First elected: 5th May 2005
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Provide an energy grant to people with a disability or serious medical condition
Gov Responded - 14 Jun 2022 Debated on - 22 May 2023 View Barbara Keeley's petition debate contributionsMillions of UK citizens have a disability or serious medical condition that means they use more energy. Many people need to use a ventilator 24/7. People use electric pumps to feed through a tubes. People need to charge their mobility equipment, such as electric wheelchairs, stair lifts, bath seats.
Make people on disability benefits eligible for the £650 one off payment.
Gov Responded - 11 Oct 2022 Debated on - 22 May 2023 View Barbara Keeley's petition debate contributionsDisabled people should be included alongside carers in the £650 one off payment as part of the Cost of Living support package. We have larger utilities bills and food costs when compared to non-disabled people. We rely on these utilities and food to stay alive.
Increase funding for research into Endometriosis and PCOS.
Gov Responded - 24 Aug 2020 Debated on - 1 Nov 2021 View Barbara Keeley's petition debate contributionsEndometriosis and PCOS are two gynaecological conditions which both affect 10% of women worldwide, but both are, in terms of research and funding, incredibly under prioritised. This petition is calling for more funding, to enable for new, extensive and thorough research into female health issues.
Increase funding for urgent research into devastating motor neurone disease
Gov Responded - 7 Apr 2021 Debated on - 12 Jul 2021 View Barbara Keeley's petition debate contributionsWe ask Government to significantly increase targeted research funding for motor neurone disease (MND).
A new investment of £50m over 5 years could kickstart a pioneering MND Research Institute.
This would lead to better, faster and more definitive research outcomes and hope for those with MND.
Don’t criminalise trespass
Gov Responded - 15 Apr 2020 Debated on - 19 Apr 2021 View Barbara Keeley's petition debate contributionsThe Government's manifesto stated “we will make intentional trespass a criminal offence”: an extreme, illiberal & unnecessary attack on ancient freedoms that would threaten walkers, campers, and the wider public. It would further tilt the law in favour of the landowning 1% who own half the country.
I request a full public inquiry into death of my son, Matthew Leahy. (20 yrs.)
Gov Responded - 2 Aug 2019 Debated on - 30 Nov 2020 View Barbara Keeley's petition debate contributionsMatthew was taken to, ‘a place of safety’, and died 7 days later.
24 others died by the same means, dating back to the year 2000. An indicator that little was done to address the growing problems.
Something went terribly wrong with the NHS Mental Health Services provided to my son.
These initiatives were driven by Barbara Keeley, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Barbara Keeley has not been granted any Urgent Questions
A Bill to provide that people in receipt of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit and accommodated in the social housing sector be entitled to an additional bedroom related to caring responsibilities or overnight care; and for connected purposes.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to require health bodies and general medical practitioners, and certain other organisations, to identify patients who are carers or who have a carer; to require identified carers to be referred to sources of help and support and to make further provision in relation to such arrangements; to make provision in relation to the responsibilities of local authorities and schools for the needs of young carers and their families; and for connected purposes;
Multi-storey car parks (safety) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Maria Eagle (Lab)
Quad Bikes Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Judith Cummins (Lab)
Planning and Local Representation Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Rachel Hopkins (Lab)
Disabled Facilities Grants (Review) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Liz Twist (Lab)
House of Lords (Exclusion of Hereditary Peers) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - David Hanson (Lab)
Reproductive Health (Access to Terminations) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Diana Johnson (Lab)
As announced in the recent Spring Budget, the Government will provide over £100 million of support for charities and community organisations in England. This will be targeted towards those organisations most at risk, due to increased demand from vulnerable groups and higher delivery costs, as well as providing investment in energy efficiency.
Work is underway to finalise the delivery time frame and eligibility criteria. Further details will be announced as soon as possible.
As announced in the recent Spring Budget, the Government will provide over £100 million of support for charities and community organisations in England. This will be targeted towards those organisations most at risk, due to increased demand from vulnerable groups and higher delivery costs, as well as providing investment in energy efficiency.
Work is underway to finalise the delivery time frame and eligibility criteria. Further details will be announced as soon as possible.
