Oral Answers to Questions

Emma Lewell-Buck Excerpts

Thursday 9th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (South Shields) (Lab)]

5. What steps she is taking to support (a) cultural and (b) charitable organisations during the cost of living crisis.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Stuart Andrew)]

This is a difficult time for DCMS sectors, including our cultural and charitable organisations, given increased running costs. We remain firmly on their side. The Government have taken action to support such organisations with their bills, but my Department is continuing to engage with both cultural and charitable organisations to monitor the impact.

[Mrs Lewell-Buck]

Thanks to the Government’s economic illiteracy and punitive welfare policies, cultural organisations are facing closure and millions are living in poverty. Cultural community groups and food banks almost entirely rely on donations to stay afloat and meet demand. Is it not an abdication of this Government’s duty—and unsustainable—to leave it to charitable donations from the public to fill gaps left by the state?

[Stuart Andrew]

As someone who spent 16 years of their life working in the charity sector, I would say no. I think that charities have an amazing role to play within our communities, and we have been right behind them. During the covid pandemic, we provided more than £750 million for them, and, as I say, we are continuing to work with them to ensure that they have the support that they need.