Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that the new points-based immigration system will support the creative industries sector; and in particular, how any such new system will take into account the needs of freelancers in that sector.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Migration Advisory Committee report on the future point-based system and salary thresholds has been published. We are considering their recommendations very carefully.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to supporting the Black Cultural Archives as a unique national heritage centre for African and Caribbean communities in Britain.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Black Cultural Archives (BCA) makes an important contribution to preserving and celebrating the diverse cultural heritage of Britain, as well as supporting the local community in Lambeth.
BCA has received significant support, including over £4 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore and develop Raleigh Hall in Brixton as a permanent home and heritage centre for BCA’s archives and collections.
DCMS is working with BCA, alongside The National Archives and other DCMS public bodies, to help it to become financially sustainable and to seek to develop its ambitions to become a national resource.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion of the report by the University of Nottingham, Time to Listen, published on 15 October, that arts and cultural education offers “systematic ways of developing understanding, new knowledge and skills”; and what steps they are taking to ensure that arts and cultural education is sufficiently prioritised in the national curriculum.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The government agrees with the report on the value of arts and cultural education. In state maintained schools dance, music, art and design, and drama are a compulsory part of the National Curriculum at key stage 1 to key stage 3, with pupils having an entitlement to study an arts subject at key stage 4. All schools, including academies and free schools, must provide a broad and balanced curriculum.
The government is committed to funding music and arts, and has spent almost £500 million on related programmes between 2016 and 2020. This includes £300 million for music education hubs to ensure that all children have the opportunity to play and perform in choirs and ensembles. This spending also includes £118 million for the Music and Dance Scheme, which allows exceptionally talented young musicians and dancers to attend world-class institutions such as the Royal Ballet School and the Yehudi Menuhin School.
Between 2010 and 2018 the percentage of young people entering at least one arts GCSE has fluctuated but remained broadly stable.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the report by the University of Nottingham, Time to Listen, 15 October, of the value of arts and cultural education.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The government agrees with the report on the value of arts and cultural education. In state maintained schools dance, music, art and design, and drama are a compulsory part of the National Curriculum at key stage 1 to key stage 3, with pupils having an entitlement to study an arts subject at key stage 4. All schools, including academies and free schools, must provide a broad and balanced curriculum.
The government is committed to funding music and arts, and has spent almost £500 million on related programmes between 2016 and 2020. This includes £300 million for music education hubs to ensure that all children have the opportunity to play and perform in choirs and ensembles. This spending also includes £118 million for the Music and Dance Scheme, which allows exceptionally talented young musicians and dancers to attend world-class institutions such as the Royal Ballet School and the Yehudi Menuhin School.
Between 2010 and 2018 the percentage of young people entering at least one arts GCSE has fluctuated but remained broadly stable.