Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to create a music export office to (a) support creators and businesses looking to build their profile abroad, (b) provide advice on export logistics and strategy to artists and (c) help artists to expand into new markets.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises that there are new requirements for creative workers to work and tour in the EU. The Government has sought to clarify these new arrangements, which are in many cases more workable than has at times been reported.
EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. That is why we have engaged with EU Member States about the importance of touring. From these discussions, almost all Member States have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for musicians and creative performers. This includes most of the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.
We have also confirmed that splitter vans are not subject to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement requirements on haulage, and that portable musical instruments, carried or in a vehicle, can be transported cost-free and should not require ATA Carnets. In July, the Government introduced ‘dual registration’ to make it easier for specialist hauliers to move musicians’ equipment between Great Britain and the EU.
The Government supports creative businesses through a range of export support programmes, including the Music Export Growth Scheme, the International Showcase Fund, and the new Creative Faculty of the Export Academy. The Government has also established a new Export Support Service from which UK artists can get answers to practical questions about working in Europe.
In light of this support, the government does not intend to establish a new creative industries export office during this Spending Review period. The Government will set out its ambition for the creative sector to 2030, including boosting growth and exports, in the upcoming Creative Industries Sector Vision, which will be published in early 2023.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what progress the Government has made on bilateral negotiations with individual EU Member States to allow 90 in 180 days work permit free touring for UK artists and crew.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises that there are new requirements for creative workers to work and tour in the EU. The Government has sought to clarify these new arrangements, which are in many cases more workable than has at times been reported.
EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. That is why we have engaged with EU Member States about the importance of touring. From these discussions, almost all Member States have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for musicians and creative performers. This includes most of the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.
We have also confirmed that splitter vans are not subject to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement requirements on haulage, and that portable musical instruments, carried or in a vehicle, can be transported cost-free and should not require ATA Carnets. In July, the Government introduced ‘dual registration’ to make it easier for specialist hauliers to move musicians’ equipment between Great Britain and the EU.
The Government supports creative businesses through a range of export support programmes, including the Music Export Growth Scheme, the International Showcase Fund, and the new Creative Faculty of the Export Academy. The Government has also established a new Export Support Service from which UK artists can get answers to practical questions about working in Europe.
In light of this support, the government does not intend to establish a new creative industries export office during this Spending Review period. The Government will set out its ambition for the creative sector to 2030, including boosting growth and exports, in the upcoming Creative Industries Sector Vision, which will be published in early 2023.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made on the impacts of barriers that UK musicians and crew face touring the EU following the UK’s decision to leave the EU.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises that there are new requirements for creative workers to work and tour in the EU. The Government has sought to clarify these new arrangements, which are in many cases more workable than has at times been reported.
EU Member States are principally responsible for deciding the rules governing what work UK visitors can undertake in each Member State. That is why we have engaged with EU Member States about the importance of touring. From these discussions, almost all Member States have confirmed they offer visa and work permit free routes for musicians and creative performers. This includes most of the UK’s biggest touring markets such as France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.
We have also confirmed that splitter vans are not subject to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement requirements on haulage, and that portable musical instruments, carried or in a vehicle, can be transported cost-free and should not require ATA Carnets. In July, the Government introduced ‘dual registration’ to make it easier for specialist hauliers to move musicians’ equipment between Great Britain and the EU.
The Government supports creative businesses through a range of export support programmes, including the Music Export Growth Scheme, the International Showcase Fund, and the new Creative Faculty of the Export Academy. The Government has also established a new Export Support Service from which UK artists can get answers to practical questions about working in Europe.
In light of this support, the government does not intend to establish a new creative industries export office during this Spending Review period. The Government will set out its ambition for the creative sector to 2030, including boosting growth and exports, in the upcoming Creative Industries Sector Vision, which will be published in early 2023.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the scale of the contribution to the UK economy from the technical support industry to the entertainment industry.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Government recognises the importance of the technical support and production services industry to the entertainment sector, and its contribution to the UK economy. We appreciate that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to this industry.
The Government undertakes a monthly assessment of the GVA of the cultural sector as a whole. It is estimated that GVA in the cultural sector shrank by 28% in March to December 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. In comparison, DCMS sectors (excluding Civil Society) shrank by 18% and the UK economy as a whole shrank by 11%. These monthly GVA estimates are based on incomplete information and should only be used to illustrate general trends, rather than be taken as definitive measures.
The Government recognises that there are many individuals and freelancers working across these industries. This is why the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) were extended to September 2021 at Budget. Also announced at Budget were changes to the SEISS scheme, meaning that 600,000 more people are now able to claim for the first time.
Through the CJRS, the Government is currently supporting 315,000 employees in the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation sectors.
The Department has remained in close contact with the technical support industry and production services sector throughout the pandemic and continues to hold regular meetings with a wide range of companies and representative organisations to understand the challenges they are facing and provide Government support targeted to their needs.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent representations he has received on the effect of covid-19 restrictions on (a) lower league and (b) amateur football.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Sports and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus. We are in regular contact with The Football Association about lower league and amateur football, and they are also invited to regular meetings of the Sport Working Group which I chair. Through these meetings we are continuing discussions with representatives from the sport and physical activity sector about the steps required to reopen indoor and outdoor sports facilities.
