Tag: Department for Culture and Media

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 December 2023.

A temporary export bar has been placed on a work by Hans Coper to allow time for a UK gallery or institution to acquire the work for the nation.

• The bottle was gifted to and owned by the renowned sculptor and artist Henry Moore and was displayed at his home until his death
• The bottle is valued at almost £600,000

A mid-20th century stoneware bottle which connects two well-known UK-based artists is at risk of leaving the country unless a domestic buyer can be found.

Created by one of the 20th century’s leading ceramic artists, Hans Coper, this monumental bottle with disc top is valued at £584,200 (plus VAT of £24,840). It was commissioned as a Christmas gift for the celebrated British artist and sculptor Henry Moore. It became a prominent feature in his Hertfordshire home, Hoglands, and was displayed in the large sitting room where he conducted his business and entertained guests throughout his life.

Born in Chemnitz, Germany in 1920, Coper came to England as an émigré and joined the London studio of Austrian potter and fellow émigré Lucie Rie. Coper became known for his abstract sculptural vessel forms, which were considered ahead of their time. Thanks to the success of his work, Coper became a leading figure in the studio pottery movement and was one of Britain’s most influential potters.

This is one of the earliest examples of Coper’s series of monumental bottles, made in the 1960s and early ’70s, and emblematic of the transformative influence of Jewish émigrés on post-war British art.

Arts & Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

This fine piece is not only of exceptional significance to the study of the development of Hans Coper’s work, but also to the understanding of Henry Moore, given he displayed it in his living room at Hoglands – all the more reason to hope that a UK buyer will come forward so that it can stay here to be studied and enjoyed for generations to come.

The Minister’s decision follows the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA).

Committee member Stuart Lochhead said:

Hans Coper was commissioned to create this monumental bottle vase by Harry Fischer, the influential dealer, as a Christmas gift for Henry Moore, Britain’s greatest living sculptor at the time. It subsequently stands at an important intersection between the development of Coper’s career and the angst of the post-war artistic landscape to which both artists responded in their own way. The bottle was displayed in Moore’s sitting room at Hoglands for the rest of his life, where it was seen by a multitude of key figures in the international art world during this period.

These links between the émigrés Fischer and Coper and the celebrated sculptor Moore cannot be underestimated and are a testament to the importance of this bottle vase, which also helps scholars to understand the development of Coper’s art at a crucial moment in his career. Of extraordinary grace and on a striking scale, the export of this work of art would be a misfortune for the nation.

The RCEWA made its recommendation on the basis that the bottle met the first, second, and third Waverley criteria for its outstanding connection with our history and national life, its outstanding aesthetic importance, and its outstanding significance to the study of the work of Hans Coper and the wider interdisciplinary modern British art movement, and the understanding of Henry Moore, through his collecting and display of art and artefacts.

The decision on the export licence application for the bottle will be deferred for a period ending on 10 March 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 bottle at the recommended price of £584,200 (plus VAT of £24,840 which can be reclaimed by an eligible institution. Artist Resale Royalty of £7,791.87 would also be payable). The second deferral period will commence following the signing of an Option Agreement and will last for three months.

Offers from public bodies for less than the recommended price through the private treaty sale arrangements, where appropriate, may also be considered by the Minister. Such purchases frequently offer substantial financial benefit to a public institution wishing to acquire the item.

