Latest news with #DameCarolineDinenage
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Gosport MP fears for future of Royal Navy training bases
Concerns over the future of two naval training bases have been raised by an Caroline Dinenage has spoken in the House of Commons about fears for HMS Sultan in Gosport and HMS Collingwood in Fareham. The Conservative MP for Gosport asked for reassurance on their future, after the government published its review of strategic defence and security which states Royal Navy training estate needs "were being reconsidered".The secretary of state for defence, John Healey, said further work on "the nature and needs of our defence estate" was being carried out. Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Dinenage asked the defence secretary to confirm the local bases are not under Dinenage said: "This line, page 105, reconsidering training estate needs, will concern many."Could he confirm that the outstanding training establishments at HMS Sultan and HMS Collingwood, which employ so many, will not be under threat?" In response Mr Healey said further work on "the nature and needs of our defence estate" was being carried added: "It's right that we do that because we have a long-term view now, we'll be able to take better long-term decisions on that."In a statement, Ms Dinenage later said the review was "very concerning".She added: "HMS Sultan and HMS Collingwood not only offer an incredibly high standard of training and value-for-money for the Royal Navy, but they also create many high skilled jobs in the Gosport peninsula."I will continue to campaign to ensure that the government recognises the contribution of these outstanding establishments." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Could Sydney-style water taxis come to Portsmouth?
For those living near harbours in the South of England, the idea of calling a water taxi to get to work or home from a night out could soon be a idea was the subject of a summit last week involving politicians, ferry providers, business leaders and experts in marine event at the Portsmouth's historic dockyard heard the system could work on an "on-demand" basis, like Uber, or on a scheduled timetable, and could be key to helping alleviate some of the South's traffic ferry operators warned that public subsidies would be needed to get services off the ground and encourage people out of their car. The event was organised by Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, who said she wanted to hear the "art of the possible" and mimic cities like Sydney in Australia, which use water taxis for commuting and afterwards she said: "There's a definite enthusiasm to get things up and running to make the most of the water we have here. Everybody in one room helped see what the opportunities and obstacles are." Supporters of the idea included the operators of Gunwharf Quays, Hampshire chamber of commerce and Business South who said it could help encourage economic growth. But some of ferry operators at the summit said it was a challenge to change mindsets, to get people onto boats and out of cars, particularly outside of the summer months. The operator of the overnight ferry connecting Portsmouth and Gosport stopped sailings in February due to a lack of demand. Many in the industry said a change in government policy was needed are government grants to support public transport - like bus service improvement plans (BSIP) and the move back to public ownership for trains - but no such financial support exists in England for the maritime Rayment, owner of Blue Funnel Cruises, said: "Scottish ferries are subsidised, the ferries which cross Sydney harbour get financial support and there's been grants to the Thames clippers in London, but down here on the South Coast, there's nothing we can apply for, that's frustrating."Many in the room said public subsidies were needed while the service was in its infancy as the "passengers won't come instantly".In response, Caroline Dinenage said political backing was key as well as business support. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Abolishing culture, media and sport department would be ‘madness'
Culture minister Sir Chris Bryant has sought to 'bury' rumours that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will be abolished, saying it would be 'absolute madness'. When pressed on recent reports that DCMS is in the firing line, Sir Chris branded these 'daft rumours', adding: 'Honestly, the department is not going to be abolished.' Lisa Nandy's absence at DCMS questions on Thursday was also pointed out by the chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage. Speaking in the Commons, the Conservative MP for Gosport, said: 'While the Secretary of State is awol today, rumours abound that the whole DCMS is for the chop. He must see that this sends out a terrible message to those sectors about how their Government values the power of those industries. 'So, I wondered if he'd take the opportunity today to, first of all, put that rumour to bed and, if he can't, perhaps he'd like to take the chance to put on record that this would be a horrible idea.' Sir Chris said the Culture Secretary is 'doing a very important job of building our relationship with Japan', as she attends the World Expo Conference in Osaka. He added: 'One of the worst things if we were to get rid of the department is that we'd have to get rid of the select committee as well, and for that matter the whole of the front bench – oh hang on, maybe it's a good idea.' 'I'm not going to put this rumour to bed – I'm going to bury it, because in the words of Stephen Sondheim, I'm absolutely certain that in a year's time we will be able to sing as in the musical Follies, I'm Still Here,' Sir Chris said. Liberal Democrat culture spokesperson Max Wilkinson said: 'He says he's burying the rumour about the abolition of DCMS, so why does he think that so many people here think it's going to happen, and why is it being briefed out to the press so often?' Sir Chris replied: 'Why on Earth is he perpetuating daft rumours? That's the question I want to ask myself. Honestly, the department is not going to be abolished. It would be absolutely madness. 