EU-UK Summit: Visa Waiver Agreement

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay Excerpts

Thursday 8th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for raising this important issue. Of course, the UK Government recognise the financial and administrative challenges that withholding tax presents for UK artists touring in the EU. I can reassure the noble Baroness that we are carefully considering the most effective ways to help our touring artists to contribute to Europe’s rich cultural landscape, so that we can provide European audiences with a diverse offering and support UK-EU cultural collaboration. I can only repeat that I cannot be more specific about the 19 May summit—but it is a very important issue that she raises.

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

My Lords, it is disappointing that, with 11 days to go before the summit, the Minister cannot yet answer the question that the noble Earl poses on behalf of our creative professionals, particularly when the Government are now admitting what they had previously denied—that they are open to a youth mobility scheme with the European Union. Rather than allowing young people with no job to come to the UK without restriction, would not it be better to prioritise the hard-working creative professionals who want to tour more readily across the continent, bringing joy to our lives as well as value to our economies?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

At the top of my lines, I do have the advice to make sure that we keep the collaborative spirit between us. But can I be frank? We have a summit coming up a week on Monday. Is that not progress from where we were before?