Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker.

For millions of people up and down the country, sport is so much more than a pastime. Sports clubs large and small enrich lives, both on and off the pitches, courts and grounds, and they play a vital role in their communities.

The value that sports clubs bring to their communities has been clearer than ever during this pandemic and its right that we support them.

Earlier this year in May we announced a £16 million emergency bailout of Rugby League to prevent the sport’s collapse; and the Treasury’s multi- billion pound support packages – including the furlough and loan schemes – have been a lifeline to countless sports clubs and organisations across the country, helping them stay afloat while their doors remain closed. Sport England has also announced separate emergency funding of £220 million for grassroots clubs and we recently announced a £100 million scheme for leisure centres.

Together, that support has acted as a significant buffer to the pain.

However, we know the decision taken in late September not to reopen stadia from 1 October has had major consequences for sports clubs, large and small.

It was the right decision, given the rate at which coronavirus was spreading across the country.

But clearly for many organisations not being able to generate gate receipts deprives them of a major source of income.

The vast majority of these sports operate on tight financial margins, and have been forced to make serious cost reductions, such as locking down grounds, furloughing their staff, cutting wages and halting excess payments.

It was clear that if we didn’t act, a number of clubs would go to the wall – with real consequences for the grassroots game.

That is why over the past few weeks we have been working tirelessly with the sport sector to understand the very real pressures they are facing as a consequence.

Mr Speaker, we promised to stand by them when we made the decision to postpone the return of fans. So today, I am pleased to announce a £300 million ‘Sport Winter Survival Package’ to see major spectator sports through this very difficult period. The majority of this funding will be given through low-interest loans with flexible repayment terms, with grants where organisations are unable to repay loans.

This package will focus on those sports severely impacted by the restrictions announced in September and is the largest announced by any Government for its domestic sport sector in the world.

Provisional, and I must stress these are provisional, allocations of funding by sport have been made on a needs based assessment process and reflect the submissions made from the individual sports. Recipients will still need to apply: the funding process will be overseen by an independent decision making board and supported by Sport England.

I can confirm Mr Speaker that it will include a ‘top-up’ for Rugby League of up to £12 million, as well as cash injections of up to:

£28 million for National League football and Women’s football

Up to £135 million for Rugby Union,

And up to £40 million for Horse Racing

As well as:

Up to £6 million for motorsport,

Up to £4 million for netball,

Up to £4 million for basketball,

Up to £4 million for ice hockey,

Up to £1 million for greyhound racing

Up to £5 million for tennis,

And up to £1.6 million for badminton,

Today’s allocations aren’t the end of the story – the door is open for any sport to apply where there’s a need. This includes cricket and others who aren’t in the initial list of allocations.

Full details of the application process will be announced by Sport England shortly, with the first tranche of support expected to be distributed to clubs and bodies before the end of the year. In the meantime if any individual club is facing imminent collapse, we will work with them through their National Governing Body.

Based on the information sports have given us, this package will help them survive until the Spring.

Of course, we would all prefer to see fans back in stadia. Spectator sports need spectators – and with the real progress we are making on vaccines and testing, this goal is now firmly within our sights.

But until then, we have stepped in not just to protect individual clubs and organisations – but entire sports and the communities they serve. I commend this statement to the House.

The guidance on the regulatory requirements and obligations that will be in place from 1 January 2021 can be found on GOV.UK.

There will be some differences between the rules for those businesses trading in Great Britain and those trading in Northern Ireland, so OPSS is producing separate but complementary guidance to help businesses navigate what is expected of them.

As new items of guidance are completed these guidance documents will be published at:

Product Safety and Metrology from 1 January 2021 – Great Britain

Product Safety and Metrology from 1 January 2021 – Northern Ireland

It is a pleasure to join you today.

And to participate in the opening of Mock COP.

I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to deliver this event.

And I applaud your dedication and commitment to tackling climate change.

Across the world, young people are leading the charge on climate action.

We see this, in projects like the Resilient40.

Which is amplifying the voices of over 60 youth leaders, from 29 African countries in vital climate change discussions.

Or indeed the Resolution Project, which supports student entrepreneurs with over 300 social ventures in more than 80 countries.

From recycling solutions in Ethiopia.

To water management in Brazil.

And household biogas generation in Nepal.

Young people are on the frontline of global climate action.

And this is absolutely vital.

For the future of our planet.

And for the success of COP26 next November.

The gravity and urgency of the situation we face demands that COP26 marks the moment

when the world unites together behind a fair, resilient and zero emissions future.

And that means governments committing to ambitious emission reduction targets, and adaptation plans.

It means donor countries living up to their obligations.

And fulfilling the commitments that they have made to the global South to put $100 billion a year into international climate finance.

And it means listening to diverse voices in the negotiations.

So that we are ensuring the interests of young people, as well as Civil Society as a whole, are heard loud and clear.

From both the global South and North.

To achieve this, I have been clear that we want civil society groups to be at the heart of both our preparations for COP, and the summit itself.

That is why I met with young people and civil society organisations on a visit to the UN in New York earlier in the year.

And I commit to meeting groups which comprise young people and civil society in every country that I visit going forward.

It is also why we have established the COP26 Civil Society and Youth advisory council.

Where young activists, NGOs, indigenous peoples and faith groups are very much part of our conversations in planning COP26.

We are also supporting our COP partners, Italy.

Both in their preparations for the Pre-COP and of course the Youth Event next September.

And in the launch of their Youth4Climate series.

Helping to support and amplify the work of young climate activists.

Because such activism plays a really vital role.

Although the commitments required in the Paris Agreement need to be made by national governments, success will belong to each and every one of us.

Reaching net zero will only be achieved through a joint effort.

And for this civil society is absolutely vital.

You are vital in pushing all of us to go further: governments and regions; businesses and cities; schools and universities.

By raising awareness, generating support, and asking us to do more.

That is one of the great benefits of this Mock COP.

It will show governments and organisations around the world the appetite that exists for ambitious climate action from young people.

So I will finish with this ask: keep up that momentum.

Keep showing us what is possible.

And keep advocating for climate action in your home countries.

Because if you do, the job of negotiators, who are urging countries around the world to make more ambitious commitments, becomes much easier.

As does the work of the Race to Zero campaign.

Which is encouraging non-state actors, such as businesses, cities, regions and universities around the world to commit to net zero as soon as possible.

And if we work together in this way, I believe COP26 will mark the moment when the potential of the Paris Agreement is fulfilled.

Thank you.