'This department touches the lives of nearly everybody in the country every single day of the week, whether it's through sport, football, rugby, cricket, tennis, or it's through broadcasting or it's through our wonderful creative industries – so many different aspects of what we do touch everybody. 'I cannot see any way in which this department is going to be abolished.' Shadow culture minister Stuart Andrew said: 'I know that (Sir Chris) has been on a long audition for the role of Secretary of State for the department, so his comments about the rumours about the abolishing of DCMS are reassuring. 'But can I gently point out that most of these briefings seem to be coming from number 10? So will the minister speak to people in number 10 to give reassurance to all of those sectors that this department will remain for the years ahead?' Culture minister Stephanie Peacock replied: 'I think my colleague has very much dismissed those rumours. Let's not believe everything we read in the papers.' Mr Andrew also raised concerns about the appointment of David Kogan as chair of English football's new independent regulator. He said: 'The nominee for the chair of the football regulator continues to raise serious questions, during the hearing of the select committee, it was revealed the candidate had also donated to both the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister's leadership campaigns, something I don't recall being declared during second reading. 'The Secretary of State has now, rightly, been forced to recuse herself from the process. Given the appointment will likely have a prime ministerial interest, will the Prime Minister be doing the same?' Ms Peacock replied: 'There is no suggestion of wrongdoing and, indeed, David Kogan was approached under his government for the role. We have got full confidence, he was endorsed by the cross-party select committee.' Mr Andrew said Mr Kogan was approached by the Permanent Secretary, not by 'political ministers'. Ms Peacock replied: 'David Kogan was appointed to the board of Channel 4 under the previous Conservative government. He has been welcomed across this House and across the media and footballing world.'
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Value of club culture not recognised in UK, says committee chairwoman
Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee chairwoman Dame Caroline Dinenage has said the UK does not 'understand' the economic and cultural value of electronic music and club culture in the country. Speaking at an event in London on Wednesday, hosted by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), to bring music industry leaders together to meet the culture committee and express their concerns, Dame Caroline told the PA news agency music is 'our global superpower as a nation'. She told PA: 'I think it is under-recognised in the UK. I don't think we understand the economic value of it, I don't think we understand the cultural value of it, and what it means to so many people across the UK. 'Whether it's dance music or clubs, it's all been such a part of our youth, and continues today to be something that is very, sort of formative in people's lives and then stays with them throughout their lives. 'So it drives the economy, it drives tourism, and has a remarkable ability to sort of regenerate communities as well, buildings like this (the Drumsheds venue where the event was hosted), which is a huge empty former shop, it's now an absolutely thriving venue. 'What else could you use a huge site like this for? And it creates an enormous amount of joy and entertainment.' At the event, Dame Caroline called for venues to be recognised as 'the real cultural institutions that they are' in a similar way to museums and theatres, namechecking Manchester's former Hacienda club for its 'pivotal role in Britain's modern heritage'. Prior to hosting the event, the NTIA said it wanted to see 'proportionate taxation' for grassroots spaces and a reform of licensing and planning laws from the government. Speaking about the recommendations her committee would be making to the Government, Dame Caroline told PA: 'I think we need to have a really close look at this. We did a report last year on grassroots music venues, and we made a few recommendations to the Government. ' One of them, which I think is really important, is that we advocated for a fan-led review of live music, in the same way that the previous government did a fan-led review of football. 'We think that there should be one done of music so that the Government can really get a grip, can really understand, up and down the country, what the local economic value is to our towns, our cities, to the people that live there, to the careers that they want to start, what it means to them in their communities. 'There's a number of recommendations we've made for things like that, obviously we're making financial recommendations as well, like a cut to VAT on ticket prices, which we think is really important in the current economic climate. 'They've faced a whole range of challenges with the increase in things like business rates, so we want to see them financially supported. But actually, we want the Government to really get inside this and understand what's going on right at the very core of it.' NTIA research has found that on average three nightclubs closed each week in the UK, with 34% of clubs lost since November 2019. The group also claims new post-April tax rises from the Chancellor's autumn budget will 'threaten many more'. It said its polls had shown that 92% of nightlife businesses had cut staff, operating hours, or essential investments, and that 40% of businesses said they would have to close in the next six months without support. The NTIA also claimed another 40% of venues are looking to make job cuts.