ENDS

1. Lord Parkinson discussed the Waverley criteria in a speech to mark their 70th anniversary, and used the opportunity to invite thoughts on the way they work – for instance, whether the Committee should say more about how it has considered items’ connection to the history of other countries as well as to the UK’s, or whether the items it considers are destined for public display rather than private collection. His full speech can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/lord-parkinson-speech-at-a-reception-to-mark-70-years-of-the-waverley-criteria
2. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the bottle should contact the RCEWA on 02072680534 or rcewa@artscouncil.org.uk
3. Details of the bottle are as follows: Stoneware, layered porcelain slips and engobes over a textured body, the neck, lip and interior with a manganese glaze. Height: 66.5 cm. Made by Hans Coper (1920–1981) c. 1959–62
4. Provenance: Harry Fischer, commissioned directly from the artist; Henry Moore collection, gifted from the above.
5. 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.
6. Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Its strategic vision in ‘Let’s Create’ is that, by 2030, England should be a country in which the creativity of everyone is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone has access to a remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences. ACE invests public money from the Government and the National Lottery to support the sector and deliver the vision. Following the Covid-19 crisis, ACE developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90 per cent coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. It is also one of the bodies administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 December 2023.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer spoke at the V&A recognising Stoke’s efforts to level up culture in the city and encourage philanthropy.

Good evening everyone, It’s fantastic to be here with you all.

You are all part of a rich and proud tradition in the UK of charitable giving. We are a nation of philanthropists. Around two-thirds of us give to charity regularly. And the CAF World Giving Index ranks the UK number 3 in the world for giving.

In my experience, people in the UK will take any opportunity you give them to be selfless and share with others.

But we recognise, as a Government, that there’s still untapped potential within our philanthropy sector.

We want to maximise that potential. That’s why we’re actively looking at ways we can expand, enable and encourage more philanthropic activity.

Our aim is threefold: – To make it easier to give. – To encourage philanthropy across society. – And to ensure those who give generously are recognised.

You understand, as we do, that the Government has a role to play in creating the right conditions for generosity.

And it is our job to make sure this culture shift happens in partnership with the sector.

Philanthropic networks, like ‘Made in Stoke’, are a great example of what is possible. Because the kind of innovative network that Tristram started not only enables and encourages philanthropy, it does it in parts of the country where support is most needed.

And look at the impact it can have. To date, Made in Stoke has led to a:  – £10,000 investment into sports activities for Children; – £50,000 going to dance and ballet classes for children;  – And it is going to fund a group of young people to visit Pittsburgh next year

These figures shine a light on how important this 500-person network has become, and the fact that so many people are taking the opportunity to give something back to the city.

But the thing that is, arguably, most special about the network, is the focus it puts on Stoke’s unique arts and culture.

Tonight is a big chance for us all to celebrate Stoke’s crafts, artistry, innovation and industry.

And on that note, I’d like to finish by thanking Arts Council England for backing the Made in Stoke initiative, the V&A for hosting and Stoke Creates and New Philanthropy for Arts and Culture for organising it.

And to thank all of you for the role you play, individually and collectively, in your philanthropic work.

The press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport on 7 December 2023.

BBC licence fee review launched as action taken to ease future price rises.

• Review launched into the future of the licence fee and alternative funding options, supported by a panel of leading industry experts
• Comes as government intervenes to minimise increases to the cost of the TV licence fee for households
• Next year’s licence fee will be £20 cheaper than it would have been had the government not acted

A review into how the BBC should be funded in the future has been launched by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, as new action is taken to reduce the impact of price rises on licence fee payers.

The review, supported by a panel of independent experts soon to be announced from across the broadcasting sector and wider business world, will assess a range of options for funding the BBC. It will look at how alternative models could help secure the broadcaster’s long-term sustainability amid an evolving media landscape, increased competition and changing audience behaviour, while reducing the burden on licence fee payers.

As set out in the terms of reference published today, the review will explore the sustainability of the BBC’s current licence fee model, and build an evidence based understanding of alternative models for funding the BBC. The review will be supported by analysis which will include externally commissioned research.

The licence fee will also rise by less than previously expected next year following changes brought in by the government to minimise the cost to households. In 2022, the government froze the licence fee for two years to protect families from the sharp rise in the cost of living. It was agreed that the current annual fee of £159 would remain unchanged until April 2024, before rising by inflation for the following four years.

