Oral Answers to Questions

John Slinger Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Nandy]

We work very closely with Bectu and the National Union of Journalists, and I pay tribute to their work on this issue. The Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Online Safety and I recently appointed two freelance champions in recognition of the fact that, for freelancers in particular, there is a real problem in these industries. All of us in this House need to step up and use our voices as loudly as we possibly can; hand on my heart, as the Culture Secretary, I cannot say that this issue is not happening today—in fact, I would wager that it is. It is time that we all stand up, as the hon. Lady has done today, and ensure that we are heard and counted.

[John Slinger (Rugby) (Lab)]

As someone who played in rock bands and wrote songs, I was delighted to read in the Canadian budget about the Canada creative credit: 48,000 Canadian dollars-worth of tax credit to provide creative artists with income, tax-free, on the creative output that they engage in. Will the Minister update the House on the excellent work we are doing and on what more we can do to help creative artists across this land?

[Ian Murray]

I am delighted that the old rocker has asked that question. We have a 10-point plan for music, which is there to support the music industry from a grassroots level all the way through to our top talent and artists. The Arts Council England review, led by Baroness Hodge in the other place, looked at whether we should support individual artists, and the Arts Council is now looking at that to see how it can best support individual artists. We are backers of music, and we want to continue to be the best in the world.