Tag: Department for Culture and Media

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 27 November 2024.

• Government to bring forward statutory levy as first step to strengthening harmful gambling protections
• Mandated levy to generate £100 million for the research, prevention and treatment of gambling harms, with half of funding to directly benefit NHS-led gambling treatment system
• Government also confirms online slot stake limits of £5 for over 25s and £2 for young adults aged 18 to 24

The government has taken its first steps towards strengthening gambling harm legislation today, confirming plans to implement a statutory levy on gambling profits and online slot stake limits to help tackle the issue of gambling addiction.

Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross has outlined how a levy on gambling operators will be designed and implemented as the government moves forward on its manifesto commitment to reduce gambling harm.

The landmark levy will be charged to all licensed operators and will guarantee increased, ringfenced and consistent funding to prevent and tackle gambling harm.

Under the current voluntary system not all gambling companies contribute equally, with some operators paying as little as £1 a year towards research, prevention and treatment. The new mandatory levy will ensure all operators contribute a fair share.

The Gambling Minister has also confirmed that the government will introduce stake limits for online slots, a higher-risk gambling product associated with large losses, long sessions, and binge play.

Stake limits will be set at £5 per spin for adults aged 25 and over and £2 per spin for 18-24 year olds. Evidence from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the Gambling Survey for Great Britain shows young adults can be particularly vulnerable to gambling related harm with under 25s having one of the highest proportion of respondents scoring 8 or more on the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) of any age group.

Minister for Gambling, Baroness Twycross said:

Gambling harm can ruin people’s finances, relationships, and ultimately lives. We are absolutely committed to implementing strengthened measures for those at risk, as well as providing effective support for those affected.

The introduction of the first legally mandated levy will be instrumental in supporting research, raising awareness and reducing the stigma around gambling-related harm.

We are also helping to protect those at risk, with a particular focus on young adults, by introducing stake limits for online slots.

These measures will help build an NHS fit for our future and strengthen protections whilst also allowing people to continue to gamble safely.

From October 2023 to January 2024, the government sought views from clinicians, academics, the industry and the wider public on how the levy should be designed and implemented.

In its response to this consultation, the government has confirmed 50% of all funding generated will be directed to NHS England and appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales to develop a comprehensive support and treatment system. This will include referrals and triage, through to recovery and aftercare.

Prevention is a crucial part of the government’s efforts to tackle gambling harm. 30% of levy funding will go towards investment in this area, which could include measures such as national public health campaigns and training for frontline staff. The government is taking the time to get the important decision on the future of prevention right and will publish next steps in the coming months.

The remaining 20% of funding will be directed to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the Gambling Commission to develop bespoke Research Programmes on Gambling, undertaking vital research to inform future policy and regulation.

Claire Murdoch, NHS national director for mental health, said:

Problem gambling can completely ruin lives and the issue has skyrocketed, with NHS services treating record numbers and our latest data showing a staggering 129% increase in service referrals compared with the same period last year.

I am delighted to welcome this commitment to a mandatory gambling levy which the NHS, bereaved families and the voluntary sector have been calling for so we can treat this growing problem – and we will continue to work with government to do all we can to protect problem gamblers from this billion-pound industry.

Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, National Clinical Advisor on Gambling Harms at NHS England, said:

Gambling harms have a devastating effect on people’s lives. We know that 2.5% of the population are gambling in a severe and harmful way but many more are affected, whether family members or gamblers already experiencing negative consequences but below the clinical threshold.

We recognise the need for more action, which is why I am thrilled to support the Government’s new levy, which will help us address the negative impact of gambling harms on communities using treatment, prevention and research through an independent evidence-based strategy at last.

Funding from the levy will be distributed to the NHS and UKRI, the umbrella body for research councils, by the Gambling Commission under the strategic direction of the government. The gambling industry will have no say over how money for research, prevention and treatment is spent.

The levy will be charged to all licensed gambling activity at varying levels depending on the sector and nature of the gambling activity to ensure impacts are proportionate. Rates take into account the difference in operating costs and the levels of harmful gambling associated with different gambling activities.