However, in recognition of the ongoing cost of living pressures faced by families, the government has today decided to change how the inflation-linked uplifts to the licence fee are calculated for 2024.

This means the annual cost of a TV licence will be £169.50 from April 2024 – the equivalent of an additional 88p per month.

The previous methodology for calculating inflation was the averaged annualised October to September CPI figure of 9 per cent. The new methodology for 2024 uses the annual rate of CPI in September 2023 of 6.7 per cent, and is the approach used to calculate uplifts to benefits.

As a result of today’s announcement and the two-year freeze, from April next year the annual licence fee will be more than £20 cheaper than it would have been had the government not acted. By the end of 2024, licence fee payers will have saved £37 since 2022 due to the measures.

The decision will ensure the additional cost to licence fee payers is kept as low as possible while giving the BBC over £3.8 billion in annual licence fee funding to spend on world leading content and deliver on its mission as set out in the Charter: to serve all audiences with impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain. It will also ensure S4C can maintain its unique role promoting the Welsh language and supporting our wider public service broadcasting landscape.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

This is a fair deal that provides value for money for the licence fee payer while also ensuring that the BBC can continue to produce world leading content.

We know family budgets are stretched, which is why we have stepped in again – following two years of licence fee freezes – to reduce this year’s increase to less than a £1 a month.

But this settlement has highlighted other challenges faced by the BBC with the changing media landscape making the battle for audiences more competitive and the number of people paying the licence fee decreasing. This raises fundamental questions as to sustainability of the current licence fee system.

So we are also launching a funding review of the BBC that will take a forensic look at the licence fee, and whether a reformed funding model could better support our national broadcaster to remain sustainable and affordable for audiences while driving growth in our creative industries. I want a thriving BBC, supported to inform, educate and entertain and this funding review will help us make sure we can deliver this for decades to come.

This announcement follows an additional £20 million the government awarded to the BBC World Service earlier this year as part of the refresh of the Integrated Review. The money, which is on top of £94 million provided annually, was to protect all 42 World Service language services over the next two years, support English-language broadcasting, and counter disinformation.

The findings of the Funding Model Review will feed into the review of the BBC’s Royal Charter ahead of its expiry at the end of 2027. Any public consultation and final decision on the BBC’s funding model will be reserved for Charter Review itself.

Notes to editors

• An announcement of the membership of the expert panel for the Licence Fee Review will follow in due course. The panel will incorporate a broad range of views from experts in the broadcasting sector.
• The black and white TV licence fee will increase from £53.50 to £57.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 6 December 2023.

Dr Samir Shah CBE is the Government’s preferred candidate for the BBC Chair, the Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced today.

Dr Samir Shah, CBE, has worked in broadcasting for over forty years. He is the CEO and owner of Juniper, an independent television and radio production company. Before Juniper, Samir was head of current affairs and political programmes at the BBC. In 2022, the RTS (Royal Television Society) awarded him its top honour: Outstanding Contribution (AKA Lifetime Achievement award) to journalism. Samir was a Non-Executive Director of the BBC (2007-2010), Chair of the Museum of the Home (2014-2022), and was a trustee then Deputy Chair of the V&A (2004-2014). He was Chair of the Runnymede Trust (1999-2009). He is currently Chair of One World Media. Samir sits on the Arts and Media Honours Committee.

Samir was appointed a CBE for services to Television and Heritage in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours. He was previously made an OBE in the 2000 New Year’s Honours List. Samir was elected a Fellow of the Royal Television Society in 2002. Samir was appointed Visiting Professor of Creative Media at Oxford University in 2019 and the University of Nottingham appointed him to a Special Professorship in the Department of Post Conflict Studies.

Samir was born in India and came to England in 1960. He is married to Belkis with one son, Cimran.

Dr Shah will now appear before MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for pre-appointment scrutiny.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

With a career spanning more than 40 years in TV production and journalism, Dr Shah has a wealth of experience to bring to the position of BBC Chair. He has a clear ambition to see the BBC succeed in a rapidly changing media landscape, and I have no doubt he will provide the support and scrutiny that the BBC needs to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.

