Music and Dance Schools: Affordable Access
Debate between Earl of Clancarty and Baroness Blake of Leeds(2 days, 20 hours ago)
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Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I have had the great pleasure of having this discussion with the noble Baroness on a number of occasions. I cannot go further than we have before on the curriculum review, but there is an acknowledgement of the position of dance and its relationship to PE. In all of the wider picture, that voice is very loud and it has been heard.
I want to emphasise the issue of teacher training, on which an important point has been raised. It is true that the £10,000 tax-free bursary for music will be removed in 2026-27 but this is due to improved teacher retention and higher ITT recruitment. That is the basis for that announcement on 11 October. I also emphasise the importance of choir schools, referred to by my noble friend Lord Liddle. As part of the scheme, the department provides a grant of £210,000 to the Choir Schools Association. This offers means-tested support to choristers attending CSA member schools, including cathedral and collegiate choir schools in England, to help those with exceptional talent who are unable to afford the fees.
This has been a rich debate and I am conscious that I have not been able to give all the points that have been made their due notice. I know that we will have more discussion across the House but we are at a critical point, as the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, mentioned, given the timing of the Budget that is coming up. I understand why so many noble Lords have brought these matters to the attention of the House through this important debate.
In closing, I underline this Government’s commitment to ensuring that all children can access and engage with high-quality music and dance education. Access to the arts is a vital part of a rich education and must not be the preserve of the privileged few.
The Earl of Clancarty (CB)
Before the Minister sits down, since we have a couple of minutes, I have a point of clarification. The figure of £4 million has been repeated a number of times in the debate. I would clarify for people watching that the £4 million the Government have given is to offset VAT, but the music and dance schools are asking for an entirely separate £4 million. I just wanted to put that on record.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
Thank you. I acknowledge that and we will obviously take away some of the more detailed comments made. I have just had a note to tell me that the new PE and sport partnerships will support dance as well as sport in schools, if that is helpful.
EU-UK Summit: Visa Waiver Agreement
Debate between Earl of Clancarty and Baroness Blake of Leeds
The Earl of Clancarty
To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to negotiate a visa waiver agreement for creative professionals touring the EU; and whether this will be on the agenda at the EU-UK summit on 19 May.
Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Blake of Leeds) (Lab)
My Lords, the Government are committed to a closer and more co-operative relationship with the EU. The UK-EU summit will be an important milestone towards a new strategic partnership, and we will provide further details on the agenda in due course. We are engaging constructively with the EU and member states to improve touring arrangements, allowing our artists to contribute to Europe’s rich cultural landscape and support shared growth while respecting the regulatory frameworks on both sides.
The Earl of Clancarty (CB)
My Lords, it is a little disappointing that the Government cannot confirm, with 11 days to go, whether touring will be on the agenda of the 19 May summit. Talking with other EU Culture Ministers is helpful—if this was discussed by Chris Bryant in Poland—but would the Minister not agree that, ultimately, this issue has to be resolved directly with the EU, not least because of the significant cross-border aspects to the problem? Cabotage is a major aspect of that. The Government promised to sort this; they need to do so.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I thank the noble Earl for his continued interest and for putting us all under pressure on this important issue. I emphasise that supporting touring artists was a manifesto commitment for the Government a year ago. As such, it is a priority for the Government. We remain in constructive dialogue with the EU on tackling the challenges facing cultural and creative professionals and their support staff when touring in the EU, along with many other issues. It is a very important date in the diary, and we will provide details of the agenda in due course.
Europe: Arts and Creative Industries
Debate between Earl of Clancarty and Baroness Blake of Leeds
The Earl of Clancarty
To ask His Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to facilitate touring in, and trading with, Europe for the arts and creative industries.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
My Lords, the Government fully recognise the scale of the challenges facing creative and cultural professionals wishing to tour in and trade with Europe. We are working to address these while resetting relationships and deepening ties with our European friends. In line with our manifesto, Ministers have raised touring with European counterparts on multiple occasions, and officials are collaborating across Whitehall with stakeholders and meeting their European counterparts to advocate for pragmatic solutions. This is a priority for the Government.
The Earl of Clancarty (CB)
My Lords, I welcome the Minister to her new role and thank her for the meeting we had with her. I hope that it was helpful in understanding that this affects not just music touring, important though that is, but the visual arts, craft, fashion and film. Without a commitment to rejoining the single market, how will the Government deal effectively with these pressing concerns and secure the place of our arts and creative industries in Europe?