The Independent
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Overturning Trump film industry tariffs must be UK trade deal priority, Starmer warned
Keir Starmer has been warned that he needs to prioritise saving the UK's billion pound film industry from Donald Trump's latest plans for tariffs which could be 'a knock out blow' for one of the country's major success stories. Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Commons select committee for culture, has said MPs will be putting pressure on ministers over UK-US trade talks to rescue an industry that is worth billions to the British economy. The prime minister is already under pressure from the US to accept lowering food standards to allow chlorinated chicken as well as repeal hate laws in the name of free speech over getting a deal. But with blockbusters including the recent Disney Snow White live action movie, the Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter and James Bond franchises, as well as streaming success stories such as Game of Thrones filmed in the UK, the 100 per cent tariffs threatened by Trump could serious harm the industry. Dame Caroline, a former Tory minister for the film industry, said: 'Last month the Culture, Media and Sport Committee warned against complacency on our status as the Hollywood of Europe. President Trump's announcement has made that warning all too real. 'Making it more difficult to make films in the UK is not in the interest of American businesses. Their investment in facilities and talent in the UK, based on US-owned IP, is showing fantastic returns on both sides of the Atlantic. Ministers must urgently prioritise this as part of the trade negotiations currently underway. 'At the same time, the government's forthcoming Creative Industries Sector Plan needs to meet the challenge we set down of incentivising inward investment while also growing our domestic sector so British film and high-end TV can thrive.' She vowed to use her committee to 'keep up pressure' on ministers and is in touch with culture minister Sir Christopher Bryant on the issue. President Trump announced the tariffs on 'national security' grounds claiming that foreign films pose a danger to the US. But the disaster it poses for the UK economy was underlined with British Film Industry (BFI) figures published in February. BFI's research and statistics unit revealed that film and high-end TV production spend in the UK was £5.6 billion in 2024, a 31 per cent increase from 2023. Of this, £3.4 bn (62 per cent) was spent on high end television and streaming; with feature film production contributing £2.1 billion (38 per cent) of the total spend. A BFI spokesperson said: "The BFI is working closely with the UK government, and industry partners in the UK and US while we understand the detail of the proposal. We want to keep collaboration at the heart of our sectors, so we remain a constructive partner to our friends in the US and internationally.' But unions are warning the tariffs would be a 'knock out blow' to the industry. Head of Bectu union, Philippa Childs, said: 'The UK is a world leader in film and TV production, employing thousands of talented workers, and this is a key growth sector in the government's industrial strategy. 'These tariffs, coming after Covid and the recent slowdown, could deal a knock-out blow to an industry that is only just recovering and will be really worrying news for tens of thousands of skilled freelancers who make films in the UK. 'The government must move swiftly to defend this vital sector, and support the freelancers who power it, as a matter of essential national economic interest.' Meanwhile, Marcus Ryder, chief executive of the The Film and TV charity told The Independent: 'Trump's tariffs could wipe out the UK industry because we are so dependent on foreign direct investment for films being made here. 'It would cut off production houses and strangle the entire ecosystem, including the TV industry. But nobody has any idea what the tariffs could mean. There is a lot of uncertainty.' Mr Ryder said dozens of people had contacted him since Mr Trump's announcement with 'existential dread' about the future of the industry. 'People are worried and their anxiety levels are off the scale,' he said. 'The tariffs are already having an impact before they have even been introduced.'
