As set out in section 507B of the Education Act 1996, local authorities have a statutory duty to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient educational and recreational activities for young people.

On the 10th December, the Government published ‘Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’ alongside a State of the Nation report. It is backed by over £500 million of funding over the next few years from DCMS for things to do outside of school, support when and where young people need it, more safe spaces and access to trusted adults. This includes investing in selected local areas to develop high-quality youth offers and local leadership through our Local Youth Transformation Programme. Learnings will be shared across the youth and local government sectors to establish national best practices.

We have also worked to ensure that metrics covering youth services are included within the Local Outcomes Framework under the priority outcome very Child Achieving and Thriving’ to increase consistency and quality of youth service delivery across local areas.

The table below sets out the number of Core DCMS agency staff employed by DCMS in each of the last five financial years:

The Gambling Commission, as the independent regulator for gambling, has responsibility for making decisions around licensing. The Gambling Commission has not been approached or held any discussion with the Reform Party on crypto gambling.

We are committed to taking action on the illegal gambling market. Since its launch in January this year, the Illegal Gambling Taskforce has worked with payment providers and other relevant stakeholders to consider the best way to tackle the issue of payments relating to illegal gambling.

We plan to report on the progress made by the Illegal Gambling Taskforce once it has completed its first year, and will consider whether to set out membership of the Taskforce at that point.

The Government does not hold data on the economic impact of heritage railways on the UK economy.

DCMS official statistics currently uses the Standard Industry Classification (SIC) code 91.03 Operation of historic sites and similar visitor attractions as a narrow proxy for the heritage sector. In 2024, the SIC code Operation of historic sites and similar visitor attractions contributed an estimated 10,000 jobs with a Gross Value Added estimated at £0.8 billion.

Historic England, Government statutory advisors on the historic environment, estimated England's heritage sector overall contributed £15.3 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy in 2022, with a total estimated employment of 201,000 workers.

The Heritage Railway Association, the largest heritage rail trade body, values the economic contribution of the UK's heritage rail sector at roughly £600 million annually. This sum is generated through tourism, local business spending, and the support of thousands of jobs and volunteers across the country.

Our records show that in the period between July 2024 and January 2025, DCMS Ministers held four MP surgeries.

In the period between January 2025 and 17 July 2026, DCMS Ministers held 34 MP surgeries.

Each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service, including locations and buildings, to meet those needs within their available resources.

Core funding for libraries is through the Local Government Finance Settlement. In 2026-27 the government will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26.

Some listed buildings housing libraries may be able to benefit from the Department’s Heritage at Risk Capital Fund, operated by Historic England, which provides grants of up to £1 million to individuals and organisations legally responsible for conserving listed landmarks and has a budget of up to £60 million over the next four years.

The total number of records relating to the Royal Family that have been withheld, or redacted, under section 37 of the Freedom of Information Act can be reported on, with the number of exemptions relating to the Royal Family made under section 37 for each of the years cited being as follows:

2007: 0

2017: 97

2020: 80

2022: 35

2024: 46

However, records transferred in these years would not date from 30 years previously as public records are now due for transfer 20 years after their creation. Under the timetable for transitioning to the 20-year rule between 2013-2022, records dating from 1987-1994 were processed between 2015-2018. Details of exemptions made under section 37 on this basis are as follows:

2007 (1977 records): 0

2015 (1987 records): 33

2016 (1990 records): 58

2017 (1992 records): 97

2018 (1994 records): 84

It should be noted, however, that The National Archives cannot determine how many Royal Family-related records may have been withheld under other exemptions because it is not possible to search the actual content of all records held by The National Archives to identify those that include information relating to a particular subject. This is because searches in The National Archives’ Discovery catalogue are based on the terms used in catalogue descriptions rather than the full content of records. As a result, searching for a broad term such as “Royal Family” will not necessarily identify all relevant records, as many records may instead be catalogued under the name of an individual, institution, title, event, or other descriptive term.

Consequently, TNA officials are unable to provide a comprehensive figure for such records or express them as a proportion of the total number of records relating to the Royal Family.

The governance of rugby union is a matter for the Rugby Football Union (the national governing body for rugby union), which is independent of the Government.

The Government monitors the financial situation of rugby union closely and continues to work with the RFU, representatives of Prem and Champ clubs as well as the Tier Two Board, and the wider sport sector to support the ongoing sustainability of elite and community level rugby union.

I have met with the RFU and Prem Rugby previously to discuss the long-term financial sustainability of professional rugby union, and my officials regularly engage with the RFU and Prem Rugby on this issue.

The UK remains one of Ukraine's leading humanitarian donors, having committed up to £577 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and the wider region since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Through trusted humanitarian partners, UK support helps protect vulnerable people affected by the conflict, promote respect for International Humanitarian Law, and provide lifesaving assistance to those most affected by Russia's continued attacks.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales also published guidance for charities and trustees responding to the crisis in Ukraine in March 2022.

The Government recognises the role rugby community foundations play in promoting physical and mental well-being, raising aspirations, and building stronger, more cohesive communities.