In line with its published guidance, Arts Council England considered both where organisations were based and where they were planning to deliver their activity in its assessments and decision-making for its 2023–6 Investment Programme, just as it did for previous rounds. This included consideration of the impact of investment on Priority Places, Levelling Up for Culture Places, places of historically low Arts Council investment, places of historically low cultural engagement, and the spread across the country and between rural areas, towns, and cities, as well as other balancing criteria unrelated to geography.
The decisions made by Arts Council England about the allocation of funding for the National Portfolio Organisation 2023-26 funding round were taken at arm's length from HM Government. This is in accordance with the well established process, which is published on the Arts Council’s website and made clear in the guidance for applicants. As such, DCMS does not, nor should it, review individual decisions.
The Department works with all its public bodies, including Arts Council England, on continuous improvements and assurance. My officials will work with Arts Council England to learn from this recent funding round, as they would for any area of its work.
Arts Council England has a complaints process for its funding streams. This is available on Arts Council England’s website.
Arts Council England will only reconsider a decision if it finds that a material mistake has been made. For example, an organisation (or individual) can use the complaints process if it believes that:
Arts Council England has delayed, made mistakes or failed to follow its own processes;
Arts Council England has failed to give an applicant access to information or has given an applicant incorrect advice or information;
Arts Council England has not treated an applicant politely;
Arts Council England has unlawfully discriminated against an applicant or not treated an applicant fairly.
Arts Council England uses the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s principles of good complaint handling. If a complainant is dissatisfied with a decision or the way a complaint has been, complainants can refer the complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). Funding decisions by Arts Council England can also be subject to Judicial Review.
As with many issues, the Government Equalities Office and Department for Health and Social Care continue to engage on this matter.
We are aware that waiting times for Gender Identity Services are currently very long and we are working with NHS England to help address this. In 2019, NHS England began work on changing services to establish a more modern, flexible care model to support adult transgender people. Procurement is underway and clinics meeting new service specifications will be in place in this year, subject to changes caused by the COVID-19 response. The intention is to move routine gender identity service away from specialist centres, to more local provision.
It is a legal obligation that employers pay the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, introduced by this Conservative Government, and the National Minimum Wage for workers under 23. Departments can also require suppliers to pay above these rates, such as the London Living Wage, where it is relevant to do so.
UK public procurement policy is to award contracts on the basis of value for money, which means the optimum combination of cost and quality over the lifetime of the project.
The Sourcing Playbook sets out the Government's policies with regards to outsourcing. It was introduced to improve decision making and the quality of contracts government places with suppliers. The Playbook is focussed on getting things right from the start, and includes 11 key policies which help government and industry work together to deliver high quality public services while maximising value for money.
By getting things right from the start and driving better contracting with the private sector, the playbook policies prioritise high quality outcomes, whilst also driving efficiencies and savings.
A cross government working group of officials meets formally on a regular basis to take forward the work of the infected blood Compensation Framework Study. As needed, meetings also take place on an ad-hoc basis. I also have regular meetings with my officials to receive updates on their work.
I refer the hon Member to the statement I made in the House on 15 December where I announced that the moral case for compensation was formally accepted. I also set out the work being carried out across government in consideration of the compensation framework study - which included specific reference to those groups who were not able to claim interim compensation.
This work is intended to ensure that the Government is prepared to act swiftly in response to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report when it is delivered.
I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS681, made on 15 March.
Written Parliamentary Questions receive final sign off from Ministers.
The Cabinet Office has produced guidance for civil servants on drafting answers to parliamentary questions. This can be found on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drafting-answers-to-parliamentary-questions-guidance
Civil servants and Ministers conduct these duties in line with their respective Codes of Conduct.
My Office has no record of receiving this letter. I have asked my Office to contact the signatories to see if they can re-send the correspondence.
Work is currently underway and I will update Parliament as soon as possible on this.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 107140 on 21 October 2020.
It is vital public health information in this pandemic is accessible to all. Covid-19 guidance is provided in alternative formats including Easy Read, British Sign Language and Audio. Covid-19 press briefings with BSL are published on the 10 Downing Street and UK Government social media channels. The BBC News Channel has live signing for the briefings and has been made available across the UK via Freeview, cable, satellite and online.
