Chamber on other business. I congratulate the right hon. Member for Maldon (Sir John Whittingdale) on securing this important debate; as he said, we have previously debated this and many other media issues many times. I am really grateful to him for bringing forward this debate and for the huge expertise he brings to it, and to all hon. Members of all parties from across the House for attending. Today’s attendance shows just how important this topic is. I will respond to some of the specific points raised in a moment.”
“I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. As I said at the opening of my remarks, we expect the BBC to maintain the absolute highest editorial standards and where it has fallen short, we have urged them to take action. I will take that point away for the Media Minister. I thank so many Members for attending this debate. I think it reflects how important this issue and the future of our national broadcaster is.”
“Kate Lee, the chief executive officer of NCVO, will chair the council, and an expression of interest process, which opens this week, will identify members from across the diversity of civil society. I again thank the hon. Member for Gosport, the Chair of the Select Committee, for securing this important debate and giving us all the opportunity to raise the profile of this important subject. I want to continue to further Government support for membership-based charities, whether that is direct or indirect financial assistance, improving the philanthropic environment, or bringing in charities to work more closely in partnership with the Government. I have heard the serious points she made, and I am happy to follow up with her after the debate.”
“All that work is underpinned by the civil society covenant, which represents a fundamental shift in how the Government work with the sector. It is a recognition of the value that civil society brings, and a commitment to work in partnership to deliver better for citizens and communities. I was pleased to meet a number of civil society organisations at London City Hall a few weeks ago to discuss how the civil society covenant can help the Government to connect across the whole sector. I am delighted that No. 10 this week announced plans for the civil society council, which will work in partnership with Government at the highest level to drive and oversee implementation of the covenant.”
“DCMS will be working closely with the office to build capacity and capability, driving cross-Government strategy at all levels of government to make every pound of public funding go further. As well as providing funding to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, the Government have committed to reducing administrative burdens on businesses, including charities, by 25% by the end of this Parliament. That is why in October I set out a series of changes that we will make next year to the financial thresholds for charities. Updating the financial thresholds will save charities an average of £47 million each year, while ensuring that the regulation of the sector remains proportionate and effective.”
“That is why earlier this year I outlined how the Government will better connect, unlock and partner with philanthropists. As part of this work, the Secretary of State has committed to the development of a place-based philanthropy strategy. It will set out how the Government can create an environment that encourages philanthropists to support local communities and ensure that the benefits of philanthropy are felt nationwide. We are going even further to promote investment in civil society. The recently launched Office for the Impact Economy provides a front door for investors and purpose-driven business to partner with Government to extend their social impact across the nation.”
“Since April 2025, theatres, orchestras, museums and galleries have benefited from higher tax relief rates of 40% for non-touring productions, and 45% for orchestral and touring productions. Finally, museums and galleries exhibition tax relief was also made permanent. Charitable giving is one of the most commendable characteristics of British society, and the Government recognise the importance of fundraising to the charity sector. It would be remiss of me not to highlight the remarkable work being done across the impact economy sector and the vast potential for increasing funds for civil society. Charitable giving and philanthropic investment build on the British spirit of generosity. A remarkable £15 billion was donated to charities last year. I have often heard that more can be done to grow philanthropic investment.”
“The long-running gift aid scheme paid out more than £1.7 billion during that timeframe alone, benefiting more than 67,000 organisations. Charities also benefit from a range of VAT reliefs, estimated to be worth more than £1 billion annually. The Government are committed to removing tax barriers where possible. The Chancellor announced in the Budget that we are introducing a new VAT relief for business donations of goods to charities for onward distribution or use in their services. The new relief will boost the supply of essential items to charities, enabling them to reach the people and communities who need them most. Cultural organisations, many of which are charities, also benefit from tax reliefs, which help to ensure that they can share their world-class productions, performances and arts with more people across the country.”
“It can provide support for organisations in need of urgent financial support and infrastructure work. In June, the DCMS published the Government’s first ever dormant assets strategy, setting out our ambitions for boosting participation, ensuring its continued good governance and illustrating how the next £440 million of funding will be distributed. In July, the Chancellor announced £500 million for the better futures fund—the largest outcome fund of its kind in the world—to support 200,000 struggling children, young people and their families through innovative impact funding projects. Alongside direct funding, the Government continue to support charities via tax reliefs and exemptions. Charities and their donors received about £6.7 billion in tax reliefs in the 2024-25 tax year.”
“I have seen that at first hand in my own constituency, where I am a patron of BIADS—Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support—which is a charity supporting people across the area. I recently met its representatives, alongside my constituency neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley North (Dan Jarvis)—the Minister for Security—to discuss its challenging circumstances. It is one of a number of brilliant Barnsley charities that support local people; its challenges are reflected across the borough. The Government are committed to supporting the sector in a number of ways, including direct funding to aid its vital work. That includes the £270 million arts everywhere fund, which delivers on the Government’s “Plan for Change” to support growth and increase opportunities.”