Minister for Health Andrew Gwynne said:

Tackling gambling harm is a crucial part of our commitment to support people to live longer, healthier lives.

This levy will provide an important funding boost for the NHS, whilst also enabling independent research and more effective prevention initiatives.

By making NHS England responsible for all treatment and support services for those experiencing gambling-related harms in England, we will ensure people are getting the most effective care possible.

Technological developments in recent years have paved the way for a dramatic shift in the ways people gamble. Gambling has moved away from betting shops and casinos to people being able to play anywhere, anytime, on their phones, leading to a significant increase in online gambling behaviour.

The levy and online slot stake limits announced today complements a raft of major changes the government and the Gambling Commission is delivering to make gambling safer in an age of technological advances. This includes including financial risk checks to better alert operators to risky behaviours and tighter controls on marketing.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 14 November 2024.

Creative Industries Minister calls on live music industry to introduce voluntary ticket levy on stadiums and arenas to protect grassroots music sector, including venues, festivals, artists and promoters.

• Creative Industries Minister calls on industry to introduce levy on stadium and arena tickets
• Levy would help ensure sustainability and future success of grassroots music sector, including venues, festivals, artists and promoters

The UK’s live music industry has today been urged by the government to join forces to help safeguard the future of the grassroots music sector.

In the government’s response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report on grassroots music venues, Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant has called on the live music industry to work together to introduce a voluntary levy on all stadium and arena tickets to help support grassroots venues, festivals, artists and promoters – in agreement with the Committee’s recommendation.

Ministers now expect the sector to take forward proposals for a voluntary levy.

The grassroots music sector is the backbone of the UK’s £6.7 billion music industry, with many of Britain’s best-selling artists, including Ed Sheeran, Adele, Coldplay and Stormzy, starting their careers in grassroots venues. The sector offers emerging artists opportunities to hone their craft, employs more than 28,000 people including stage managers, security and sound and lighting engineers, and supports local economies across the country.

However, in recent years grassroots venues have faced considerable challenges such as the pandemic and inflation, leading to a high number of closures and job losses.

Creative Industries Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

Grassroots music venues are one of the UK’s most valuable and yet undervalued cultural assets. They are where bands try out new material, where whole new genres are born, where musicians experiment and where audiences get to experience the raw power of live music.

These venues support thousands of jobs and are a vital part of our local communities. Without a flourishing grassroots music industry the rest of our music industry will wither.

It is crucial that we work together to support the grassroots including venues, festivals, artists and promoters. That is why I am urging the industry voluntarily to introduce a ticket levy on the biggest commercial players, to help ensure the health and future success of our entire live music industry for decades to come.

While valuable steps have already been taken by artists such as Coldplay and Sam Fender, who are donating a portion of their upcoming tour revenues to support the grassroots sector, and by industry body LIVE which is establishing a charitable trust to distribute proceeds of a voluntary levy, there is still more to do.

It is the government’s view that an industry-led levy within the price of a ticket would be the quickest and most effective way for a small portion of revenues from the biggest shows to be invested in a sustainable grassroots sector. This would help fans to access local music venues, provide even more performance opportunities for emerging talent and benefit the live music industry as a whole.

Ministers have made clear that they want to see a voluntary levy come into effect as soon as possible for concerts in 2025, with clear communication to fans on the purpose of the levy and the benefits it will bring to the grassroots sector.

The government will consider the implementation and effectiveness of a voluntary levy before determining whether further action is needed.

Mark Davyd, CEO and founder, Music Venue Trust, said:

Music Venue Trust warmly welcomes this positive response from the government. We strongly support their stance on the necessity and desirability of a grassroots contribution and believe this response sets out a clear and achievable path for the live music industry to swiftly adopt such a contribution.

We look forward to working with both industry and government to make this financial contribution a reality as soon as possible. Industry-led investment will enable fans across the country to keep accessing the live music that they love whilst also ensuring the talent pipeline to the arena and stadium level is secure and growing. It is the perfect example of a win-win solution for all parties.

