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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 22 Jun 2020
BBC Regional Politics Coverage

"I agree entirely with the hon. Member. One of the great strengths of this country is its creativity and its media output. We are a huge exporter, as she will know very well from her own background, which she was describing earlier. She will know not only how valuable that …..."
Matt Western - View Speech

View all Matt Western (Lab - Warwick and Leamington) contributions to the debate on: BBC Regional Politics Coverage
Written Question
Performing Arts: Coronavirus
Tuesday 9th June 2020

Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to support the performing arts sector during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

The Government has already announced an unprecedented package of measures in place to provide immediate and vital support to the cultural sector during this pandemic. These include the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self Employment Support Scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, business rates relief and cash grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.

In order to further support the sustainability of the sector, DCMS has worked closely with Arts Council England (ACE) to provide a tailored package of financial support. In March, ACE announced a £160m emergency response package to complement the financial measures already announced by the Government and to ensure immediate resilience of this vital sector.

£90 million is being made available to National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) and Creative People and Places (CPPs) lead organisations. £50 million will be made available to organisations that are not in receipt of regular funding from the Arts Council in order to maintain their survival through this crisis. Finally £20 million of financial support is being made available to individuals, so they can better sustain themselves, and their work, in the coming months. DCMS and ACE are continuing to work closely to consider the additional measures that are needed to ensure the long-term recovery and growth of the cultural sector.

The Secretary of State, myself and officials continue to consult the Art sector extensively to ensure we fully understand the financial impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the sector.

DCMS is engaging with other departments to support the economic response, by ensuring that the needs of its sectors, and those who work in them, are understood.

DCMS will continue to work with this valuable sector to understand the difficulties it faces and help it access support through these challenging times and through recovery.

Written Question
Culture and Tourism: Coronavirus
Friday 5th June 2020

Asked by: Matt Western (Labour - Warwick and Leamington)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps he has taken to support the heritage and tourism sector during the covid-19 outbreak.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

We will continue to engage with stakeholders to assess how we can most effectively support the heritage and tourism sectors through this crisis.

Businesses and workers in these sectors can access the Government’s comprehensive economic support package, including the recently extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Bounce Back Loans scheme.

Through VisitEngland, we announced a £1.3 million scheme to provide financial support to Destination Management Organisations at risk of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and Historic England (HE) have made emergency funding available for the heritage sector. The NLHF’s £50 million Heritage Emergency Fund and HE’s £2 million Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund extend a safety net to a wide variety of heritage organisations struggling with financial losses and cash flow issues.

My Department’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce - which contains specific Heritage and Visitor Economy Working Groups - is developing guidance to help these sectors to safely reopen.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 09 Mar 2020
Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [Lords]

"My hon. Friend is making some extremely important points. As a neighbouring MP in the west midlands, I welcome the games coming to our region. She talks about Edgbaston being a world-leading cricket venue. Leamington, of course, is the world-leading venue for lawn bowls—[Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”] I thank hon. …..."
Matt Western - View Speech

View all Matt Western (Lab - Warwick and Leamington) contributions to the debate on: Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill [Lords]
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 08 May 2019
TV Licences for Over-75s

"My hon. Friend is making a powerful and important speech. Does she agree that what we are talking about is a valuable friend to so many lonely, perhaps elderly, people? We are talking about Auntie: we are talking about the BBC. By effectively cutting its funding, we are damaging the …..."
Matt Western - View Speech

View all Matt Western (Lab - Warwick and Leamington) contributions to the debate on: TV Licences for Over-75s
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Apr 2019
UK Telecoms: Huawei

"Today’s Financial Times quotes Rob Joyce, a senior cyber-security adviser to the US National Security Agency, as saying:

“We are not going to give them the loaded gun.”

He said of the oversight board:

“For eight years they have had the cyber security centre there and the last several years …..."
Matt Western - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 11 Apr 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"4. What recent assessment he has made of the effect of access to public libraries on social mobility. ..."
Matt Western - View Speech

View all Matt Western (Lab - Warwick and Leamington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 11 Apr 2019
Oral Answers to Questions

"Andrew Carnegie, the great Scottish-US philanthropist, once stated:

“A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert.”

However, since 2010, 605 libraries have closed in England, Wales and Scotland, and 15 of the 34 in …..."
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Mon 25 Jun 2018
Football: Safe Standing

"I genuinely appreciate your including me in today’s debate, Ms McDonagh. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Tooting (Dr Allin-Khan) for bringing this timely debate to the House.

This is another good example of where we as legislators are …..."
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 15 May 2018
Arsène Wenger

"I thank the hon. Gentleman for securing the debate. I cannot believe that I am here, witnessing and enjoying the debate. It is important that we recognise Arsène Wenger’s contribution, not just to Arsenal football club and football in this country, but to football around the world. Does the hon. …..."
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View all Matt Western (Lab - Warwick and Leamington) contributions to the debate on: Arsène Wenger