We have also used publicly held contact details to communicate with those who may need support, and our on the ground teams have directly spoken to local residents. The Government Digital Service has published detailed accessibility standards and guidelines to help departmental channel owners improve content. We will continue to review this and all Covid-19 communication through regular feedback sessions with disability charities.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 107140 on 21 October 2020.
It is vital public health information in this pandemic is accessible to all. Covid-19 guidance is provided in alternative formats including Easy Read, British Sign Language and Audio. Covid-19 press briefings with BSL are published on the 10 Downing Street and UK Government social media channels. The BBC News Channel has live signing for the briefings and has been made available across the UK via Freeview, cable, satellite and online.
We have also used publicly held contact details to communicate with those who may need support, and our on the ground teams have directly spoken to local residents. The Government Digital Service has published detailed accessibility standards and guidelines to help departmental channel owners improve content. We will continue to review this and all Covid-19 communication through regular feedback sessions with disability charities.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 107140 on 21 October 2020.
It is vital public health information in this pandemic is accessible to all. Covid-19 guidance is provided in alternative formats including Easy Read, British Sign Language and Audio. Covid-19 press briefings with BSL are published on the 10 Downing Street and UK Government social media channels. The BBC News Channel has live signing for the briefings and has been made available across the UK via Freeview, cable, satellite and online.
We have also used publicly held contact details to communicate with those who may need support, and our on the ground teams have directly spoken to local residents. The Government Digital Service has published detailed accessibility standards and guidelines to help departmental channel owners improve content. We will continue to review this and all Covid-19 communication through regular feedback sessions with disability charities.
The Government has a clear ambition for the UK to be a global science superpower and this is reaffirmed in the UK Research and Development Roadmap. The UK is open to participation in certain EU programmes provided we can reach a fair and balanced deal, and negotiations are ongoing.
The UK reached a substantive agreement on the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership on 11 September 2020. This contains subsidy commitments which are appropriate for an FTA and have a bearing on UK subsidies only insofar as they may have an effect on trade with Japan.
The Government has a clear ambition for the UK to be a global science superpower and this is reaffirmed in the UK Research and Development Roadmap. The UK is open to participation in certain EU programmes provided we can reach a fair and balanced deal, and negotiations are ongoing.
The UK reached a substantive agreement on the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership on 11 September 2020. This contains subsidy commitments which are appropriate for an FTA and have a bearing on UK subsidies only insofar as they may have an effect on trade with Japan.
The Government remains committed to working to reach an agreement with the EU.
Whether or not the UK and EU reach agreement, the UK will be an independent coastal state outside of the Common Fisheries Policy from 31 December 2020. The UK will no longer be bound by the EU’s outdated and unfair method of sharing fishing opportunities. I refer the hon. Member to the press statement released on 13 October 2020 by the Fisheries Minister on this issue.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ59762 on 23 June 2020.
The Government remains committed to working to reach an agreement with the EU.
Whether or not the UK and EU reach agreement, the UK will be an independent coastal state outside of the Common Fisheries Policy from 31 December 2020. The UK will no longer be bound by the EU’s outdated and unfair method of sharing fishing opportunities. I refer the hon. Member to the press statement released on 13 October 2020 by the Fisheries Minister on this issue.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ59762 on 23 June 2020.
The Government remains committed to working to reach an agreement with the EU.
Whether or not the UK and EU reach agreement, the UK will be an independent coastal state outside of the Common Fisheries Policy from 31 December 2020. The UK will no longer be bound by the EU’s outdated and unfair method of sharing fishing opportunities. I refer the hon. Member to the press statement released on 13 October 2020 by the Fisheries Minister on this issue.
I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ59762 on 23 June 2020.
Our Plan To Rebuild, the Government's COVID-19 Recovery Strategy, is published on gov.uk and includes details on plans for weddings. We understand the frustration couples planning a wedding must be feeling at this time. We are keeping these restrictions under review and will ease them as soon as it is safe to do so. We will continue to work closely with faith leaders and local government over the coming weeks to go through the practicalities of doing so.
Marriages and civil partnerships under the special procedure for those who are seriously ill and not expected to recover, are taking place in some cases where it is safe to do so in line with PHE guidance.
