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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to support the live music industry in (a) Manchester and (b) the UK.

The live music industry is a vital part of the UK’s music ecosystem, contributing £1bn to the economy in 2016. We have undertaken a number of measures to support live music, most recently we announced that the Agent of Change principle will be included in the National Planning Policy Framework, helping to protect music venues when new housing is built.

Government is investing £78 million in a new theatre and arts complex in Manchester, the Factory, which will have live music as part of its offer. Arts Council England provides funding support for Band on the Wall a key venue for Manchester’s live music scene.