Ballet

Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie Excerpts

Tuesday 28th April 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

I know that my noble friend, as he has already identified, is a very strong supporter of the Central School of Ballet and the excellent work that it clearly does. The Government recognise the valuable contribution made by the Central School of Ballet, which is why it has benefited from £2.2 million in specialist funding from 2022 to the current academic year. I also recognise the point made by my noble friend about the need for certainty. We remain committed to ensuring that SPG funding supports students and aligns with the industrial strategy, including the creative and performing arts. Reform of the SPG is ongoing ahead of 2027-28, including on specialist funding, but we will ensure that there is an opportunity for providers to feed back on our proposals for reform.

[Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie (Con)]

My Lords, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland has offered a BA degree course in modern ballet since 2009. However, British students from outwith Scotland are financially disadvantaged as the RCS is not recognised as one of the dance centres for advanced training, CATs, probably because there was no such dance provision at this level in Scotland when the CATs scheme began. In contrast, such students at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh are funded by the UK Government. Will the Minister commit to reviewing the status of the RCS as a dance CAT provider so that talented dancers from England, Wales and Northern Ireland are on a par with Scottish students at this globally recognised institution in performing arts education?

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

I have to confess to not being an expert on the arrangements for the conservatoire, although it is the case that where a student is studying a degree in dance, they are eligible for student funding in the normal way that a student would be. If the noble Baroness sends me further details about whether she thinks that covers the point she is making, I will be happy to look at it.