His knowledge of the BBC and his belief in its role as a national broadcaster alongside his extensive work to promote diversity in broadcasting will be invaluable in helping to ensure that the BBC reflects, represents and serves communities across the whole of the UK.

I would also like to express my thanks to Dame Elan Closs Stephens for her diligence and dedication in leading the Board as Acting Chair in the interim period.

Dr Samir Shah CBE said:

I am delighted to be named the preferred candidate for Chair of the BBC and I look forward to the upcoming pre-appointment hearing with the Select Committee. The BBC is, without doubt, one of the greatest contributions we have made to global culture and one of our strongest calling cards on soft power.

If I am able  to put what skills, experience, and understanding of public service broadcasting I have built up during my career to help this brilliant organisation meet the complex and diverse challenges it faces over the coming years, it would be an honour.

The BBC has a great place in British life and a unique duty to reach a wide audience right across the country and I will do all I can to ensure it fulfils this in an increasingly competitive market.

The current process for appointing the Chair is set in the BBC’s 2017 Royal Charter, requiring an appointment to be made by ‘Order in Council’ following a fair and open competition. Convention has been that the Secretary of State recommends the appointment to the Lord President of the Council and the Prime Minister recommends the appointment to His Majesty The King. No recommendation can be made to His Majesty in Council, until a pre-appointment hearing has been held and a report published by the CMS Select Committee.

Ministers were assisted in their decision-making by an Advisory Assessment Panel which included a departmental official and a senior independent panel member approved by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 5 December 2023.

The Prime Minister has reappointed Dr Mark Cecil and Chris Grayling MP as Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery for terms of 4 years.

Mark Cecil

Reappointed from 11 May 2024 until 10 May 2028.

Mark Cecil had a 34 year career in Investment management, being a founding partner of Jabre Capital Partners from 2007 – 2019. He currently acts as an investment advisor to several Family Offices.

Mark qualified as a Medical Doctor from St Thomas’s Hospital Medical school in 1982 before obtaining an MBA from INSEAD business school in 1985. He was a founding Patron of the National Portrait Gallery and has sat on the Development Council for several years and more recently the Campaign Council.

Chris Grayling

Reappointed from 11 May 2024 until 10 May 2028.

Chris Grayling was first elected as MP for Epsom and Ewell in 2001. He served for seventeen years on the Conservative Front Bench, and for twelve as a Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet minister. His roles included, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons, and the Employment and Transport briefs

He returned to the back benches in July 2019.

He is currently Vice-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on International Conservation and a senior member of the British American Parliamentary Group. He has won awards for his work engaging young people from minority ethnic backgrounds in politics and as parliamentary species champion for the hedgehog.

Prior to becoming an MP he worked in the television and communications industries, as a producer for BBC News and Channel Four, helping to run a number of independent production businesses and finally as a management consultant specialising in training, internal communication and change management.

He has been a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery since 2020, and currently Chairs its Finance and Operations Committee. He also served on the Project Board of the recently completed restoration project for the Gallery, and sits on its Commercial Board.

Chris is married to Sue and they have two adult children. He is a regular and enthusiastic supporter of Manchester United.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery are not remunerated. 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. Mark Cecil has not declared any significant political activity. Chris Grayling is currently the Conservative Member of Parliament for Epsom and Ewell.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 5 December 2023.

The Prime Minister has reappointed Dr Simon Thurley as Chair of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Mukesh Sharma has been reappointed as Northern Ireland Trustee.

Dr Simon Thurley

Appointed from 31 March 2024 to 30 March 2027

Dr. Simon Thurley was first appointed as Chair in 2021. He also serves on the Delivery Authority for the Restoration and Renewal of the Houses of Parliament and is chairman of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation. Between 2015 and 2023 he was a trustee of the British Library and he played a role in setting up the Canal and River Trust, of which he was a trustee until 2015. In 2021-22 he was Provost of Gresham College.