“That means that more than half of employers—including charities—with NICs liabilities will either gain or see no change this year, and eligible employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the national living wage and pay no employer NICs. In addition, we expanded eligibility for the employment allowance by removing the £100,000 eligibility threshold, to simplify and reform employer NICs so that all eligible employers now benefit, and all charities are eligible for the EA, even if they are wholly or mainly carrying out functions of a public nature. I will now move on to some of the broader support that the Government are giving. I know that in recent years charities have faced significant challenges, including a difficult funding situation.”
“As part of last year’s Budget, the Government took a number of difficult decisions on tax, welfare and spending, to fix the public finances, fund public services and restore economic stability. In her open letter to the voluntary sector on the issue, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that raising the rate of employer national insurance contributions for charities was one of the most difficult decisions that she had to take in that Budget. The Government recognise the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why we more than doubled the employment allowance, taking it from £5,000 to £10,500.”
“On a related note, I hope that the charity sector will be reassured by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs’ guidance, which has been changed to set out its interim position, so that charities can continue to claim gift aid on eligible membership subscriptions. The Government’s intention remains that eligible charities can continue to claim gift aid on the same basis as now. I acknowledge the concerns that Members have raised about the impact of national insurance contribution increases on charities. I have met representatives from the sector to discuss the NICs changes on more than one occasion, and of course we debated the issue in this Chamber in January.”
“Member for Gosport to discuss this issue further. She will understand that this is not my policy area, but I have relayed the concerns to the DBT. I am confident that we will be able to find an acceptable solution, because the DBT will shortly publish the Government response to the consultation on subscription regulations, and we are committed to continuing close engagement with charities. Although I acknowledge that it is not my Department, I want to specifically address the point about the response to the letter, and a date for the roundtable, that she references. I will endeavour to get both those issues dealt with as soon as possible, to get her a date and a response. There is also the offer of a meeting with me and the relevant Minister.”
“Earlier this year, the Department for Business and Trade consulted on the secondary legislation that would be required and has since been engaging regularly with the sector to understand its concerns better and make sure its voices are heard. I am very grateful to the charitable sector for its engagement so far with the Department for Business and Trade on those proposals. I reassure hon. Members and charities that the Government continue to carefully consider these issues, particularly the cooling-off period and the additional administrative costs. It is important to say that I did meet and speak to the relevant Minister, the Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, my hon. Friend the Member for Halifax (Kate Dearden), and I would be very happy—she would be as well—to meet the hon.”
“Each has reminded me of the vital and inspiring work that charities do each day. I will address the main concerns that the hon. Lady has rightly and understandably raised, and then talk about some of the broader support that the Government are offering the sector. I recognise, and I am very sympathetic to, the concerns raised by the hon. Lady about the implications of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act for charities with membership schemes. Just two weeks ago, I spoke to some of our national museums about that very issue. I know that funds raised from membership schemes are a vital source of income for membership-based charities.”
“The UK has many notable membership charities, including our great national museums and galleries, such as the V&A and the Tate, the caretakers of our heritage, including the National Trust and English Heritage, and our celebrated arts organisations, from the National Theatre to the English National Opera. The hon. Lady gave so many powerful examples, as did other Members. She rightly highlighted the huge number of people across the country who are supporters and members of these organisations. The Government highly value the work that the sector does and the social value it delivers. It is an incredible force for public good. Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to visit and meet with many charities, including the Samaritans, Citizens Advice, London Plus and the NCVO, to name just a few.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Twigg, and I am glad to respond to this debate. I begin by congratulating the hon. Member for Gosport (Dame Caroline Dinenage) on securing this important debate. The hon. Lady’s support for membership-based charities is evident from her speech and through her work as the Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. Of course, it is always a pleasure to hear from the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon). I thank him for his kind words. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who work, volunteer and donate to charities across the country.”
“I will begin my response to the debate by addressing some of the specific points put to me; I will address others as I progress. My hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield is right to point out that this year 2.5 million people played the game. It is incredibly important to communities up and down the country. I know that from my own constituency.”
“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I am pleased to respond to this debate, and I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) on securing it. I applaud his work chairing the all-party parliamentary group for cricket. He is an incredibly important champion for the sport. This nation has a rich and proud cricket history, and I am not going to pass judgment on how the Ashes are going—I will leave that to other Members—but I share the optimism of the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East (Joe Robertson), for a comeback. In mentioning the Ashes, it is important to say that I know that the thoughts of the whole House are with the victims, families and everyone affected by the abhorrent Bondi Beach terrorist attack. Both teams will be wearing black armbands this evening.”
