Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the COVID-19 emergency funding that Arts Council England made available was accessible to (1) commercial musicians, and (2) music businesses who had not previously engaged with that organisation.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The £160 million Arts Council England funding was allocated across three programmes as follows:
£20 million available for individual practitioners, including £4 million distributed by seven benevolent funds supporting individuals working in arts and culture
£50 million made available for organisations outside the Arts Council’s National Portfolio
£90 million made available for the Arts Council’s National Portfolio Organisations and Creative People and Places organisations.
Individuals and organisations outside the Arts Council’s National Portfolio, including those from the commercial music sector were eligible to apply for the first two programmes. Applicants were required to have a track record of working in the publicly-funded culture sector within the last three years, but were still eligible even if they did not have prior direct contact with Arts Council England.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to assess the efficacy of their employment and business support measures for (1) workers, and (2) businesses, in the music sector.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Whilst we have not completed a specific survey for the music sector, we have analysed the wider Creative Industries sector through the DCMS Coronavirus Impact Business Survey, which provides information on the effects of the pandemic on DCMS’ sectors. Results for DCMS sectors as a whole are published on gov.uk and further analysis of the responses will be available in the coming weeks. As the music industry is a vital part of the UK’s creative economy, the Government has put in place an unprecedented support package for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including:
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
The Self-Employed Income Support Scheme
The Bounceback Loan Scheme
Expanding eligibility for the business rates reliefs
We continue to speak with HM Treasury colleagues to ensure that the full spectrum of government support reaches the UK's world-leading music industry. To support the safe re-opening of cultural and creative sectors, DCMS has launched the Cultural Renewal taskforce. This includes several working groups to develop practical guidance on how the music production and performance sectors can operate safely with social distancing measures in place. As well as establishing these working groups, we will continue to work with the music industry to understand the difficulties they face and help them access support through these challenging times and through recovery.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of international examples of sector-specific support for (1) the live music sector, and (2) the music sector, particularly examples of good practice.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We are aware of, and monitor, examples of support for the music industry in other countries. The UK Government has put in place an unprecedented support package for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including:
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
The Self-Employed Income Support Scheme
The Bounceback Loan Scheme
Expanding eligibility for the business rates reliefs
As well as this, to support the safe re-opening of cultural and creative sectors, DCMS has launched the Cultural Renewal Taskforce. This includes several working groups to develop practical guidance on how the music production and performance sectors can operate safely with social distancing measures in place. As well as establishing these working groups, we will continue to work with the music industry to understand the difficulties they face and help them access support through these challenging times and recovery.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether live music venues that cannot comply with physical distancing and therefore have no income will continue to be supported for the duration of physical distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We continue to work closely with the live music sector to understand the impact of Covid-19 on their activities and provide the necessary support.
We have announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. Support packages have been improved upon and further have been introduced as a result of continued sector engagement with Government, including: the introduction of the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, which has benefited businesses unable to access CBILS; the removal of a rateable value link for business rates relief for all eligible properties in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector; and the extension of the CBILS so that all viable small businesses affected by COVID-19, and not just those unable to secure regular commercial financing, will now be eligible should they need finance to keep operating during this difficult time.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance, if any, they plan to provide to (1) musicians, and (2) actors, whose work has been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Chancellor has been clear on strengthening the safety-net for the self-employed and has announced a range of measures from which they will benefit. The next Income Tax Self-Assessment payments, due in July, will be deferred for that month. Self-employed individuals in temporary financial distress as a result of Covid-19 and who are unable to pay their tax on time or have existing liabilities are also eligible for Time to Pay. HMRC have set up a dedicated helpline to enable those eligible to get practical help and advice which can be reached by calling 0800 0159 559.
Freelancers and the self-employed may also benefit through the welfare system, including the £1,000 per annum increase in the Universal Credit standard allowance, the equivalent increase in the basic rate of Working Tax Credit and the uprating of Local Housing Allowance.
We are also temporarily relaxing the Minimum Income Floor for all self-employed Universal Credit claimants for the duration of the outbreak. This means a drop in earnings due to sickness or self-isolation or as a result of the economic impact of the outbreak will be reflected in claimants’ awards. Universal Credit can be claimed online or via phone, meaning self-employed claimants will not be required to attend the jobcentre for this.
