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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Let the Music Move Campaign regarding the (1) restrictions, (2) costs, and (3) delays, for touring musicians arising from the settlement reached in the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement; and what assessment they have made of the statement by Sir Elton John on 10 June that the UK music industry could lose “a generation of talent” due to those restrictions.

The UK’s creative industries are the finest in the world and this government is determined to support them, including young and emerging artists. UK performers and artists are of course still able to tour and perform in the EU, and vice versa. However, we understand the concerns about the new arrangements and we are working with the creative and cultural sectors to help them get to grips with the changes to systems and processes.

As the Secretary of State has said, we have moved at pace and with urgency, and have provided much greater clarity about the current position. This includes through the DCMS-led working group, whose membership includes the Featured Artists Coalition, the Music Managers Forum, LIVE, UK Music and other bodies organising the Let the Music Move Campaign. The group has discussed the issues faced by the sector, has worked to provide clarity regarding the practical steps that need to be taken by touring professionals when touring the EU, and has explored further steps as to how these sectors can be supported to work and tour in the EU with confidence.

Through bilateral engagement with EU Member States, we have established that at least 17 out of 27 Member States, including France and Germany, allow some visa and permit free touring. We are now engaging with those Member States that do not have any visa or permit free touring to encourage them to adopt a more flexible approach in line with the UK’s own rules, which allow creative professionals to tour easily here.