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Arts, Culture and Heritage: Support Package
07 July 2020
Lead MP
Caroline Dinenage
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
EmploymentCulture, Media & Sport
Other Contributors: 56
At a Glance
Caroline Dinenage raised concerns about arts, culture and heritage: support package in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The UK’s arts and cultural heritage are not just beloved in the UK but are the envy of the rest of the world. The Government have already provided substantial financial assistance to see them through the crisis, including loans, business rate holidays and the self-employed and furloughing schemes. Together, those schemes have provided hundreds of millions of pounds of support, saving livelihoods, beloved organisations and institutions. The Government have provided an unprecedented £1.57 billion rescue package for museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues across the country in the form of emergency grants and loans. This will include rebuilding, upgrading and starting new construction work across our cultural infrastructure as part of a wider effort to build after coronavirus.
Jo Stevens
Lab
Cardiff East
We welcome this much-needed injection of cash for the arts and culture sector, but I have to ask: what took the Government so long? We have already seen venues going under and mounting job losses, and warnings from the Opposition and across the sector were ignored for weeks on end. Urgently getting the money to where it is needed now is critical, but according to the Department’s own briefing, funds will not arrive until the autumn.
Gosport
The hon. Member talks about this money as if it is the first thing the Department has made available to our sectors, but of course there has already been £215 million of emergency funding for cultural and heritage arm’s length bodies. We are working closely with Public Health England and have scientific investigations going on within theatres looking at the various threats. We will also be starting pilots to look at the other aspects that affect this.
Julian Knight
13:37:00
This can only be a first step—a vital first step. Does the Minister agree that the vital cultural sectors need a specific, Treasury-backed recovery plan, with a means found to enable large numbers of people to watch live entertainment in an enclosed space while feeling relatively safe? Will the Secretary of State commit to coming before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee immediately after the summer recess, to discuss how all this can be achieved?
Gosport
Welcomed innovative digital ideas for live performances during lockdown and the government's efforts to restart cultural activities. Emphasised working with Public Health England on safe reopening strategies, including socially distanced indoor and outdoor events. Stressed the importance of supporting freelancers through grants and loans.
John Nicolson
SNP
Nairn, Aberdeenshire and Moray
Acknowledged the financial difficulties faced by creative communities due to prolonged uncertainty and lack of support from the UK Government. Welcomed the £1.57 billion package but expressed concern for freelancers not covered under the self-employment income support scheme, questioning how funding will reach those who have slipped through the net.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Welcomed the recovery package and asked if there is any support for churches that serve as tourist attractions but are financially strained due to lockdown, suggesting a stand-alone scheme could be beneficial.
David Evennett
Con
Bexleyheath and Crayford
Supported the Government's decision to assist the performing arts sector for survival. Highlighted the economic importance of creative industries as growth sectors needing venues to reopen safely.
Caroline Lucas
Green
Brighton, Pavilion
Emphasised the need for grassroots live music venues to receive fair share of funds and requested a grant application process tailored to their unique needs. Urged the Minister to address gaps in self-employed support schemes.
Jason McCartney
Con
Colne Valley
Highlighted the importance of freelancers as the lifeblood of the arts sector, urging for funding that supports all those affected by lockdown measures.
Lucy Powell
Lab Co-op
Manchester Central
Welcomed support for Manchester's cultural institutions but questioned if there was adequate support for freelancers and small production companies within the ecosystem, urging further support through an extension of the furlough scheme.
Bob Neill
Con
Bromley Central
Welcomes the announcement but calls for urgent clarity on eligibility criteria for smaller organisations such as Bromley Little Theatre. Raises concerns about scientific guidance in comparison to European countries and asks for a review addressing this issue.
Eleanor Laing
Con
Epping Forest
Appeals for shorter questions to allow more Members to speak within the time limit.
Gosport
Emphasises efforts to gather scientific evidence and data, mentions meeting with Andrew Lloyd Webber to look at mitigation measures. Announces a capital fund of more than £100 million for cultural infrastructure projects.