Between 2002 and 2015 he was Chief Executive of English Heritage responsible for the National Heritage Collection of 420 sites including Stonehenge and Dover Castle, as well as for the National Heritage Protection system, including the listing of buildings. For five years from 1997 he was director of the Museum of London, the world’s largest city museum and its archaeological unit MoLAS.

For eight years in the 1990s he was Curator and Surveyor of the Fabric at Historic Royal Palaces leading various projects including the Restoration of the Privy Garden at Hampton Court. As a historian Simon has written thirteen books including a history of English Architecture, Building England and the story of heritage protection, Men from the Ministry. His latest book Palaces of Revolution won the Samuel Pepys Prize for 2023. In 2011 he was made CBE for services to heritage; he is married with two children and lives in Norfolk.

Mukesh Sharma

Appointed from 31 August 2024 to 30 August 2027

Mukesh Sharma was born in England and raised in Northern Ireland within the Indian community. He has a breadth of experience in business growth and acquisition, organisational change, partnership working and advocacy in developing international partnerships.

Mukesh has spent more than 30 years in the travel, tourism and airline industry. He has worked in the UK and abroad, heading up a number of major companies during this time. He was awarded an MBE in 2016 for Services to the travel industry in Northern Ireland. In 2016, Mukesh was commissioned as Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast.

He has led many initiatives across Northern Ireland to promote the arts, community cohesion and the prevention of racism, sectarianism and hate crime. He serves as a board member of a number of charities including ArtsEkta, The Goliath Trust, Moving on Music and is a committee member of The Prince’s Trust Northern Ireland and chair of the Northern Ireland advisory board for Barnardos. Since 2006 he has been a festival director of the Belfast Mela and from 2006-2013 he was Chair of Newtownabbey Borough Council Good Relations Partnership.

In 2016, Mukesh was appointed to the Northern Ireland Executive Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition. The commission, made up of political and non-political representatives, undertook a programme of work to shape a Northern Ireland free from segregation and division. The commission’s work ended in 2020 with the submission of a report to the First and Deputy First Minister.

In April 2023, he was appointed as a member of The Northern Ireland Policing Board, an independent public body which oversees The Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Remuneration and Governance Code

The Chair of the Board of Trustees of the National Lottery Heritage Fund is remunerated at £40,000 per annum and the Northern Ireland Trustee is remunerated at £20,749 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. Simon Thurley and Mukesh Sharma have declared no political activity.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 4 December 2023.

Government agrees with the review’s recommendations including supporting the FA and NewCo in the full professionalisation of women’s football, and equal access to sport in schools for girls.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has today accepted the recommendations from Karen Carney MBE’s review into the future of domestic women’s football, and has challenged The Football Association (FA) and wider stakeholders to go further and set a new standard for women’s sport.

In September 2022, the Government commissioned former England and Great Britain footballer turned pundit Karen Carney MBE to undertake an independent review following England’s UEFA EURO 2022 success.

Her review, published in July 2023, detailed a series of key recommendations designed to capitalise on the recent success of the Lionesses, and to set out a pathway to a successful and sustainable commercial future for the domestic women’s game.

A key recommendation is for The FA and NewCo, the new independent body that will lead the women’s elite game in England, to commit to the full professionalisation of the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship.

Karen outlined how this should be backed up by raising minimum operating standards, improving physical and mental health provision, elite training facilities for players and improving parental care packages and transition support for players leaving the game.

To ensure this recommendation is delivered at pace, the Government will now convene an implementation group consisting of key stakeholders – including the FA, NewCo and others – to ensure that key milestones are met and delivered.

The Government will also establish a separate Board of Women’s Sports in the new year, attended by leading figures in the industry to highlight common themes and challenges being faced by different sports, share best practices and research, and accelerate growth of women’s sport beyond women’s football.