The CMS Select Committee report identified significant additional opportunities to return our grassroots live music sector to growth, create jobs, spread opportunity, and deliver thousands of additional events that bind our communities together. We will continue to work with the government to comprehensively address all the report’s recommendations and deliver a sustainable and bright future for the UK’s grassroots venues, artists and promoters.

Jon Collins, chief executive, LIVE, said:

We are glad government has entrusted our sector to play our part in addressing the crisis in grassroots music. Driving forward an industry-led solution to the challenges currently being experienced by venues, artists, festivals and promoters remains our number one priority. Alongside government’s work to deliver an improved trading environment, we are accelerating our work on the development of the LIVE Trust and associated funding to help distribute money to the places it’s needed most.

Together with government, we will continue our work to help safeguard the future of grassroots music, and ensure our sector remains world-leading, brings joy to millions, and delivers economic growth in towns and cities across the UK. We will regularly update on our progress of the LIVE Trust.

The government’s response follows funding announced for the Creative Industries at the Autumn Budget, which DCMS has confirmed will include help to continue the Supporting Grassroots Music Fund.

The Fund, delivered by Arts Council England, enables grassroots music venues, recording studios, promoters and festivals to apply for grants of up to £40,000 to help them develop new revenue streams, make repairs and improvements, hire staff and enhance the experience of millions of gig-goers across the UK.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• The full Government response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report on grassroots music venues can be found here.
• The Government intends to create a fairer business rates system that protects high streets, supports investment and is fit for the 21st century. It was announced at the Autumn Budget that business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, including grassroots music venues, will be extended for one year at 40% up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business.
• A Discussion Paper has been published, setting out priority areas for reform and inviting stakeholders to a conversation about transforming the business rates system.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 13 November 2024.

The Secretary of State has reappointed Venki Ramakrishnan as Board Member for the British Library for a 4 year term from 15 June 2024 to 14 June 2028.

Venki Ramakrishnan

Appointed for a 4 year term commencing 15 June 2024 to 14 June 2028.

Venki is a scientist at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge. He is best known for his work on how the ribosome, a large molecular complex, translates genetic information to synthesize the thousands of proteins required for life, and how this process is regulated. For his work, he shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Venki was the President of the Royal Society from 2015-2020.

He is the author of two books: Why We Die: The New Science of Aging and the Quest for Immortality (2024), and Gene Machine (2018), a memoir about the race for the structure of the ribosome.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the British Library are remunerated £9,130 per annum. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Venki Ramakrishnan has not declared any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 7 October 2024.

Phillipp Hildebrand, Dame Vivian Hunt, George Weston and Dame Sarah Worthington have been reappointed as Trustees of The British Museum.

Philip Hildebrand

Appointed for a four year term commencing 30 November 2023 to 29 July 2027.

Philipp Hildebrand is Vice Chairman of BlackRock, a member of the firm’s Global Executive Committee and also oversees the BlackRock Investment Institute.

He previously served as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank. In that capacity, he was also a Director of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the Swiss Governor of the International Monetary Fund and a member of the Financial Stability Board (FSB).

Philipp is Chair of the Zurcher Kunstgesellschaft, a member of the Group of Thirty and an Honorary Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.

Dame Vivian Hunt

Appointed for a four year term commencing 24 July 2023 to 23 March 2027.

Dame Vivian Hunt is the Chief Innovation Officer at UnitedHealth Group. which is listed 5th in the Fortune 500. With over 400,000 employees and revenues of $370 billion, UHG is committed to improving healthcare for everyone.

Before joining UnitedHealth Group, Dame Vivian served as a Senior Partner for McKinsey & Company, UK and Ireland, where she provided strategic advice to leading firms in the private, public and third sectors.

Vivian is on the board of several influential business groups, charitable and education bodies including as Chair of Teach First and Chair of the Black Equity Organisation

George Weston

Appointed for a four year term commencing 24 July 2023 to 23 March 2027

George has been the CEO of Associated British Foods (ABF) since 2005. After completing an MBA at Harvard, George joined ABF as Managing Director of Westmill Foods Ltd and Director of Cereal Industries Ltd. Following this he became CEO of Allied Bakeries and CEO of George Weston Foods. George is a Trustee of the Garfield Weston Foundation, a family founded grant-maker that supports a wide range of charities across the UK.

