Select Committee · Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Game On: Community and school sport

Status: Open Opened: 28 Nov 2024 33 recommendations 16 conclusions 1 report

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is to examine the health of sport in local communities and schools and whether more can be done to sustain and grow sporting opportunities for all. The inquiry will look at the funding available for sport in the community, how volunteers can be better supported and how to open … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
4th Report - Game On: Community and school sport HC 593 20 Apr 2026 49 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
16 Conclusion 4th Report - Game On: Community and sch… Deferred

We are concerned about Sport England losing its function as a Statutory Planning Consultee.

We are concerned about Sport England losing its function as a Statutory Planning Consultee. Given the vital importance of playing fields to grassroots sport, Ministers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport should be arguing strongly for the protection of Sport England’s role. It is telling that the three … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges concerns about Sport England's statutory consultee status, stating no decision will be made until feedback on consultation proposals has been fully reviewed. A government response will follow, and Sport England will continue to engage in the planning process regardless.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
17 Recommendation 4th Report - Game On: Community and sch… Deferred

We recommend that the Government retain Sport England as a Statutory Planning Consultee.

We recommend that the Government retain Sport England as a Statutory Planning Consultee. For its part, Sport England needs to redouble its efforts to turn its responses around swiftly. (Recommendation, Paragraph 52)

Government response AI summary
The government defers a decision on retaining Sport England as a Statutory Planning Consultee, pending a review of consultation feedback, and notes Sport England's commitment to swift responses, already meeting 99% within 21 days.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport
18 Recommendation 4th Report - Game On: Community and sch… Deferred

We recommend that any future planning reforms include a robust and enforceable mechanism to protect...

We recommend that any future planning reforms include a robust and enforceable mechanism to protect playing fields and sports facilities, safeguarding these vital community assets for future generations. (Recommendation, Paragraph 53)

Government response AI summary
The government highlights existing protections in the National Planning Policy Framework and states they consulted on further changes to safeguard open spaces, with a response to be published in due course.
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
16 Jul 2025 Adam Conant · Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Catherine McKinnell MP · Department for Education, Matthew Hopkinson · Department for Education, Stephanie Peacock MP · Department for Culture, Media and Sport View ↗
3 Jun 2025 Councillor Peter Mason · Local Government Association, Huw Edwards · UKactive, Robert Sullivan · Football Foundation, Tim Hollingsworth OBE · Sport England View ↗
22 Apr 2025 Jon Cockcroft · Bowls England, Jordan Letts · Northampton Saints Foundation, Kate Stephens · Chance to Shine, Paige Cronje · SportCheer England, Scott Lloyd · Lawn Tennis Association, Stewart Kellett · Basketball England View ↗
25 Mar 2025 Andy Taylor · Active Partnerships, Anna Scott-Marshall · ParalympicsGB, Emily Robinson · London Sport, Lisa Wainwright MBE · Sport and Recreation Alliance, Mark Lawrie · StreetGames, Sarah Kaye · Sported, Stephanie Hilborne OBE · Women in Sport View ↗
25 Feb 2025 Ali Oliver MBE · Youth Sport Trust, Alistair Patrick-Heselton, Anna Hopkin MBE, Montell Douglas View ↗

Who gave evidence

25 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Adam Conant · Deputy Director, Head of Sport Department for Culture, Media and Sport 1
Ali Oliver MBE · Chief Executive Youth Sport Trust 1
Alistair Patrick-Heselton 1
Andy Taylor · Chief Executive Active Partnerships 1
Anna Hopkin MBE 1
Anna Scott-Marshall · Director of Communications & Social Impact ParalympicsGB 1
Catherine McKinnell MP · Minister for School Standards Department for Education 1
Councillor Peter Mason · Leader, London Borough of Ealing Local Government Association 1
Emily Robinson · Chief Executive London Sport 1
Huw Edwards · Chief Executive UKactive 1
Jon Cockcroft · Chief Executive Bowls England 1
Jordan Letts · Chief Executive Northampton Saints Foundation 1
Kate Stephens · Chief Executive Chance to Shine 1
Lisa Wainwright MBE · Chief Executive Sport and Recreation Alliance 1
Mark Lawrie · Chief Executive StreetGames 1
Matthew Hopkinson · Deputy Director, Life Skills Division Department for Education 1
Montell Douglas 1
Paige Cronje · Board Director SportCheer England 1
Robert Sullivan · Chief Executive Football Foundation 1
Sarah Kaye · Chief Executive Sported 1
Scott Lloyd · Chief Executive Lawn Tennis Association 1
Stephanie Hilborne OBE · Chief Executive Women in Sport 1
Stephanie Peacock MP · Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth Department for Culture, Media and Sport 1
Stewart Kellett · Chief Executive Basketball England 1
Tim Hollingsworth OBE · Chief Executive Sport England 1

Correspondence

5 letters
DateDirectionTitle
3 Jun 2026 To cttee Letter from Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP, Secretary of State for Education, rel…
8 Jul 2025 To cttee Letter from Huw Edwards, Chief Executive, ukactive, regarding oral evidence fol…
1 Jul 2025 To cttee Letter from Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive, Sport England, regarding oral e…
17 Jun 2025 To cttee Letter from Robert Sullivan, Chief Executive, Football Foundation, regarding or…
17 Jun 2025 To cttee Letter from Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and …