The Review also asked the Government to increase meaningful investment in grassroots facilities for women and girls to improve access and participation. To achieve this ambition, last week the Government announced a £30 million cash injection with The FA to build approximately 30 new state-of-the-art 3G pitches and accompanying facilities designed to prioritise women’s and girls’ teams across England.

The new funding is on top of the Government’s existing investment, totalling more than £400 million which has so far delivered upgrades to 2,200 different sport facilities across the UK including multi-sport pitches, swimming pools and park tennis courts.

In March this year, the Prime Minister responded to the Lionesses’ call for equal access to sport in schools for boys and girls. The Government continues to make progress on achieving its commitment, supported by over £600 million through the PE and School Sports Premium.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

I’d like to thank Karen for her detailed review which has delivered a clear blueprint for the future of women’s football from the grassroots up to the elite level.

We are completely committed to delivering equal access to sport for girls in schools, alongside an unprecedented £400 million investment in grassroots facilities outside of school.

We must collectively seize the moment and deliver sustained commercial success for the women’s game, and fully support The FA and NewCo to drive forward the full professionalisation of the game.

Karen Carney MBE said:

I’m encouraged that the government is providing their full backing to my review and renewing their commitment to develop women’s football in the UK and fulfil its potential to be a world-beating sport.

The real work begins now. I hope the additional investment and support from the government is the boost for The FA, the incoming NewCo, and other stakeholders of the game to rally around this once in a lifetime opportunity to transform domestic women’s football for generations to come.

The Government supports, and actively encourages the FA and incoming NewCo as custodians of the women’s game, to take forward the following recommendations:

• Implement world-leading standards for players, fans, staff, and everybody involved in the women’s game
• Improve the talent pathway to ensure generations of world-beating Lionesses
• Address the lack of diversity in the game on and off the pitch
• Alongside Premier League, EFL and broadcasters, carve out a dedicated slot for women’s football
• Raise club standards for fan engagement
• Alongside the Premier League and Football Foundation improve funding flows across the pyramid to enhance facilities
• Utilise the change in administration to further develop the National League and grassroots game

The Government is a firm backer of women’s sport and will continue to invest in facilities to ensure improved access for women and girls. As outlined in its recently published sports strategy ‘Get Active’, the Government has set an ambitious target to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 30 November 2023.

The Secretary of State’s decision to issue a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) with regards to the the anticipated acquisition of Telegraph Media Group by RedBird IMI.

My Department has today written to the Barclay family and RedBird IMI, the current and proposed owners of Telegraph Media Group (TMG), to inform them that I will be issuing a Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN) in relation to the anticipated acquisition of the Telegraph Media Group Ltd (TMG) by Redbird IMI.

This relates to concerns I have that there may be public interest considerations – as set out in section 58 of Enterprise Act 2002 – that are relevant to the anticipated acquisition of TMG by RedBird IMI and that these concerns warrant further investigation.

At this stage, my decision to issue the PIIN triggers the requirement for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to report to me on jurisdictional and competition matters, and for Ofcom to report to me on the media public interest consideration in section 58(2A) of the Enterprise Act 2002 – namely, the need for accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion in newspapers. I have asked both the CMA and Ofcom to report back to me by 26 January 2024.

I reserve the right to take such further action under the Act as I consider appropriate, which may, if appropriate, include exercising my powers under section 42 of the Act in relation to any other relevant merger situation. My decision to issue a PIIN today is without prejudice to my ability to take any such additional action in accordance with the Act.

My role as the Secretary of State in this process is quasi-judicial and procedures are in place to ensure that I act independently and follow a process which is scrupulously fair, transparent and impartial.

DCMS will update Parliament only after both reports from the regulators have been received and considered.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 29 November 2023.

New £30 million fund to deliver approximately 30 new facilities to support more women and girls into grassroots sport.

