Asked by: Tommy Sheppard (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish guidance for musicians and other performers on (a) travelling and (b) working in EU countries in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Leaving the EU requires musicians and performers to adapt their current processes as they travel to and work in the EU. We have engaged extensively with stakeholders to ensure we fully understand these changes and to support the sector with their preparations..
We have also worked extensively with colleagues across government to ensure musicians and performers’ interests are being considered as we prepare to exit the EU. Specific advice regarding travel and working abroad can be found on the Government’s Get Ready For Brexit webpage.
We are ensuring that latest guidance and updates regarding how organisations can best prepare for travelling and working internationally forms a key part of our business readiness preparations. My department is holding bespoke arts industry workshops designed to support individuals and organisations in the arts, culture and heritage sectors as they prepare. The government is also holding nationwide events offering tailored guidance and support which are open to all, to help prepare for Brexit.
The Association of British Orchestras and UK Theatre have also been granted Government funding to provide industry briefings, open to those in their sectors and beyond.
Asked by: Tommy Sheppard (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the accuracy of the findings by the Incorporated Society of Musicians that musicians will incur additional costs of up to £1,000 per year when travelling to the EU in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Our cultural and creative sectors are one of the UK’s greatest success stories. We will ensure that these sectors continue to thrive and that collaboration with our European partners continues to flourish beyond our exit from the EU.
My department benefits from, and greatly appreciates, the expertise and research carried out by trade organisations and umbrella bodies, like the Incorporated Society of Musicians.
Journeys and routes around the EU are varied and unique to each musician. As such it is not possible to calculate a single accumulated cost.
However, we have engaged extensively with the cultural sector, and understand the diverse circumstances of companies, organisations and individual practitioners and how they may need to adapt as we leave the EU. These include changes for visas, social security and movement of equipment, including instruments when moving around the EU. We are working with other colleagues across government to ensure these are factored into our preparations and future negotiations.
Asked by: Tommy Sheppard (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which fruitless payments in excess of £30,000 her Department has made by (a) recipient of each such payment, (b) purpose of each such payment, (c) value of each such payment and (d) reason that payment was classified as fruitless in the 2017-18 financial year to date.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Figures for 2017-18 will be available once the DCMS Annual Report and Accounts are audited by the National Audit Office, and laid before Parliament.