Many football clubs have benefited from the multi-billion pound package of cross-sector business support from the Government that has enabled many sports clubs and leisure businesses to survive, including the furlough scheme and business interruption loan scheme. Sports have accessed many hundreds of millions of pounds of support through this.
As part of this, Sport England has provided £220m directly to support community sport clubs and exercise centres through this pandemic, via a range of funds including their £35m Community Emergency Fund. This support is available to both men’s and women’s clubs with the latest figures showing £10.5m has already been awarded to over 1,500 football clubs. This sector support was recently boosted by an extra £50m to help grassroots sports clubs and organisations as part of Sport England’s new strategy Uniting the Movement.
National League clubs have also received further government support from the Sport Winter Survival Package. Steps 3-6 of the National League system will receive up to £10 million of grant support to protect the immediate future of approximately 850 clubs over the winter period. We also confirmed the second tranche of funding from the Package will provide an initial 19 National League Step 1-2 clubs with loans offers worth up to £5.4 million. Further awards will be announced in due course.
At Budget, the Chancellor also announced that the Government will provide an initial £25 million to support the growth of grassroots football, which will be enough to build around 700 new pitches across the UK.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of re-opening zoos and safari parks with appropriate social distancing measures.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
As announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June, outdoor areas of zoos and safari parks will be allowed to reopen from 15 June, subject to appropriate social distancing measures being in place. This includes keeping indoor exhibitions, such as reptile houses and those in aquariums, closed, and ensuring other amenities like cafes offer takeaway services only.
The move follows close work by the Government with the zoo industry to ensure visitor numbers can be managed and safeguards are put in place. The decision to relax restrictions on these select outdoor attractions is part of the Government’s careful approach to easing the lockdown in phases, guided by the advice of scientific and medical experts and the fact the risk of transmission is much lower outdoors.
Officials in the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs continue to meet weekly with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums and with the CEOs of the largest charitable zoos and aquariums in England, providing a forum to monitor concerns and seek insights from key sector representatives on current issues.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government has plans to introduce a stabilisation fund for the charity sector in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by John Whittingdale
The government has pledged £750 million to ensure the voluntary and community sector continues its vital work supporting the country during the Coronavirus outbreak. This includes £360m distributed through government departments and £200m for the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, being delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund. The government has unlocked a further £150 million from dormant bank and building society accounts, which will be distributed to organisations to support urgent work to tackle youth unemployment, expand access to emergency loans for civil society organisations and help improve the availability of fair, affordable credit to people in vulnerable circumstances.
We have published clear and comprehensive guidance on the £750 million, plus other sources of support, at
This is a package of emergency response funding targeted at supporting charities and social enterprises on the frontline of responding to Coronavirus, or providing other essential services. It builds on the significant package of support available across sectors, including the Job Retention Scheme.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with counterparts in (a) the EU and (b) Governments of EU Member States on the potential consequences of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on carnet-free travel between the UK and the EU for musicians travelling for work purposes.
Answered by Margot James
We recognise that the temporary movement of goods such as musical instruments and equipment is important to the music industry.
As part of our wider preparations for EU Exit, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is working with the music industry to understand potential impacts and opportunities for touring musicians. The Department will continue to build on this engagement.
In the unlikely event of a No Deal scenario the UK will continue to recognise and facilitate ATA Carnets originating from the EU and, although there has been no direct engagement with the EU or other member states, the UK expects similar recognition and facilitations from EU signatories just as we do with non-EU signatories.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has had discussions with the Home Secretary on preserving freedom of movement for people in the performance and production of creative works sector after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Margot James
The Prime Minister has been clear that as we leave the EU, free movement of people will end. A new, skills-based immigration system will be introduced to ensure we continue to attract the talented people we need.
We know that continued access to international talent and skills is a key concern for the creative industries as we leave the EU. The UK recognises that mobility is important to the creative and cultural sector, with the inclusion of a specific reference to the importance of mobility for creative, cultural and sporting cooperation in the White Paper on the Future Relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union.
The government will set out further detail on the UK’s future immigration system in due course, taking into account the findings of the Migration Advisory Committee. Any future mobility arrangements agreed on a reciprocal basis with the EU will be consistent with ending free movement, and my department will continue to work closely with the Home Office to ensure the needs of the creative industries are heard.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government plans to remain part of Creative Europe after the current funding period concludes in 2020.
Answered by Margot James
The UK will always be a European country that advocates for cultural diversity as part of its global identity and is committed to continuing its contribution to and support of European culture. The Government has been clear that will be explore participation in any successor programme to Creative Europe.
Where EU funding programmes are to the UK and EU's joint advantage, we want to discuss continued participation as part of the negotiations. Ultimately, the decision on which programmes are in the UK’s interests will be decided as part of the future partnership negotiations, which are ongoing.