• New £30 million fund to deliver approximately 30 new state of the art 3G pitches at sites supporting women’s and girls’ teams across England
• Culture Secretary announces investment as she joins Lionesses training session at St George’s Park, following UEFA EURO 2022 and FIFA World Cup 2023 success
• Move underlines major Government drive to get 2.5 million more adults and 1 million more young people active by 2030

Thousands of women and girls across England are set to benefit from a substantial £30 million cash injection from the Government and The Football Association (FA) to turbocharge the development opportunities for the next generation of Lionesses.

Following their triumph at UEFA EURO 2022 and their run to the final of FIFA World Cup 2023, the Government has announced an additional £30 million that will build approximately 30 new state-of-the-art 3G pitches and accompanying facilities. These sites will be designed to prioritise women’s and girls’ teams across England. They will be delivered by the Government, the Premier League and The FA’s Football Foundation.

Reserved peak-time slots, women and girls only evenings and priority booking for women’s and girls’ teams will be introduced at every one of these sites to drive up participation and support the demand to play whatever the motivation. The facilities will provide dedicated female changing rooms, shower facilities and accessible toilets.

The Government is providing £25 million funding, with The FA contributing £5 million, to further cement the Lionesses and Government’s shared target of inspiring more women and girls to get into sport and physical activity. The Government recently published its new sport strategy which set out its ambitious aim to get 2.5 million more adults and 1 million more children active by 2030. Former Lioness Jill Scott sits on the National Physical Activity Taskforce to advise the Government on how to achieve this ambition.

The Culture Secretary made the special announcement to the Lionesses squad in person following a training session at St George’s Park, the home to England’s national football teams. It comes ahead of the team’s crucial UEFA Women’s Nations League match against the Netherlands at Wembley Stadium on Friday 1 December.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:

The Lionesses display incredible talent and have achieved highly prized success. Their Euros victory gripped the nation, their success getting through to the World Cup final lifted the national mood.

During the World Cup I said that we would do everything possible to support women and girls’ football so we can watch our Lionesses roar on the world stage for generations to come. Today, along with The FA I am launching a £30 million fund to make sure the next generation of girls have equal opportunities to get into sport.

Building on our unprecedented support for grassroots facilities, this is just the latest move in our commitment to invest in women and girls’ grassroots sport facilities, and ensure the squad’s legacy lives long into the future.

Today’s funding uplift comes on top of the Government’s existing investment of more than  £400 million in grassroots sports across the UK. Alongside investments in park tennis courts and swimming pools, the multi-sport grassroots facilities programme – which has so far delivered upgrades to 2,200 different facilities – requires 40% of funding goes to supporting participation by under-represented groups, such as women and girls and those with disabilities.

The new Lionesses Futures Fund builds upon that commitment, with the Football Foundation building on its existing pipeline in 2024/25 to invest in 30 new state-of-the art artificial grass pitches.

FA CEO Mark Bullingham said:

We are delighted to work alongside DCMS to commit this funding to the Football Foundation as it will make a tangible difference to women’s and girls’ football. The biggest obstacle to participation is access to pitches and this investment will provide high quality facilities in communities across the country that need them the most.

This funding will only be made available to facilities with women’s and girls’ football provision at their core. The local pitch is where it all starts and we hope this will help women and girls from all communities and of all ages to play the sport. For some a game of football will be simply a source of happiness and health, for others it might be a competitive challenge and for a few it will be the start of a journey to the top of the game. Whatever the motivation these facilities are designed to support the players.

The Lionesses were crucial to this funding and it again showcases the impact they have on our country. Their performances on the pitch have driven societal change and equal opportunities, and this is another tangible example of the legacy they continue to create. We’re proud to work alongside them and are grateful for everything they continue to do.