Dame Sarah Worthington

Appointed for a four year term commencing 03 February 2024 to 03 February 2028.

Dame Sarah Worthington is a Professor of Law at the London School of Economics (LSE). She is a barrister and Bencher of Middle Temple, and Chair of the LSE Press. She was the Downing Professor Emeritus of the Laws of England at the University of Cambridge for 11 years, from 2011 to 2022.

Sarah has held various earlier governance roles, including Treasurer of the British Academy, member of the Board of Governors of the London Business School, and Pro Director of the LSE and member of its Council. She was previously a Council member of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), a member of the Cambridge University Press Operating Board, and Chair of its Audit Committee.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the British Museum are not remunerated. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. George has declared that he leafleted during the 2017 election for the Conservative Party. Dame Vivian, Dame Sarah and Philipp have made no such declarations.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 4 October 2024.

The Secretary of State has reappointed John Mothersole as the England Committee Chair and Kate Still as the Scotland Committee Chair for a second term of two years commencing on 14 May 2024.

John Mothersole

John Mothersole has held senior local government posts in UK cities including London, most recently as Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council. Since standing down from that post in December 2019 after 11 years, John has taken on a series of non-executive roles which now include Chair of The Sheffield College, trustee of a community care charity and advisory roles with companies involved in regeneration and environment. He was also an assessor for the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry, a role that concluded with the publication of the final report in September 2024. Prior to being selected as Chair of the National Lottery Community Fund England Committee John was a member of that committee.

John has been heavily involved in the policy agenda for UK cities through the Core Cities network, the Northern Powerhouse initiative and with Government in securing city and city region devolution deals and participating in trade missions.His early career was in the arts, primarily in London and the North-East, and he sees a highlight of that part of his career being the reopening of the Roundhouse in London which enabled its subsequent redevelopment.

Kate Still

Kate is currently conducting the Independent Review of Community Learning and Development across Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government. She was a Board member of ERSA for many years, Chair of Employment Support Scotland and a Fellow of the Institute of Employability. Kate started her career as a teacher after completing an MA (Hons) in Politics at Glasgow University.

She has over 25 years of relevant experience in delivery of education, apprenticeships, skills, employability and community enterprise and regeneration programmes across multiple sectors, including 15+ years in the Charity sector. Kate has a passionate desire to make a difference coupled with the drive to achieve impact on issues of poverty, equality and diversity and social justice. Kate has held strategic leadership roles at EU and UK levels including Management of EU aid programmes to Central and Eastern Europe. A former Board Member of Strathclyde European Partnership, she completed her MPhil in European Policy research at Strathclyde University in 2011.Kate has held Director roles previously with the Prince’s Trust, Rathbone and Wise Group.

Remuneration and Governance Code

These positions are remunerated at £24,000 per annum. These appointments have been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. John Mothersole and Kate Still have not declared any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 17 September 2024.

The Secretary of State has reappointed Loyd Grossman CBE from 01 September 2024 to 31 May 2025, while the process to appoint a new permanent Chair of The Royal Parks is run.

Loyd Grossman CBE

Loyd is a broadcaster, entrepreneur and writer who has a long association with the arts and heritage sectors. He is Chair elect of The Royal Society of Arts.

Loyd’s past appointments include as a board member of English Heritage, the Museums and Galleries Commission and the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. He has been Chairman of the Churches Conservation Trust, Chair of the Heritage Alliance, Chairman of National Museums Liverpool and Vice Chair of the Royal Drawing School. He was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to heritage in 2015.

Remuneration and Governance Code

The Chair of The Royal Parks is not remunerated. This reappointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Loyd Grossman has not declared any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 16 September 2024.

The Secretary of State has appointed Anne Lambert, CMG, from 16 September 2024 to 15 June 2025, while the process to appoint a substantive Chair to the Horserace Betting Levy Board is run. This appointment follows the sad death of the Chair, Paul Darling, in August 2024.

