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 potential impact of the proposed National Portfolio Programme 2023-26 on the number of (a) performers, (b) stage management staff and (c) creative team directly engaged by National Portfolio Organisations.

Decisions about which organisations to fund, and by how much, are taken by Arts Council England at arm’s length from the Government. Arts Council England made its decisions in line with its published guidance and its ten-year strategy, ‘Let’s Create’. Assessments were carried out by Arts Council England, and decisions were made by its Area and National Councils, which include both local representatives and people who work in the sector. Any questions about specific funding decisions should be directed to Arts Council England.

The Government will continue to work with Arts Council England to understand the impacts of its investment in arts and culture, including on performers, stage management staff, and creative teams directly engaged by National Portfolio Organisations.