England’s FIFA World Cup 2023 Captain Millie Bright said:

We’re proud to have been able to give the nation a lot to cheer in the last 18 months through what we’ve achieved on the pitch but we’ve been clear we want to drive change off the pitch too.

One of our collective biggest motivations and core values is for females across the country to have equal opportunity. We are really pleased to see the commitment towards this funding and the promise that this will be prioritised for the growth of women’s and girls’ football so whatever the motivation to play, there is a safe and accessible area for females to go to.

Robert Sullivan, CEO of the Football Foundation said:

Thanks to the ‘Lionesses Futures Fund’ our ambition to deliver more facilities that prioritise access for women and girls to play football has been accelerated. This new fund is an exciting next step in our determination to support the rapid growth of the women and girls’ game.

Over 8,500 women and girls’ football teams are playing at sites that have received funding from the Football Foundation, whether that be for new goalposts, improved grass pitches or brand-new changing pavilions and 3G pitches. From the roots up we want to deliver better pitches ensuring healthier lives and stronger communities. Thanks to the funding of the Government, the Premier League and The FA we will ensure every community has a great place to play.

Following the Lionesses winning the UEFA EURO 2022 tournament, the Government, Premier League and The FA announced they would honour their achievement by naming 23 grassroots facilities delivered by the Football Foundation across the country after the entire Lioness squad. Former Lioness Jill Scott and current squad members Ella Toone and Rachel Daly have so far had sites named in their honour in Newcastle, Wigan and Harrogate.

The move was then followed up by a commitment from the Prime Minister to respond to the Lionesses’ call for equal access to football  in schools for boys and girls. The Government responded to these calls and continues to make progress on achieving its commitment to equal access to PE and sport for girls in schools, supported by £600 million through the PE and School Sports Premium.

In 2022, the Government commissioned former Lioness Karen Carney MBE to conduct a major review on the future of the domestic women’s game. Her Review delivered a series of recommendations on the route to lift minimum standards and deliver bold and sustainable growth at elite and grassroots levels. The Government is due to publish its official response in the coming weeks.

The press release issued by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on 29 November 2023.

The Prime Minister has appointed David Craig and Tony Hall as Trustees of The Natural History Museum Board for a term of four years.

David Craig

Appointed from 01 November 2023 until 31 October 2027.

David has 30 years of experience in financial markets data and technology and is seen as a world expert in the data, technology and market infrastructure required to drive sustainable markets.

David Craig is co-chair of the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and Advisory Board member of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) launched by His Majesty King Charles III. He is a member of the IAPB (International Advisory Panel for Biodiversity Credits) and recently joined the Board of the Natural History Museum as digital and innovation Trustee.

David was the founder and CEO of Refinitiv, one of the world’s largest data and technology providers for financial markets. He was previously founder and CEO of the Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) business and head of strategy at Thomson Reuters and Reuters plc. He spent 8 years as a partner at McKinsey focusing on technology and financial services clients.

David is a private investor in natural capital, Board Advisor to Triple Private Equity, director of the Green Finance Institute PMO in London and has recently been advising the Bank of England on Data and Nature Risks.

Tony Hall

Appointed from 01 November 2023 until 31 October 2027.

Tony Hall, Lord Hall of Birkenhead CBE  was Director General of the BBC for nearly eight years and before that Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House. He was Chair of the Cultural Olympiad in 2012, sitting on the Board of LOCOG.

Tony was also Deputy Chair of Channel 4, inaugural chair of Creative and Cultural Skills Council, and Chair of the Theatre Royal Stratford East. Since leaving the BBC he sits on the Communications Select Committee in the Lords as a cross bencher, is Chair of the City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Chair of the social work charity Frontline and  a Trustee of the National Trust. He is the author of two books – on coal and nuclear power – and has just been awarded the Pierre de Courbetin medal for outstanding service to the Olympic movement.

Remuneration and Governance Code

Trustees of the Natural History Museum are not remunerated. 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. David Craig and Tony Hall have not declared any significant political activity.