The conflict of interest meant that we could not question the Permanent Secretary directly about the £124 million that the Department had loaned to top–tier rugby union clubs and its subsequent management of these loans. Instead, we had to direct our questions to the Director General for Policy.65 Professional rugby union is the area where the Department is most heavily exposed in terms of both the amount of loans it has made, 57% of all its loans to sports bodies, and the sport’s financial health.66 60 Q 112 61 Qq 111–114; Letter from DCMS Permanent Secretary, 25 February 2025 62 Qq 115; Letter from DCMS Permanent Secretary, 25 February 2025 63 Qq 1, 3; DCMS register of board member interests 64 Q 90; Letter from DCMS Permanent Secretary, 25 February 2025; Letter from Director General for Policy at DCMS, 25 February 2025 65 Qq 90–105 66 Q 93 17