Additionally, self-employed people unable to work because they are directly affected by Covid-19 or self-isolating will also be eligible for Contributory Employment and Support Allowance. As announced at Budget, this is now payable from the first day of sickness, rather than the eighth.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to support those who work in the creative industries during the shutdown of theatres, cinemas and other venues due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Last week, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced additional measures to support businesses and organisations that have been impacted by the pandemic.
This includes the Government stepping in to help pay people’s wages – a scheme which is one of the most generous of any in the world – paying grants to support as many jobs as necessary. Any employer in the country who promises to retain their staff, can apply for a grant to cover most of the cost of paying people’s wages. Government grants will cover 80 per cent of the salary of retained workers up to a total of £2,500 a month, with this limit set well above the median income. The cost of wages will be backdated to 1st March and will be open for at least three months. The Government will consider extending the scheme for longer if necessary.
We are also deferring the next three months of VAT, a direct injection of £33 billion of cash to employers which means no business will pay any VAT in March, April or May; and they will have until the end of the financial year to repay those bills.
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will now be interest free for twelve months, an extension from the initial announcement of six months. We have already introduced and announced an extension to the Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which is for small and medium-sized businesses. On Tuesday, the Chancellor expanded the amount that can be borrowed from £1.2 million to £5 million.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to support individuals who work in theatres, cinemas, and other entertainment venues which do not have pandemic insurance cover.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Last week, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced additional measures to support businesses and organisations that have been impacted by the pandemic.
This includes the Government stepping in to help pay people’s wages – a scheme which is one of the most generous of any in the world – paying grants to support as many jobs as necessary. Any employer in the country who promises to retain their staff, can apply for a grant to cover most of the cost of paying people’s wages. Government grants will cover 80 per cent of the salary of retained workers up to a total of £2,500 a month, with this limit set well above the median income. The cost of wages will be backdated to 1st March and will be open for at least three months. The Government will consider extending the scheme for longer if necessary.
We are also deferring the next three months of VAT, a direct injection of £33 billion of cash to employers which means no business will pay any VAT in March, April or May; and they will have until the end of the financial year to repay those bills.
The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will now be interest free for twelve months, an extension from the initial announcement of six months. We have already introduced and announced an extension to the Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which is for small and medium-sized businesses. On Tuesday, the Chancellor expanded the amount that can be borrowed from £1.2 million to £5 million.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the impact on the creative industries of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Government’s analysis on how leaving the EU may affect the UK economy, including Implications for Business and Trade of a No Deal Exit, is available on gov.uk.
As part of this process, the Government has worked across all sectors, including the creative industries, and published technical notices on gov.uk to help creative professionals understand the implications of No Deal, allowing them to take practical preparatory steps. The guidance includes information on trade and a partnership pack with a specific chapter on creative professionals touring in the EU in the event of No Deal.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of Brexit on (1) UK authors, poets, translators and illustrators, and (2) the wider UK publishing industry, in the case of (a) a negotiated Brexit deal and (b) no deal.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Delivering the EU Exit deal remains the Government’s top priority. Officials have met with industry representatives to discuss EU exit issues and will continue to do so.
We recognise the economic and cultural importance of UK publishing and literature, with the UK’s vibrant book and journal industry worth £4.4bn. The UK produces an extraordinary level of talent in literature and publishing and the decision to leave the EU will not change that.
The UK exports books to every region in the world, with exports of physical and digital books worth £1.42bn. . Whether the UK leaves the EU with a deal or not, we will be able to negotiate, ratify and sign off trade agreements once we have left the EU and we want the UK to continue to be one of the best places in the world for literature and publishing.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the installation of superfast broadband in Compton Bassett was stopped; when they expect the remaining properties to receive superfast broadband connectivity; and what compensation, if any, is available for those residents and businesses that have not yet been connected.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The Department does not hold information on specific locations within local Superfast projects. This information is held by the local authority project team - in this case Wiltshire Online. Decisions on what areas are in or out of scope are taken locally.
For communities that fall outside of a Superfast area, there are two UK Government schemes in place that aim to upgrade a premises connection, such as the Gigabit Voucher Scheme (https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/) and the Better Broadband Scheme (https://basicbroadbandchecker.culture.gov.uk/).