This Government is fully committed to fulfilling its obligations under this important Convention and recognises the important role the CEDAW Committee plays in holding States Parties to account in implementing the treaty.
A range of factors are considered before making a decision on whether to nominate a candidate for a UN body such as CEDAW. It is also important to highlight that CEDAW Committee members serve in their personal capacity and do not represent the Member State that nominated them. This Government has full faith in the independence of the Committee and applaud the high quality of its work.
After careful consideration, the Government will not be nominating a candidate for the 2020 CEDAW Committee election. However, as with all UN bodies, the Government will carefully consider whether to nominate a UK representative for future vacancies which will arise to the Committee.
The government has regular discussions with external stakeholders including the live music industry but other than with regulators, none of these were specific to the government’s response to the CMA’s report on secondary ticketing.
The CMA report was issued during a period when this department was consulting more broadly on consumer protection issues, but few of these respondents made any reference to secondary ticketing or the CMA recommendations.
During the review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, analysis of many contributions from the private sector, trade associations, the voluntary sector and other types of organisations were assessed.
The Government has taken a consistent approach to identifying the most energy and trade intensive sectors, with all sectors that meet agreed thresholds for energy and trade intensity eligible for Energy and Trade Intensive Industries support. These thresholds have been set at sectors falling above the 80th percentile for energy intensity, and 60th percentile for trade intensity, plus any sectors eligible for the existing energy compensation and exemption schemes.
Although there have been library closures, an extensive network of libraries remains across England delivering services including digital to local residents. There has been no assessment made of the impact of library closures on trends in the level of digital exclusion. There are over 2,900 libraries across England, and while there have been closures, they continue to be a well used service, providing a trusted network of accessible locations with trained staff and volunteers, free wifi and public PCs, and assisted digital access to a wide range of digital services.
Based on a dataset of information on public libraries in England, published by Arts Council England, we estimated that around 230 static libraries have been permanently closed in the period 1 April 2010 to 31 December 2021 and have not been relocated or replaced.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme provides a discount on the wholesale element of gas and electricity bills to ensure that all eligible charities are protected from excessively high energy costs over the winter period. The new Energy Bill Discount Scheme will run from April 2023 until March 2024 and will continue to provide support to eligible charities.
Wider support is available to help charities with costs. This includes a reduction in VAT, from 20% to 5% and exclusion from the main rates of the Climate Change Levy on some of the energy they use.
HM Treasury is leading the review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. To support this review, BEIS has had 13 direct meetings with an estimated 20 charity organisations. Colleagues from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport also have regular meetings with stakeholders from the civil society sector, through which additional evidence and insight has been submitted to HM Treasury.
HM Treasury is leading the review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. To support this review, BEIS has had 13 direct meetings with an estimated 20 charity organisations. Colleagues from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport also have regular meetings with stakeholders from the civil society sector, through which additional evidence and insight has been submitted to HM Treasury.
HM Treasury is leading the review of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. To support this review, BEIS has had 13 direct meetings with an estimated 20 charity organisations. Colleagues from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport also have regular meetings with stakeholders from the civil society sector, through which additional evidence and insight has been submitted to HM Treasury.
Ofcom, the independent regulator, monitors Royal Mail’s performance and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its service standards. Ofcom is consulting on the future regulatory framework for post and plans to issue a statement in Summer 2022.
The Supreme Court has upheld the Court of Appeal judgment of July 2018 and provided legal clarity following years of evolving court judgments and legal uncertainty.
The Government welcomes the legal clarity and is considering the implications of the judgment, also with care commissioners and providers, to consider what action, if any, is needed.
When employers consider whether workers should come into the office, this will need to be reflected in the COVID-19 workplace risk assessment and actions taken to manage the risks of transmission in line with this guidance.
The decision to return to the workplace must be made in meaningful consultation with workers (including through trade unions or employee representative groups where they exist). It is vital employers engage with workers to ensure they feel safe returning to work, and they should not force anyone into an unsafe workplace.
Safer working guidance for offices and contact centres can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/offices-and-contact-centres. This guide clarifies for employees how they, should they need to, can escalate a concern regarding a return to work.
