The Government is aware of the risk created by supply chain cyber security incidents and is taking a range of steps to strengthen cyber resilience across government’s supply chains. These include embedding cyber security considerations into commercial and procurement activity, promoting the adoption of recognised cyber security standards, and working across government to identify and manage supply chain cyber risks.

In addition, the Government is engaging directly with its Strategic Suppliers through the Government Cyber Charter. As part of this work, all 39 Strategic Suppliers have been invited to sign the Government Cyber Resilience Pledge, which was launched last week as a public commitment to strengthening organisational cyber resilience. More than 20 Strategic Suppliers have already joined the first cohort of signatories, including major suppliers to government such as Microsoft, Accenture, Deloitte, Vodafone and Capgemini. Through the Charter, Government is working with Strategic Suppliers to strengthen cyber governance, increase the adoption of the National Cyber Security Centre’s Cyber Essentials scheme throughout supply chains, and improve secure software development and AI practices.

The Government Cyber Action Plan, published in January 2026, sets out how Government will improve incident reporting over the next 3 years.

Ofcom, the independent regulator, is responsible for regulating the UK’s wholesale telecoms market. As part of this, it has powers to impose pricing remedies on Openreach to promote competition and protect consumers. The Government’s Statement of Strategic Priorities for Telecommunications steers Ofcom to closely monitor Openreach’s commercial terms and pricing to ensure fair competition, whilst supporting investment, economic growth and the roll out of high-quality digital infrastructure. My department engages with Ofcom regularly on matters related to this market.

On 1 June 2026, Openreach notified Ofcom of its proposed wholesale offers. This was in accordance with Ofcom’s requirement for Openreach to provide at least 120 days’ notice of wholesale discounts. To inform its assessment of the offers, Ofcom has published a Call for Inputs to determine whether the discounts raise any competition concerns and is expected to reach a decision after the summer.

Ofcom, the independent regulator, is responsible for regulating the UK’s wholesale telecoms market. As part of this, it has powers to impose pricing remedies on Openreach to promote competition and protect consumers. The Government’s Statement of Strategic Priorities for Telecommunications steers Ofcom to closely monitor Openreach’s commercial terms and pricing to ensure fair competition, whilst supporting investment, economic growth and the roll out of high-quality digital infrastructure. My department engages with Ofcom regularly on matters related to this market.

On 1 June 2026, Openreach notified Ofcom of its proposed wholesale offers. This was in accordance with Ofcom’s requirement for Openreach to provide at least 120 days’ notice of wholesale discounts. To inform its assessment of the offers, Ofcom has published a Call for Inputs to determine whether the discounts raise any competition concerns and is expected to reach a decision after the summer.

The accessibility monitoring team in the Government Digital Service (GDS) has found that for central government websites that operate independently of GOV.UK - including those run by the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments - 61% met accessibility requirements at time of assessment. The GOV.UK website is regularly tested for accessibility and central government organisations are expected to use GOV.UK for their publishing.

In May 2026, GDS issued a survey to 10 central government departments to better understand barriers to compliance with government’s accessibility requirements. The survey has since closed and GDS is currently considering the responses.

The government will provide a package of support for parents and carers to support children in navigating the online world safely. This includes an expanded media literacy campaign and Kids Online Safety Hub, providing advice, practical tools and support to help parents and carers support their children in navigating the online world safely and confidently.

The government will also restrict risky features, including contact with strangers, across a wider range of services - banning them for under-16s and making them off by default for 16 and 17-year-olds. The government also announced that we will make it impossible for children to take, share or view naked pictures on their devices.

Finally, we have announced mandatory breaks for under-18s using chatbots, alongside committing to stronger action to address dangerous, misleading or unverified mental health advice.

The Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) is a statutory obligation that applies across the public sector. As a procedural duty to have "due regard" to equality considerations, compliance is an on-going responsibility rather than a one-off task. It is integrated into the day-to-day development and delivery of all policies and services; as such, it is a core responsibility of all civil servants across government, rather than being restricted to dedicated personnel. Because it is a continuous, procedural duty applicable to all civil servants, it is impossible to disaggregate the specific fraction of time or cost dedicated solely to Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) compliance versus general policy and operational work. Attempting to calculate an FTE or cost figure would incur disproportionate cost and still be highly inaccurate. Sponsored Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) are independent public authorities directly responsible for their own compliance. Information regarding ALBs’ internal resource allocation is not held by DCMS.

