Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of contacting successful applicants to the Music Hub Investment Programme before April 2024.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Arts Council England is leading the Music Hubs investment programme at the invitation of the department. As the programme is ongoing, information about the number of applications is commercially sensitive so cannot be published. The plan is for applicants to be informed of the outcome of the investment programme by April 2024, although they will be informed earlier if this is possible.
In relation to music performance facilities in secondary schools, the department does not collect this information. The National Plan for Music Education, published in June 2022, sets out the department’s strategy to 2030 and maintains the government’s commitment to high quality music education for all. Starting in September 2023, all state-funded schools are asked to teach music to 5- to 14-year-olds for at least an hour a week each term, supported by co-curricular learning and musical experiences. It is for schools to decide what facilities are required to meet this expectation, including the specific expectation in the Plan in relation to space for rehearsals and individual practice.
In relation to the Cultural Education Plan, the department has been working closely with the Department for Media, Culture and Sport, and has conducted extensive engagement with external stakeholders across the education and cultural sectors and appointed an Expert Advisory Panel in July 2023. Both the Panel and the stakeholder engagement are helping to inform the development of the Plan and its emerging proposals. The department will publish the Cultural Education Plan in the coming months.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of apprenticeships in the music industry in each academic year since 2018-19.
Answered by Robert Halfon
The most recent statistics on apprenticeship starts by industry characteristics cover the academic years 2012/13 to 2020/21 and are published on GOV.UK at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-in-england-by-industry-characteristics. These data use the Office for National Statistics’ two-digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) of the UK workforce.
There is not a two-digit SIC code for ‘the music industry’. The following table shows the number of apprenticeships starts covered by the two-digit SIC code for ‘motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities’ in England between the 2018/19 and 2020/21 academic years.
Academic Year | Apprenticeship starts |
2018/19 | 380 |
2019/20 | 170 |
2020/21 | 190 |
Data for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years will be published in June 2024 and June 2025, respectively.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) legal advice on proposals to change the structure of music education hubs.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Music Hubs have a vital role in ensuring children and young people across the country can access high quality music education. The government values the many achievements that the existing Music Hub network has made since 2012.
As part of the refreshed National Plan for Music Education, published in June 2022, the government set out its intention to re-compete the hubs lead organisation (HLO) role and reduce the number of HLOs. The department also committed to work with Arts Council England (ACE), as the fundholder of the Music Hubs programme, to engage with existing and potential HLOs to inform this process. At the invitation of the department, ACE subsequently undertook a two-stage consultation in early 2023. They then published the findings of the consultation and announced the change from 118 to 43 HLOs, and subsequently launched the ongoing investment programme. The investment programme is due to conclude next year, with newly competed HLOs commencing from September 2024.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 14 November 2023 to Question 1085 on Musicians: Census, which organisations the Government has invited to be involved in the industry working group to discuss issues around creator remuneration.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The working group’s membership is still being considered by the Government, and officials are liaising with key industry representatives to seek their views and input. It will be composed of nominated representatives and experts spanning the breadth of the sector.
We intend to publish further details around the working group, including membership, in the near future, once relevant parties have been notified.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's publication of 11 October 2021 entitled Visa-free short term touring allowed in 20 member states, whether any additional countries offer visa and work permit free routes for UK musicians and performers.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government is committed to supporting touring artists and the wider music industry to adapt to new arrangements following our departure from the EU, and we have worked with the sector and directly with Member States to provide clarity and support.
24 out of 27 Member States, the vast majority, have clarified arrangements to confirm that they allow visa and work permit free routes for UK performers for some short-term touring. This includes most of the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands, and it includes Spain and Greece who have introduced easements for third country touring professionals.
We continue to engage with the few remaining Member States to improve arrangements or clarify guidance, and we have worked closely on this with the sector. Most recently, we raised the issue of Touring with the EU at the Services Investment and Digital Trade Committee on 9 October. Ultimately however, it is up to Member States to align their requirements more closely with the UK’s generous rules.
The Government has also launched an Export Support Service where UK businesses, including touring professionals, can access advice and guidance. We will continue to engage with industry to understand challenges facing the live music sector and options to address these issues.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the total number of hospitality businesses in England which held The Music Licence and closed in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020, (d) 2021 and (e) 2022.
Answered by John Whittingdale
We have made no estimate in relation to businesses holding ‘TheMusicLicence’.
The Collective Management Organisations ‘PRS for Music’ and ‘Phonographic Performance Limited’ (PPL), which represent copyright owners in the music sector, are responsible for ‘TheMusicLicence’.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people have died as a result of taking illegal drugs at a music festival in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by John Whittingdale
We do not hold this information.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the Musician's Union publication entitled 'Musicians' Census', published on 11 September 2023.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Government is committed to maximising the potential of the UK music industry and its musicians.
We continue to regularly engage with industry and organisations, including the Musicians Union, to understand the challenges facing musicians, including those identified in the ‘Musicians’ Census’.
The Government has taken action to address these challenges, by supporting growth in the sector and creating more opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to pursue a career in music.
This includes working with the Department for Business and Trade to support UK musicians to successfully export to international markets through initiatives such as the International Showcase Fund and the Music Export Growth Scheme. Additionally, we are committed to protecting creatives through our world-leading copyright and intellectual property laws, and the Government is also establishing an industry working group to discuss issues around creator remuneration.
We are also taking action to support young talent to pursue a career in music. In June 2021 we published the National Plan for Music Education, setting out ambitions to increase music opportunities for all children and young people, regardless of circumstance and needs. Grassroots venues are also vital to supporting the talent pipeline, which is why we committed to providing an additional £5 million of funding to support grassroots music venues over two years.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the levels of Orchestra Tax Relief.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The Secretary of State has regular conversations with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a number of issues, including creative tax reliefs.
As announced at the Spring Budget earlier this year, His Majesty’s Government has extended the current headline rates of Orchestra Tax Relief. The rates for Orchestra Tax Relief will remain at 50% for expenditure taking place from 1 April 2023, reducing to 35% from 1 April 2025 and returning to 25% from 1 April 2026. As of August 2023, £75 million has been paid out relating to 740 claims. This represents 2,940 productions.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to Orchestra Tax Relief announced in the Spring Budget 2023 on the economic sustainability of orchestras.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Orchestras are a crucial part of the UK arts sector. That is why at Spring Budget 2023, the government went further to support orchestras by announcing a 2-year extension to the current 45% (for non-touring productions) and 50% (for touring productions) rates of orchestra tax relief (OTR).
From April 2024, qualifying expenditure for OTR will be that incurred on goods and services used or consumed in the UK. To qualify, 10% of expenditure on a production must be incurred on goods or services that are used or consumed in the UK. This is a significant decrease from the current requirement for 25% of expenditure to be incurred on goods or services in the UK or EEA. The government expects this will support companies in adjusting to the new rules.