While professional rugby community foundations operate as independent charitable arms of their clubs, we monitor the financial health of rugby union closely and engage regularly with the Rugby Football Union and Premiership clubs to support the ongoing sustainability of elite and grassroots rugby union. Through public bodies such as Sport England, we continue to invest in grassroots and community sport programmes that align with our national priorities on health, education, and community development.

Sport England provides long term investment of £16.9 million to the Rugby Football Football Union between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots rugby union.

Sport England’s Movement Fund also offers grants between £500 - £15,000 to support projects that support getting more people active, which includes rugby community outreach programmes.

The Government recognises the role rugby community foundations play in promoting physical and mental well-being, raising aspirations, and building stronger, more cohesive communities.

While professional rugby community foundations operate as independent charitable arms of their clubs, we monitor the financial health of rugby union closely and engage regularly with the Rugby Football Union and Premiership clubs to support the ongoing sustainability of elite and grassroots rugby union. Through public bodies such as Sport England, we continue to invest in grassroots and community sport programmes that align with our national priorities on health, education, and community development.

Sport England provides long term investment of £16.9 million to the Rugby Football Football Union between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots rugby union.

Sport England’s Movement Fund also offers grants between £500 - £15,000 to support projects that support getting more people active, which includes rugby community outreach programmes.

The Government recognises the role rugby community foundations play in promoting physical and mental well-being, raising aspirations, and building stronger, more cohesive communities.

While professional rugby community foundations operate as independent charitable arms of their clubs, we monitor the financial health of rugby union closely and engage regularly with the Rugby Football Union and Premiership clubs to support the ongoing sustainability of elite and grassroots rugby union. Through public bodies such as Sport England, we continue to invest in grassroots and community sport programmes that align with our national priorities on health, education, and community development.

Sport England provides long term investment of £16.9 million to the Rugby Football Football Union between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots rugby union.

Sport England’s Movement Fund also offers grants between £500 - £15,000 to support projects that support getting more people active, which includes rugby community outreach programmes.

Our arm’s length body, Sport England, is providing long-term investment of £16.9 million to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots rugby participation. The RFU, as the National Governing Body for rugby union, is responsible for decisions on how and where to target that investment into rugby union clubs.

Grassroots participation issues were discussed with the RFU at a recent event to celebrate sport held at Number 10, and the Government continues to engage with key stakeholders such as the RFU to ensure that everyone, regardless of background or where they live, has the opportunity to play sport and get physically active.

Our arm’s length body, Sport England, is providing long-term investment of £16.9 million to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots rugby participation. The RFU, as the National Governing Body for rugby union, is responsible for decisions on how and where to target that investment into rugby union clubs.

Grassroots participation issues were discussed with the RFU at a recent event to celebrate sport held at Number 10, and the Government continues to engage with key stakeholders such as the RFU to ensure that everyone, regardless of background or where they live, has the opportunity to play sport and get physically active.

Our arm’s length body, Sport England, is providing long-term investment of £16.9 million to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) between 2022 and 2029 to support grassroots rugby participation. The RFU, as the National Governing Body for rugby union, is responsible for decisions on how and where to target that investment into rugby union clubs.

Grassroots participation issues were discussed with the RFU at a recent event to celebrate sport held at Number 10, and the Government continues to engage with key stakeholders such as the RFU to ensure that everyone, regardless of background or where they live, has the opportunity to play sport and get physically active.

The National Archives has not transferred any records to the Royal Archives since 2010.

Since 2013, the law has required central government departments to identify records of historical value and transfer them for permanent preservation to The National Archives by the time they are 20 years old.

The Government is committed to ensuring that as many women and girls as possible have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, whose work includes providing more opportunities for children and young people from all backgrounds to be active.

Sport England supports the work of the local Active Partnership which covers Woking, Active ​S​urrey, who champion physical activity with local leaders to develop interventions tailored to communities. Alongside this, Sport England invested £47,286 into sports-related projects in the constituency of Woking in 2024/25.

In addition, Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign has also inspired millions of women and girls across the country to get active. 1.6 million more women are expected to be active as a result of the campaign by 2028.

The Government is committed to ensuring that as many women and girls as possible have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sport through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, whose work includes providing more opportunities for children and young people from all backgrounds to be active.

Sport England supports the work of the local Active Partnership which covers Woking, Active ​S​urrey, who champion physical activity with local leaders to develop interventions tailored to communities. Alongside this, Sport England invested £47,286 into sports-related projects in the constituency of Woking in 2024/25.

In addition, Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign has also inspired millions of women and girls across the country to get active. 1.6 million more women are expected to be active as a result of the campaign by 2028.

The Gambling Commission, as the independent regulator for gambling, has responsibility for making decisions around licensing.

As part of its regulatory approach, the Gambling Commission assesses applicants against the statutory licensing objectives and may take compliance and enforcement action where it identifies evidence of breaches of licence conditions or other regulatory requirements. This includes where operators or gambling software licensees are found to be supplying the illegal gambling market.