DCMS received 398 Expression of Interests representing over 400 places from across the UK. I am delighted that so many towns wanted to celebrate their contribution to our national story and to use culture and creativity to tell their story and why they are proud of their community.

A breakdown by nation of the UK, English region and local authority area is set out below. Please note that the listed local authorities may not be the principal bidding partners; this list illustrates the geographical distribution of Expressions of Interest across local authority areas.

Annex a - Town of Culture EOI by nation of the UK and region of England

Annex b - Town of Culture EOI by Local Authority Area

The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Government guidance published by MHCLG sets out that the provision of planning permission related to flag-flying is a matter for the relevant local authority.

As such, the Member should direct this question to Westminster City Council and the National Gallery.

This government recognises the importance of our treasured museums, libraries and leisure centres in providing free and low-cost activities for families during the school holidays.

This government is providing billions over this Spending Review period to support our celebrated cultural institutions, such as National Museums or to Libraries via the Libraries Improvement Fund, to ensure cultural activity is accessible to all.

This builds on the existing VAT refund scheme (VAT 33a) available to museums and galleries that offer free admission, and a VAT cultural exemption scheme for eligible bodies that removes the VAT from ticket sales.

DCMS has also committed £400 million to transform sports and leisure facilities over the next four years to promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion for all.

The government has been clear that it will not look to make additional deregulatory changes to the adult gaming sector until further improvements are made on customer protections. Government officials meet regularly with the Gambling Commission and representatives from the sector and will continue to support operators with making progress in this area.

The government has been clear that it will not look to make additional deregulatory changes to the adult gaming sector until further improvements are made on customer protections. Government officials meet regularly with the Gambling Commission and representatives from the sector and will continue to support operators with making progress in this area.

The government has been clear that it will not look to make additional deregulatory changes to the adult gaming sector until further improvements are made on customer protections. Government officials meet regularly with the Gambling Commission and representatives from the sector and will continue to support operators with making progress in this area.

The government has been clear that it will not look to make additional deregulatory changes to the adult gaming sector until further improvements are made on customer protections. Government officials meet regularly with the Gambling Commission and representatives from the sector and will continue to support operators with making progress in this area.

The National Gallery report that the total budgeted cost for their Citizens Assembly is expected to be £250,000 over five years from 2025 to 2029. As part of this, the National Gallery contracted the Sortition Foundation to recruit a panel reflective of the UK population.

Gambling Commission staff are neither civil nor crown servants. They are public servants who act on behalf of the Crown to regulate the commercial gambling industry.

The timetable for appointing a permanent Chief Executive to the Gambling Commission is a matter for the Gambling Commission’s Board. Any appointment will be subject to the Secretary of State agreeing terms and conditions.

The Government recognises the significant contribution that racing makes to British sporting culture and its importance to the British economy. Horseracing is the only sport in receipt of a direct government-mandated levy which helps to drive improvements in the sport.

On 7 July the Gambling Commission announced that its Board has decided to implement Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs) in a careful, phased way. The Government has been supportive of the policy intent behind these assessments, and welcomes their decision to do this in a careful phased way.

The vast majority of consumers will not face any change to their customer experience. A consumer who undergoes an FRA as a result of a net deposit of £1000 or more in a 24 hour period will not automatically be subject to operator action, such as account restrictions. It will instead be for the operator to determine whether or not action is needed, based on both FRA data and the data they already have on the consumer. It is therefore right that the Commission is taking a phased approach to implementation, to ensure that operators are given as clear guidance as possible on options for responding to an FRA.

We recognise the horseracing sector has concerns about FRAs. Both the Minister for Gambling and the Gambling Commission have met the British Horseracing Authority and wider racing stakeholders to discuss these concerns. We would now encourage the sector to engage constructively with the Commission during the upcoming implementation phase.

There is no consolidated list of the number of Non-Legally Binding Instruments across the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and its arm’s length bodies. We do not routinely publish or collate this information.

The Department's communications team comprises 53.7 FTE, all of whom are members of the Government Communication Service. The Department has no embedded communications staff.