Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the financial sustainability of the comedy sector.

The comedy sector is a vital performing art which forms part of this country's cultural landscape, enriching lives, and shaping our collective identity.

DCMS has not undertaken a financial sustainability assessment of this sector on its own, but we are carefully studying evidence from the sector of the issues and opportunities that comedy is facing.

DCMS is actively collaborating with the sector through advising on the Live Comedy Association’s annual industry survey, which will examine the economic size and scale of the sector and its social and cultural impacts.Through the Culture and Heritage Capital Programme, DCMS is also currently undertaking research to understand the social value of comedy venues in England.