Commons Sense

House of Commons · Adjournment Debate

Performing Arts: English National Opera

05 December 2022 · 3 other contributors

Opened by Bob Neill Con Bromley and Chislehurst

Culture, Media & Sport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Bob Neill raised concerns about performing arts: english national opera in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.

Key points

  • MP highlighted the distress caused by Arts Council England's decision to remove English National Opera from its national portfolio.
  • ENO had achieved financial stability and was praised for excellent governance before the decision.
  • Minister acknowledged the debate's importance and outlined the Government's commitment to arts support through the culture recovery fund.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Bob Neill Con Bromley and Chislehurst

The MP highlighted the distress caused by Arts Council England’s decision to remove English National Opera (ENO) from its national portfolio, despite ENO's long-standing commitment to making opera accessible. He emphasised that ENO had achieved financial stability and was praised for excellent governance yet faced sudden removal without consultation or evidence base. Neill stressed that this decision undermines the Government’s objective of spreading arts across the country and threatens job losses at ENO.

Other contributors (3)
  • Unnamed MP

    The right hon. Lady agreed that ENO has successfully broadened access to opera, citing statistics showing half of its audience attend for their first time.

  • Unnamed MP

    My hon. Friend concurred, noting the enthusiasm and diversity of audiences at recent performances.

  • Unnamed MP

    The right hon. and learned Lady agreed that a compromise solution should be found to maintain ENO’s London presence while pursuing wider engagement.

Government Response

Stuart Andrew

The Minister acknowledged the debate's importance and outlined the Government's commitment to arts support, including the culture recovery fund during the pandemic. He emphasised the levelling-up agenda for cultural distribution across England. The Arts Council is investing £446 million annually from 2023-2026, supporting more organisations than ever before in diverse locations. While acknowledging individual concerns, he stated that decisions are made independently based on well-established criteria by regional experts. English National Opera's removal was part of a broader portfolio adjustment; the Arts Council offered support for ENO's future exploration. The Minister reassured London’s cultural significance would remain prioritised while expanding opportunities elsewhere.

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