“The tournament provides a great opportunity to showcase our world-class cricket venues, while making sure that women and girls have opportunities to see elite female cricketers compete at the highest level. I encourage everyone taking part in today’s debate to get behind the tournament and lend their support—I know from the quality of the debate and from hon. Members’ enthusiasm that they will all do just that. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield for securing this debate and all other hon. Members for taking part with such passion and insight. I hope my hon. Friend takes from my response that the Government are committed to supporting grassroots cricket and ensuring that it continues to flourish across our country.”
“As the Minister for Sport, I want to ensure that communities have the sports facilities and playing fields that they need. The Government are currently consulting on proposed changes to Sport England’s statutory consultee role in the planning regime and the national planning policy framework. I encourage anyone interested to feed into those processes. My hon. Friend acknowledged that that is a MHCLG lead. I have of course spoken to the Minister responsible directly, and this is something I also spoke about when I appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee. The Government are very much looking forward to England and Wales hosting the Women’s T20 world cup in 2026.”
“This funding will support more women and girls to take part in the sport they love, particularly by ensuring that funded sites across the UK provide priority slots for women and girls. This is vital investment that will improve sports facilities, including cricket facilities, across England and Wales. Part of the work will involve assessing sports facilities in communities—for example, sports facilities that may be made available for wider use, a point raised by a number of Members. Members have also raised the issue of planning. My hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield mentioned the importance of protecting cricket grounds in planning reforms. I completely agree. Improving the planning system should not be done at the expense of playing fields.”
“I was lucky enough to visit Luton women and girls cricket club earlier this year with the local Member of Parliament, my hon. Friend the Member for Luton North (Sarah Owen), and to hear at first hand how this investment will benefit local clubs. It was really inspiring to speak to the young girls involved in the club. We are proud that this investment is in addition to the funding that Sport England provides the ECB to support grassroots participation. In June, we announced that a further £400 million will be invested in new and upgraded grassroots sports facilities, which will remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, including women and girls.”
“Earlier this year, I saw some of the great work that the Chance to Shine project does to provide opportunities for under-represented children to play, learn and develop through cricket at its 20-year impact report event in Parliament. I was delighted to see that work in action when I visited the Chance to Shine project in my constituency in Worsbrough in Barnsley last year. This Government are committed to supporting such initiatives, which not only break down barriers to participation but allow everyone to get involved in the sport they love. I am particularly proud of the Government’s recent commitment to invest £1.5 million of capital funding for two new state-of-the-art cricket domes, one at Farington cricket club in Preston and the other in Luton.”
“I witnessed that during my visit to a women’s and girls’ cricket festival at Sheffield Collegiate cricket club, which brought together four local grassroots clubs. The club is a prime example of how cricket clubs provide important community hubs for a diverse range of people. Cricket clubs also provide opportunities for young players, like Joe Root, to progress to the elite level. The Government provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests more than £250 million of Exchequer and lottery funding. That includes long-term investment in the ECB, which receives up to £13.4 million over seven years to invest in grassroots cricket initiatives in local communities and get people involved in cricket.”
“I am really aware of its value as Sport Minister, and all the club volunteers I have met over the last 18 months have really brought that to life for me. The social value generated by sport and physical activity is calculated to be £123 billion a year, and we are committed to breaking down barriers to ensure that everyone has access to, and benefits from, quality sport and opportunities for physical activity. Cricket clubs make a huge contribution to their communities, and I know that week in, week out, local people come together to support their clubs, their children’s teams and young players. They engage people from all backgrounds and foster an inclusive environment, as Members from across the House have outlined.”
“ECB figures show that 2024 was a record-breaking summer for all recreational cricket, with over 190,000 games played across England and Wales, which is up 12,500 on the previous best. I am sure all Members will join me in hoping that that upward trend continues in the figures for 2025 and the years to come. As participation in the sport continues to grow, it is important that we recognise grassroots clubs and the positive contributions they make in their local communities. The Government recognise that grassroots sports clubs, including cricket clubs, are the beating heart of communities up and down the country. My hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Andy MacNae) asked me to reflect on the value of sport.”
“I have been delighted to see growth in women’s cricket, particularly over recent years. The England women’s team has inspired thousands of women and girls to pick up a cricket bat, and I applaud the team for its work to champion the game and for acting as role models for fans across the country. I am thrilled that England and Wales will be hosting the T20 women’s world cup next year. I look forward to watching some great cricket, but it will also be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the sport to new audiences. The ECB’s investment in community cricket is supporting the growth in participation. I have had the pleasure of visiting a number of ECB’s cricket projects across the country, and I can attest to how that work, coupled with the exceptional and tireless support of volunteers, is helping people to discover a love for the sport.”