Anyone who feels they are incorrectly being asked to go into their place of work should contact their employee representative or trade union if they have one, or contact the Health and Safety Executive on 0300 790 6787 or using the online working safely enquiry form.
Across all industries, 97% of UK businesses say they are aware of the government safer workplace guidance. Source: ‘Business Impact of Covid-19 Survey’, ONS, October 2020.
Across all industries, only 2% of UK businesses said that they have not implemented any safety measures in the workplace. Source: ‘Business Impact of Covid-19 Survey’, ONS, October 2020.
A survey of the public found that almost two thirds of employees (63%) in Great Britain had been consulted on safer working practices by their employer, whilst a similar proportion (62%) said that their employer is displaying a covid-secure poster in their workplace. Source: ‘Coronavirus and the social impacts on Great Britain’, ONS, October 2020.
Compliance by employers across the nation with the BEIS guidance is high. Across all industries, 97% of UK businesses say they are aware of the government safer workplace guidance (Business Impact of Covid-19 Survey’, ONS, October 2020).
Further, the BEIS guidance make it clear that by law, from 28 September employers must not knowingly require or encourage someone who is being required to self-isolate to come to work.
The Government’s safer working guidance is clear that in order to keep the virus under control, it is important that people work safely. In order to help contain the virus, everyone who can work effectively from home must do so. Where people cannot do so (for instance people who work in critical national infrastructure, construction, or manufacturing) they should continue to attend their workplace. This is essential to keeping the country operating and supporting vital sectors and employers. The full guidance is available on gov.uk.
In order to help employers support staff to work from home where possible, ACAS has produced comprehensive guidance on the key employment issues for when people are working at home during the pandemic. This covers practical issues such as pay and insurance, as well as offering training on managing people who work remotely – the link to the relevant section of the ACAS site can be found here https://www.acas.org.uk/working-from-home.
There is also a legal framework in place that grants all employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service with their employer the statutory Right to Request Flexible Working, where employees can request a change to their hours, working patterns or to work from home. There is supporting guidance currently available online which explains eligibility, as well as the process for both making and receiving requests to work flexibly on GOV.UK – this can be found here https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working.
Terms and conditions of employment are for negotiation and agreement between employers and employees (or their representatives). Provided they do not discriminate unlawfully, for example on grounds of race, sex or disability, employers are free to offer the terms and conditions of employment which best suit their business needs. Once agreed, however, they form a legally binding contract of employment. While it is always open to either party to seek to renegotiate the terms of the contract, if the employer changes any of the terms without the employee’s agreement, the employee may be entitled to seek legal redress.
The Government has put in place a package of support for businesses of all sizes, including small businesses. This includes guidance developed with industry experts, unions, business organisations, local Government, and other stakeholders to get people back to work safely. It helps organisations meet their obligations under health and safety law and employers are responsible for taking all reasonably practical steps to address health and safety risks.
The small business grant fund has been created, specifically for hereditaments in England that were eligible for relief on 11 March under the small business rates relief (SBRR) fund. The funding is to support small and rural businesses which are ratepayers on a property, as these businesses are more likely to have ongoing fixed costs during this period. Unfortunately, businesses that were not eligible for percentage SBRR relief on 11 March are excluded.
Nevertheless, there are other new measures to provide support to those businesses, including Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme; deferral of the next quarter of back-payments for firms until the end of June, representing a £30 billion injection into the economy; and a new fast-track finance scheme providing loans with a 100% government guarantee. In addition, there is also the bounce-back loan scheme, which will ensure that the smallest businesses can access loans in a matter of days. We are working currently with local authorities to try to make sure that this support is delivered as fast as possible.
Border Force does not hold the data requested.
The UK’s rules for touring creative professionals are comparatively more generous than in many EU Member States. The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists from non-visa national countries, such as EU Member States and the US, to perform in the UK without requiring a visa, and the UK does not have work permits.
The Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.
Sector specific guidance on creative professionals from non-visa national countries, including the EU and the US, visiting the UK for performance and work has been published by DCMS on GOV.UK can be found in the ‘Visiting the UK as a creative professional from a non-visa national country guidance’ on GOV.UK.
