UK Musicians: EU Visa Arrangements

Baroness Bakewell Excerpts

Wednesday 20th January 2021 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Bakewell (Lab) [V]]

My Lords, many, if not most, musicians are freelance or self-employed workers. As such, they are among the 3 million taxpayers who have fallen through the net of the Government’s financial support during the pandemic. Will the Government and the Minister please explain why they cannot at least support musicians in this way?

[Baroness Barran (Con)]

I understand the noble Baroness’s concerns in this area, and we definitely continue to explore routes through it. However, I reassure her that direct funding has gone from Arts Council England to freelancers and, furthermore, to some of the benevolent societies that support them.