Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions the Government has had with representatives of the fashion industry on tackling the issues that sector has been experiencing at UK borders since 1 January 2021.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The government recognises the significant contribution of the UK’s world-leading fashion and textiles sector to the UK economy, and is committed to supporting it. The sector delivered £35bn in GVA and 890,000 jobs in 2019, and is an important contributor to the UK’s soft power via events such as London Fashion Week.
We are aware of the challenges the fashion and textiles industry has raised around specific aspects of our new trading relationship with the EU, and we are working closely with the sector to ensure businesses get the support they need.
Officials in my department recently hosted a webinar with the fashion industry to provide guidance and clarity on the new rules for trading with the EU. In addition, my colleague the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has created a DCMS-led working group, which brings together creative sectors’ representatives, including the British Fashion Council, and other key government departments, to look at the issues facing the creative and cultural sectors when working and touring the EU. It will provide clarity regarding the practical steps that need to be taken and will seek to ease movement and facilitate touring as far as circumstances allow.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Government stating in February 2020 that it aimed to negotiate a Canada-style agreement with the EU; and statements by Baroness Barran in Parliament on 3 June 2020 outlining that the government was seeking reciprocal arrangements for temporary entry and stay (Mode IV) to facilitate touring and other short-term creative work based on best precedent; what assessment the Government had made of the precedent for touring provisions in other Free Trade Agreements on temporary entry and stay, including Annex 10-D of Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
Through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK and the EU agreed to a list of 11 activities that can be carried out by short-term business visitors without the need for a work permit, on a reciprocal basis in most Member States – subject to any reservations taken. This list of permitted activities is based on the best precedent established in the EU’s Free Trade Agreements with Canada and Japan. It includes, among other activities, permissions for after-sales, translation and market research services. The EU–Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement does not include any facilitations for touring musicians.
The UK pushed for the list of permitted activities to be expanded to capture the work done by musicians, artists and entertainers, and their accompanying staff. This was a straightforward solution for our creative industries which would have benefited all sides. Regrettably, the EU rejected these proposals.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the oral contributions of the Minister for Digital and Culture of 19 January 2021 ., Official Report column 773 on UK Musicians: EU Visa Arrangements; what assessment the Government has made of (a) the effectiveness of adding musicians to the list of independent professionals for short-term business visitors in enabling frictionless work travel for touring musicians and (b) whether adoption of that policy would have removed the requirement for EU work permits.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement includes a list of 11 activities that can be carried out by short-term business visitors without a work permit, on a reciprocal basis in most Member States, subject to any reservations taken.
During negotiations with the EU, the UK proposed expanding this list of activities for Short Term Business Visitors to cover musicians and their accompanying staff. This would have enabled musicians and other creative professionals to travel and perform in the UK and the EU without needing work-permits. Regrettably, these proposals were rejected by the EU.
Therefore, UK cultural professionals, including musicians, seeking to perform within the EU will be required to check domestic immigration and visitor rules for each Member State in which they intend to perform. Although some Member States may allow paid performances without a visa or work permit, others will require musicians and other creative professionals to obtain a visa or work permit, in the same way that they are required for other international artists.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the EU’s standard definition of short-term business visitors which explicitly excludes any situation in which the visitor is selling services to the general public during their visit and receiving payment from people in the country they are visiting, what assessment the Government made during the EU-UK negotiations of the (a) viability of that category for touring musicians and (b) compatibility of that category with the requirements of music touring.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
During the negotiations, the EU tabled a declaration accompanying their proposals on visa-free travel. The declaration identified which paid activities could be allowed as part of visa-free visits. However, these proposals would not have addressed the creative and cultural sectors’ concerns. The proposals were non-binding, did not include touring but only ‘ad hoc’ performances, did not include technical staff, and did not address work permits. The EU’s proposals were also part of a package on visa-free travel that was not consistent with the UK’s manifesto commitment to take back control of our borders.
During our negotiations with the EU, the UK proposed measures, reflecting the views of the music industry itself, that would have allowed musicians to travel and perform in the UK and the EU more easily, without needing work-permits. This would have delivered an outcome that is closer to the UK’s approach to incoming musicians, artists and entertainers from non-visa national countries, such as EU Member States and the US. Regrettably, these proposals were repeatedly rejected by the EU.
The Government recognises the importance of touring for UK musicians and other creative professionals. A DCMS Working Group with key cultural sector representatives and other key government departments has been established to tackle the range of specific issues with a view to assisting the sector as far as possible to confidently work in the EU.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Digital and Culture of 19 January 2021, Official report, col 774-789, on what dates the EU rejected the UK’s offer during the negotiations to include musicians on the list of independent professions for short-term business visitors.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
During the negotiations, this Government proposed that musicians and technical staff be added to the list of permitted activities for short-term business visitors in the entry and temporary stay chapter of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This would allow them to travel and perform in the EU more easily, without needing work-permits.
As with legal text shared in confidence, publishing correspondence and details exchanged between parties related to the development of legal text for trade agreements would not be appropriate.
