National Centre for Arts and Music Education

Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Lord Addington

Wednesday 23rd April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I thank the noble Baroness. She will know, from my personal interest and involvement with the dance sector, that I know that it feels that it needs to have a louder voice; she has quite ably established that that is the case. Dance is one of those areas linked with PE. There is probably a whole raft of reasons why that has been the case, but I know that it is an area of active consideration as to how we broaden this out and give dance the status that it feels that it does not have at this time.

[Lord Addington (LD)]

Can the Minister tell us what the Government are doing to work with voluntary and community groups, where most people will actually take part in musical or cultural activity? What structure has been set up between DCMS and the Department for Education to ensure this happens? Things such as this tend to fall between the cracks.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

The really important part about the consultation for the centre is partnerships and how, through them, we can bring together all the partners around the music hubs that exist and make sure they are consistent across the country—I think the noble Lord is well aware of that issue. Of course, DCMS and DfE work very closely together on this. We need the voluntary sector to work in partnership with local authorities, government departments and the private sector to make sure that all children can get the very best possible outcomes from the process.

Football Governance Bill [HL]

Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Lord Addington

Committee stage
Wednesday 15th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Addington (LD)]

My Lords, I basically agree. There is a break at the end of the season. Most organised team sports change their rules and regulations in that break if they are going to do so. It might not need to be in the Bill, but it might be a Pepper v Hart type case; I say that timorously in view of the company I am keeping. If the Government can give us some indication that they will make major changes in the off-season, when players are exhausted and structural changes can be made—that is basically what it is for—then I would be happy because it is quite a sensible principle.

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Markham, for tabling the amendment and other noble Lords for their comments. I will go through the reasons why we will not support the amendment. We understand that its intention is to avoid any burdens or disruptions for clubs that might be associated with mid-season licensing. This includes the risk, albeit remote, that licenses are refused mid-season.

However, the amendment would mean that the entirety of Part 3 could not be commenced until the off-season. For example, it could affect the ability of clubs to prepare and submit their applications early. If the regulator became operational mid-season, it could mean waiting for as long as eight or nine months before it could even begin to license clubs. We do not think this is right. Clubs should be able to prepare and, if they so wish, submit their applications early to avoid the regulator having to deal with a rush of 116 applications in the relatively short window between seasons.

Ultimately, if the Secretary of State does not have the flexibility required to determine when the regulator’s powers commence, it could lead to delays, confusion and inefficiency throughout the set-up process. We are, of course, prepared to continue the fruitful conversations we have already have and I look forward to more of them. Although I recognise the amendment’s helpful intent, I am unable to accept it. I hope that the noble Lord will withdraw it.