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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Live Comedy Association on (a) the level of funding required to protect the 77 per cent of live comedy venues that are reported to be at risk of closure in the next 12 months and (b) ensuring the needs of live comedy performances are reflected in plans the Government is developing to support the arts sector reopen after the covid-19 lockdown.

a) The Live Comedy Association attends the regular ministerially-chaired roundtables that ensure we are assisting all our Creative Industries sectors as effectively as possible. In addition, officials are in regular contact with the Live Comedy Association, ensuring that the needs of the comedy industry are fully understood. We will continue to work with the Live Comedy Association to understand the difficulties the comedy industry faces and help it access support through these challenging times and through recovery.

On Sunday 5 July 2020, the Secretary of State announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. Live comedy is a much loved part of the British cultural landscape. Comedy venues and organisations will be eligible to apply for support through the package, just like other performing art forms. Detailed eligibility criteria will be set out as soon as possible in July.

b) The Live Comedy Association is a member of the ministerially-chaired Events and Entertainment Working Group, that is focused on developing covid-19 secure guidance to enable the safe reopening of the entertainment sector.

We have worked closely with the industry on a clear roadmap for the return of the performing arts and live entertainment sectors providing detailed guidance. We are pleased that, subject to the success of pilots, which include a number of comedy events, from August indoor performances with socially distanced audiences will be able to take place.