Creative Industries: Freelance Champion

Debate between Lord Kennedy of Southwark and Baroness Buscombe

Thursday 22nd January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Buscombe (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

We will hear from the Conservative Benches next, then the Cross Benches.

[Baroness Buscombe (Con)]

My Lords, is one of the problems not that, in spite of the creative industries enjoying vast subsidies recently and throughout Covid—the Government were very generous—there are scant employment rights? The noble Baroness asked about freelancers, but the industry is rife with people who are nepotistic and people who say, “Come and work for us, but we cannot pay you”. Will the Government please track where those huge subsidies are going? I think I know; I think they are going to what are called non-executive and executive producers. Where is the money going in terms of employment rights?