A DCMS Working Group with key cultural sector representatives and other key government departments has been established to tackle the range of specific issues with a view to assisting the sector as far as possible to confidently work in the EU.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the EU legislation database and existing visa waiver agreements between the EU and other countries such as Colombia, UAE, Tonga, St Lucia which include a definition of paid activity to not cover artists performing an activity on an ad-hoc basis; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of that system to exempt UK musicians and other performers from entry requirements or restrictions on short-term work in the EU for 90-days.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
In the UK-EU trade negotiations, the EU tabled a proposal for a permanent visa waiver for short stays covering UK and EU citizens. This drew on bilateral agreements the EU has with some other third countries, such as Columbia, Peru and the UAE. Accepting a permanent short stay visa waiver for all current and future EU Member States was not, and is not, compatible with our manifesto commitment to take back control of our borders. The UK’s Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU confirms that both the UK and EU currently provide for visa-free travel for short-term visits for each other’s nationals in accordance with their respective laws. The UK’s points-based immigration system has been developed in the national interest.
The EU’s proposal was accompanied by a Joint Declaration intended to direct those Member States who currently require short stay visas for “paid activities” to waive that requirement for “artists performing an activity on an ad-hoc basis”. This offer would not have met the needs of touring musicians: it did not deal with work permits at all, and would not have allowed support staff to tour with artists. The proposal the UK put forward in negotiations would have reduced the additional administrative burdens on artists when touring and was based on input from the cultural sector – but this was repeatedly rejected by the EU.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what representations the Government has made to its European counterparts on frictionless trade and travel for the creative industries since the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement was agreed.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
This Government recognises the importance of the UK’s cultural industries, and that is why we pushed for ambitious arrangements to make it easier for performers and artists to perform across Europe as part of the negotiations on our future relationship with the EU.
During the negotiations with the EU, the UK proposed measures, developed in consultation with the creative industries, that would have allowed creative professionals to travel and perform in the UK and the EU more easily, without needing work-permits. Specifically, we proposed to capture the work done by musicians, artists and entertainers, and their accompanying staff through the list of permitted activities for short-term business visitors. Regrettably, these proposals were rejected by the EU.
There is scope to return to this issue in the future should the EU change its mind. The Government is looking at whether we can work with our partners in EU Member States to find ways to make life easier for those working in the creative industries in our respective countries.
We are also undertaking an extensive programme of engagement with the industry to assess impacts and support these sectors in understanding new requirements. DCMS Secretary of State had a very productive discussion with representatives from across the creative and cultural sectors on the issue on 20 January, and has committed to establish a DCMS-led working group on this issue.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the Government’s policy is on securing a supplementary agreement with the EU on the UK's creative workers being able to travel freely in the EU.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
This Government recognises the importance of the UK’s cultural industries, and that is why we pushed for ambitious arrangements to make it easier for performers and artists to perform across Europe as part of the negotiations on our future relationship with the EU.
During the negotiations with the EU, the UK proposed measures, developed in consultation with the creative industries, that would have allowed creative professionals to travel and perform in the UK and the EU more easily, without needing work-permits. Specifically, we proposed to capture the work done by musicians, artists and entertainers, and their accompanying staff through the list of permitted activities for short-term business visitors. Regrettably, these proposals were rejected by the EU.
There is scope to return to this issue in the future should the EU change its mind. The Government is looking at whether we can work with our partners in EU Member States to find ways to make life easier for those working in the creative industries in our respective countries.
We are also undertaking an extensive programme of engagement with the industry to assess impacts and support these sectors in understanding new requirements. DCMS Secretary of State had a very productive discussion with representatives from across the creative and cultural sectors on the issue on 20 January, and has committed to establish a DCMS-led working group on this issue.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of relaxing (a) General Data Protection Regulations and (b) UK data protection rules on securing a free trade agreement with the EU before the end of the transition period.
Answered by John Whittingdale
During the transition period (until 31 December) there is no change to the current data protection regime, and the GDPR will continue to apply.
At the end of the transition period, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (EUWA) will retain the GDPR in UK domestic law, while the legislation implementing the Law Enforcement Directive (LED) (Part 3 of the Data Protection Act 2018) will also be preserved.
We have made Regulations under the EUWA to make necessary and appropriate changes to the retained legislation so that the UK’s data protection law continues to function effectively after the transition period. In order for the free flow of data from the EEA to the UK to continue at the end of the transition period, we are seeking adequacy decisions from the EU under both the GDPR and the LED.
As with all policy areas, the UK will control our own data protection laws and regulations in line with our interests, after the end of the transition period. We want our data protection law to remain fit for purpose and to support the future objectives of the UK. The UK intends to operate a high-quality regime that promotes growth and innovation, and underpins the trustworthy use of data as the global economy becomes increasingly digitised and data-enabled.
Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) women and (b) men his Department has appointed to each of his Department's non-Departmental Public Bodies in each of the last five years.
Answered by Margot James
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for the appointment of the Chairs and Trustees to the boards of 42 Arm’s Length Bodies. In the past 5 years, the department made 307 new appointments, of which 161 (52%) were male and 135 (44%) were female. Gender information for 11 (4%) new appointments was not declared by appointed candidates.
Year | Total number of new appointments. | Total number of male appointments. | Total number of female appointments. | Total number of undeclared appointments. |
2013 - 2014 | 50 (100%) | 28 (56%) | 21 (42%) | 1 (2%) |
2014 - 2015 | 46 (100%) | 22 (48%) | 22 (48%) | 2 (4%) |
2015 - 2016 | 72 (100%) | 41 (57%) | 25 (35%) | 6 (8%) |
2016 - 2017 | 58 (100%) | 29 (50%) | 29 (50%) | 0 (0%) |
2017- 2018 | 66 (100%) | 33 (50%) | 31 (47%) | 2 (3%) |
2018 - 4 June 2018 | 15 (100%) | 8 (53%) | 7 (47%) | 0 (0%) |