Anne Lambert CMG

Anne Lambert CMG has been an independent member of the Horserace Betting Levy Board since 1 April 2020. She is currently also a Board member of the Civil Aviation Authority. She was previously an Inquiry Chair at the Competition and Markets Authority from 2014-2019 and a Board member from 2016-2018. Previously Anne worked for the UK Government for 30 years, focusing on regulation (insurance, telecommunications, competition and aviation) and EU policy/negotiations. She was the UK’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU from 2003-2008.

Remuneration and Governance Code

The Chair of the Horserace Betting Levy Board is remunerated £39,600 per annum. The interim appointment of Anne Lambert was made by the Secretary of State as an exceptional appointment without competition, following consultation with the Commissioner for Public Appointments, in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Anne Lambert has not declared any significant political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 4 September 2024.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a Celtic gold twisted torc.

• The bracelet has been valued at £45,000
• Export bar is to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the torc

A temporary export bar has been placed on a Celtic gold twisted torc bracelet dating back to the Iron Age.

The bracelet is a fine and well-preserved example of a personal ornament particular to Britain in the late first millennium BC known as a ‘torc’.

Personal ornaments, such as this gold torc bracelet are rare finds in Britain and are often closely associated with the identity of ancient Britons prior to the Roman invasion.

The torc was created from two wires twisted and plied together with a single, round, looped terminal at either end. Experts advise that it has been bent to form a bracelet from a larger ring, likely either from an arm ring or a small neck-ring for a child.

The form and style confirms that it originates from Britain, most probably central or eastern England, in contrast to the diverse torc forms that are found across Continental Europe.

Arts Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

“This well preserved item brings our distant past into the present, and an opportunity to understand fashion and metalworking in a period of our history we are still learning so much about.

“I hope placing an export bar on this Celtic torc means a suitable UK buyer can be found so that the public have more opportunities to learn more about the lives of our ancestors.”

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest. The RCEWA Committee found the torc met the third Waverley criterion for its outstanding significance to the study of goldsmithing, personal dress and identity in Britain before the Roman invasions.

Committee member Tim Pestell said:

“Torcs have long been associated with Britain’s Iron Age, an image conjured up ever since Roman historian Cassius Dio described Boudica, queen of the Iceni as ‘wearing around her neck … a large golden necklace’. This plied and twisted gold bracelet takes the form of a simple neck torc created from two wires twisted and plied together with single, round, loops at each terminal. Was this small example originally made to be worn around the neck of a child and later folded into a bracelet? Or was it made as a bracelet in the shape of a torc? Examples of jewellery like this are of utmost rarity and outstanding importance for what they can tell us about the early British society that produced them.

“Made of 97% pure gold and conventionally dated to c.150 – 50 BCE, this bracelet is of a form unique to England. Because the production of Iron Age jewellery like this is still imperfectly understood, its study can yield vital information on the use and availability of gold, goldsmithing techniques and decorative styles during this period. I earnestly hope that a museum might be able to acquire this remarkable bracelet and enable the public to enjoy seeing it and learning the new stories that will be told as a result of its further study.”

The decision on the export licence application for the torc will be deferred for a period ending on 3 November 2024 inclusive. At the end of the first deferral period owners will have a consideration period of 15 Business Days to consider any offer(s) to purchase the torc at the recommended price of £45,000 (Plus VAT). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.

Notes to editors

1. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the Bracelet should contact the RCEWA 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk .
2. Details of the Bracelet are as follows: Plied and twisted gold bracelet. The form is that of a simple twisted torc created from two wires twisted and plied together with a single, round, looped terminal at either end. This is a fine and well-preserved example of a personal ornament particular to Britain in the late first millennium BC during a period conventionally described as the Iron Age. Gold alloy. Composition listed in the application is 97% gold. 72mm. Weight: 157.5g. Length along bracelet from end of one terminal to the other: 287mm.
3. Provenance: London art market. Antiquities; Christie’s, London, 7 December 1994, lot 172. Sold at Christie’s, London, 5 July 2023, lot 55.
4. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by the Arts Council (ACE), which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.