DCMS has worked across government and in collaboration with the music and wider creative industries to support working and touring with confidence in the EU. Ongoing industry engagement continues at ministerial and official level. This includes several recent events with the sector focused on touring and export support, hosted in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade. These events help to provide tailored guidance to stakeholders within the music sector, alongside an opportunity for the sector to discuss with Ministers and officials touring challenges and opportunities.
Border Force does not hold the data requested.
The UK’s rules for touring creative professionals are comparatively more generous than in many EU Member States. The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists from non-visa national countries, such as EU Member States and the US, to perform in the UK without requiring a visa, and the UK does not have work permits.
The Government is committed to supporting the UK’s creative industries, including musicians, to adapt to new arrangements with the EU.
Sector specific guidance on creative professionals from non-visa national countries, including the EU and the US, visiting the UK for performance and work has been published by DCMS on GOV.UK can be found in the ‘Visiting the UK as a creative professional from a non-visa national country guidance’ on GOV.UK.
DCMS has worked across government and in collaboration with the music and wider creative industries to support working and touring with confidence in the EU. Ongoing industry engagement continues at ministerial and official level. This includes several recent events with the sector focused on touring and export support, hosted in partnership with the Department for Business and Trade. These events help to provide tailored guidance to stakeholders within the music sector, alongside an opportunity for the sector to discuss with Ministers and officials touring challenges and opportunities.
The Department does not hold data on the numbers of music rehearsal spaces or on community choirs in England.
Estimates of the numbers of community choirs in England may be available from Arts Council England’s Investment Principles Support Organisation Making Music, which represents voluntary and leisure-time music organisations in the UK – although its membership will likely not represent the total number of community choirs in England.
Through Arts Council England’s 2023–26 Investment Programme, more money is going to more music organisations in more parts of the country than ever before, supporting 139 organisations classed as ‘music’ by investing c.£65 million of public funding per annum.
Separately, HM Government funds a diverse portfolio of music and arts education programmes which are designed to improve participation in the arts for all children. The National Plan for Music Education and the upcoming Cultural Education Plan will encourage more young people to take up music lessons, attend local cultural events, and consider careers in the music sector.
The Department does not hold data on the numbers of music rehearsal spaces or on community choirs in England.
Estimates of the numbers of community choirs in England may be available from Arts Council England’s Investment Principles Support Organisation Making Music, which represents voluntary and leisure-time music organisations in the UK – although its membership will likely not represent the total number of community choirs in England.
Through Arts Council England’s 2023–26 Investment Programme, more money is going to more music organisations in more parts of the country than ever before, supporting 139 organisations classed as ‘music’ by investing c.£65 million of public funding per annum.
Separately, HM Government funds a diverse portfolio of music and arts education programmes which are designed to improve participation in the arts for all children. The National Plan for Music Education and the upcoming Cultural Education Plan will encourage more young people to take up music lessons, attend local cultural events, and consider careers in the music sector.
We do not hold data on the number of music recording studios that have closed in the last 10 years.
In August 2021, DCMS commissioned the consultancy firm, Sound Diplomacy, to assess the state of the music studio market in England.
Whilst the assessment found challenges, it showed the market is responding to changes, such as technological innovation, is maintaining or growing sources of income and has a healthy supply of music studios.
The Government does not currently have plans to publish an update report to the Music Studio Market Assessment.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has regular conversations with Arts Council England (ACE) on a range of issues, including financial support for music organisations.
We do not hold data on the number of music recording studios that have closed in the last 10 years.
In August 2021, DCMS commissioned the consultancy firm, Sound Diplomacy, to assess the state of the music studio market in England.
Whilst the assessment found challenges, it showed the market is responding to changes, such as technological innovation, is maintaining or growing sources of income and has a healthy supply of music studios.
The Government does not currently have plans to publish an update report to the Music Studio Market Assessment.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has regular conversations with Arts Council England (ACE) on a range of issues, including financial support for music organisations.
The Department does not hold data on the numbers of community brass bands in England. Our arm’s-length body Arts Council England funds a number of brass band organisations, but does not maintain a category solely for ‘community brass bands’. The brass band organisations it funds includes two nationwide organisations: the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, and Brass Bands England. Brass Bands England promotes, represents, and supports brass bands across England, and will be able to provide information about the number of community brass bands operating.