Maria Eagle
Lab
Liverpool Garston
Welcomes the support but highlights the plight of technical production companies like Adlib, asking what help is available until proper reopening can occur.
Richard Holden
Con
Basildon and Billericay
Acknowledges the funding for arts sectors in his constituency and asks about support for cancelled or postponed building projects.
Navendu Mishra
Lab
Stockport
Asks how smaller venues like Stockport Plaza can benefit from the announced funds and requests regional breakdown information.
Rob Roberts
Con
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Supports the £59 million in Barnett consequentials for Wales, calls on Labour’s First Minister to support the sector.
Daisy Cooper
Lib Dem
St Albans
Queries eligibility of festivals and suggests reallocating Festival 2022 funds to help festivals this year.
Sara Britcliffe
Con
Hyndburn
Asks for assurance that smaller venues in her constituency will benefit from the package.
Tommy Sheppard
SNP
Edinburgh East
Questions the proportionate share of £97 million allocated to Scotland and calls for revision or relaxation of capital controls.
Marco Longhi
Con
Dudley South
Asks about support for cultural institutions like the Black Country Living Museum.
Catherine West
Lab
Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Calls for assurance that funds will go to people who make the arts, not just capital spending.
Jonathan Gullis
Con
Stoke-on-Trent North
Asks about support for cultural projects like the Harper Street renovation project in Middleport Pottery.
Matt Western
Lab
Warwick and Leamington
Welcomed the announcement of support for cultural organisations, specifically inquiring about how smaller organisations such as Playbox Theatre and Motionhouse dance theatre can benefit from this money.
Gosport
Emphasised the importance of supporting both large world-class venues and smaller grass-roots organisations, highlighting the ecosystem that arts and culture encourage. Additionally, she highlighted the support provided through various schemes like furloughing.
Asked how the Government can help to get more people, particularly young people, involved in culture and sport.
Questioned whether organisations like Adlib would receive support until the industry gets back up and running. He expressed concern that many such companies could go out of business by then.
Richard Fuller
Con
North Bedfordshire
Called for specific dates to be announced for reopening arts centres, suggesting this would unleash investment supporting the whole ecosystem of the arts.
Anna McMorrin
Lab
Cardiff North
Asked why the Secretary of State would not support workers in the culture sector who have been abandoned and excluded from support schemes throughout the crisis, also inquiring about when Welsh Government will receive funding.
Stuart Anderson
Con
South Shropshire
Asked what steps the Minister is taking to ensure that a fair share of the £1.57 billion investment reaches local theatres, such as the Wolverhampton Grand theatre in his constituency.
Ruth Jones
Lab
Newport West and Islwyn
Inquired about specific support for those who have fallen through the gaps of the financial safety net. She also mentioned local businesses that are losing jobs due to the pandemic.
Welcomed the package of support but questioned if it would principally benefit venues rather than production companies and producers, suggesting a Government stake in new productions could help ensure full venues.
Asked for similar bail-out packages to support travelling funfairs, noting they face delays in reopening like cultural organisations but do not qualify for the funding announced.
Roger Gale
Con
Herne Bay and Sandwich
Called for more detail on how freelancers will benefit from enhanced opportunities mentioned by the Minister. He emphasised the need to support those who work in theatres rather than the venues themselves.
Inquired about support for freelance musicians, technicians, producers and associated professionals within the live music industry who have fallen through the cracks of government schemes.
Damian Green
Con
Ashford
Asked for more detail on how freelancers will benefit from the £1.5 billion scheme, specifically when they can expect to see money in their bank accounts and expressed concern about freelance workers looking for jobs outside of the sector.
Ruth Cadbury
Lab
Brentford and Isleworth
Watermans arts centre in Brentford has received £87,000 emergency funding but it is only a third of the requested amount. The speaker questions how venues will survive beyond September with less than a third capacity.
