Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her department has a) investigated implementing a basic income for the arts, which provides artists with a weekly income, b) plans to economically support creative artists.

The Government is not considering basic income for artists at this time. We believe that British creators are second-to-none and are committed to giving them security and a regulatory and fiscal environment where creativity can flourish. This is exemplified with our recent Employment Rights Act, our appointment of freelance champions Leila D’Aronville and Lizzie Crump and our 5% uplift to National Portfolio Organisations, giving certainty for staff and freelancers.