Music and Dance Scheme

Lord Blackwell Excerpts

Tuesday 24th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Blackwell (Con)]

My Lords, I declare an interest as a governor of a specialist music school. As the Minister will be aware, the MDS covers music schools as well as dance schemes. Is she aware of the uncertainty and damage caused to parents trying to decide whether they can send their children to these schools, as well as the threat to the viability of these schools, if there is no certainty about future funding? When she talks about a new centre, could she clarify whether this is being considered as an alternative to the MDS? The MDS is vital to the future of many of these very specialist but highly prized schools.

[Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab)]

I hope the noble Lord recognises that I recognise the contribution the MDS makes, and particularly the way it enables children who otherwise would not be able to afford this type of education to afford it. As I pointed out, it is longstanding and the Government have made a commitment to it this year, including to the bursaries that are necessary for those young people to benefit from it. We will make further announcements about this in the future. Sadly, given the way that funding decisions and budget planning go, it is not that unusual for there not to be a longer-term commitment to something. But, so far, the Government’s commitment to this has been right and appropriate, given the contribution that it makes.