Gosport
Responded to Ruth Cadbury, noting that £1.5 billion funding package has been announced for cultural and arts venues. She promises more details on how it will work in the coming days.
Andrew Griffith
Con
Arundel and South Downs
Asked Caroline Dinenage to consider a higher number of individual smaller grants so that local museums like Amberley Museum, Arundel Museum, and Steyning Museum can benefit from the funding.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Welcomed the £57 million Barnett consequentials in Scotland. Proposed that cultural institutions south of the border could be encouraged to perform in northern Scotland for entertainment.
Asked when Sheringham little theatre and Wells Maltings can have a route map and plan so they can reopen their doors.
Mary Foy
Lab
City of Durham
Noted that despite the announcement, there is still uncertainty in the arts industry, especially for freelancers. She asked if the Government will create a plan to protect companies and artists financially from localised lockdowns or positive covid cases.
Asked what support is available urgently for those providing technical services to performance venues who are worried about making staff redundant within the month due to lack of funding.
Welcomed the package but asked for reassurance regarding plans for the 200th anniversary of railways and specifically for Locomotion No. 1 staying in Darlington.
Feryal Clark
Lab
Enfield North
Inquired about support available from the rescue package for companies like All Safe and Sound and Handheld Audio Ltd that have lost 98% of their income since March lockdown and will face financial collapse when furlough ends.
Asked Caroline Dinenage to provide more information on how the funds would be distributed, particularly for theatres in dire need like Princes Theatre, West Cliff Theatre, and Frinton Summer Theatre.
Inquired about support available to freelance performers whose livelihoods are at risk due to live music venues closing because of the pandemic.
Emphasised the urgency in distributing funds as many venues are on the brink and asked for inclusion of supply chain companies in the support scheme.
Tulip Siddiq
Lab
Hampstead and Highgate
Noted that despite welcoming the new funding, there is concern about access to funds by smaller institutions who cannot apply for at least £1 million.
Gosport
Apologised for any disrespectful tone and acknowledged the shortcomings of the self-employed income support scheme. Noted that Netflix, UK Theatre, the Society of London Theatre, and Sam Mendes have donated £500,000 to establish a theatre artists fund.
Craig Williams
13:37:00
Asked for support for agricultural shows in rural communities. Inquired about specific assistance for the Royal Welsh show.
Gosport
Acknowledged the importance of agricultural shows and noted that they fall under DEFRA's jurisdiction but mentioned efforts by DCMS to support rural cultural establishments.
Barbara Keeley
13:37:00
Called for further support for freelancers in orchestras, including reforms to orchestra tax relief and gift aid. Emphasised the importance of supporting freelance musicians.
Gosport
Responded that she has met with orchestras weekly to address challenges they face due to the pandemic. Suggested looking at reforms for support of freelance musicians and orchestra tax relief.
John Howell
13:37:00
Asked about the impact of £120 million capital investment on arts bodies continuing with paused projects.
Gosport
Explained that the £120 million capital investment aims to restart stalled cultural and creative projects, ensuring employment for workers and protecting venues for future generations.
Government Response
Welcomed the £57 million going to Scotland via the Barnett formula. Acknowledged issues with freelancers not covered under self-employment schemes and stated they were working on understanding gaps in support and providing more information soon. Emphasised safe reopening strategies, including socially distanced outdoor performances first followed by indoor ones if scientifically viable. Reiterates efforts to gather scientific evidence, mentions meeting with Andrew Lloyd Webber. Announces capital fund of more than £100 million for cultural infrastructure projects. Stresses the importance of supporting small cultural organisations and level-up agenda. The Minister repeatedly emphasised the comprehensive support provided through various schemes, including furloughing, loans and direct financial aid. She stressed the importance of getting organisations back up and running to support freelancers who work within them. Announced a £1.5 billion funding package and promised more details on application process within days or weeks ahead, emphasised the need to get money out quickly.
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