Schools: Music and Dance Scheme

Earl of Clancarty Excerpts

Wednesday 28th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

No, it is not. That is why, unlike the noble Baroness’s Government, we have not cut the money for the music and dance scheme. I understand that schools are keen that we provide even more. That is why we will soon announce the funding for 2026-27, and we will ensure that, alongside all the other things we are doing to support arts, music and dance, we find a way to enable the thriving arts and music scene in this country to continue and for young people to benefit from it.

[The Earl of Clancarty (CB)]

My Lords, the music and dance scheme ticks all the boxes for helping underprivileged students—exactly what the Government are in favour of. I do not understand why we are even having this Question. Why is this not sorted already? Further to what the noble Baroness, Lady Barran, said, there is a real possibility that some of these schools may close unless they get the £4 million that is required—not a huge amount of money in the scheme of things.

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

If every department in government was able to immediately come up with the money for everything that everybody argued was not a great amount of money in the scheme of things, it would be gratifying for those asking for it and bankrupting to the Government. I hope I have made clear today this Government’s commitment to the highly talented individuals who continue to receive support on a means-tested basis so that they can attend these private music and dance schools, as well as the broader investment and curriculum change that we are putting in to ensure that arts and music opportunities for young people, for the creative industries and beyond, are not only supported but reinvigorated by the interest that this Government are taking in them.