Topical Questions 2025-05-22
2025-05-22
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
GrimFalfest is part of the award-winning Viking festival in Great Grimsby, attracting over 20,000 visitors. Local producer Julia Thompson is developing a concept to turn Grimsby into the kingdom of Havelok, aiming to create economic opportunities through heritage-led tourism.
GrimFalfest is part of Grimsby’s brilliant award-winning Viking festival. It launched in 2022, attracting more than 20,000 visitors, and now talented local producer Julia Thompson is developing the concept and turning Grimsby into the destination of Havelok’s kingdom. What support can the Minister offer for heritage-led tourism projects, which create economic opportunities in places such as Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes?
I have looked at some of the material for Havelok’s weekend—I think he is getting a weekend. I did not know the story of Grim, the fisherman who saved the young Prince Havelok, but it is a great story. It is also good to see that there is a new artwork to modernise the old artwork outside the Grimsby Institute. My hon. Friend is right that we need to do more for our coastal communities.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide specific support or funding details for heritage-led tourism projects, but acknowledged their importance.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The creative sectors in the UK, including artists, writers, publishers, and fashion industry professionals, are facing challenges as AI companies use their intellectual property for AI models without proper compensation.
The Minister will know that our creative sectors, including our artists, writers, publishers and the fashion industry to name a few, are all fighting for their professional lives as artificial intelligence companies use their intellectual property for AI models. Why will the Government not put an end to the AI copyright issue and back the amendments from the Lords, which have such overwhelming support?
For a start, we will have that debate this afternoon. I am determined that through this whole process we will get to a place where creators of every different kind, whether in music, word or images, will be able very easily to protect their copyright and gain remuneration. I also want to get to a place where AI companies will pay for the work that they look at and use to create their systems.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not directly address supporting the Lords' amendments but mentioned ongoing efforts in addressing copyright issues.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
There are concerns that breaking into and staying within the arts and creative industries is difficult for those from lower-income backgrounds or living outside major cities. Monmouthshire, with no cities only small towns, faces such challenges.
Recently I have been contacted by constituents with concerns that breaking into the arts and creative industries, and staying in those industries, is incredibly difficult for those from lower-income backgrounds or those living outside major cities and media hubs. As the Minister knows, having visited Monmouthshire many times, we have no cities—only small towns. What actions are the Government taking to create more opportunity for talented people to enter and stay in the arts industries, regardless of their background?
My hon. Friend makes a good point. One of the things that worries me about the creative industries in the UK is that often the only people who conceive of them as a possible career are those whose parents worked in them. I do not want the creative industries to be hereditary; I want everybody to have a chance, whatever their background.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister acknowledged the issue but did not provide specific actions or policies.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
There is a concern about the lack of direct public transport from London to Skegness, despite the prestigious blue flag award for its beach quality. The National Express coach service has not been restored since the pandemic.
Apart from the sensational ice cream, I am sure the Minister will join me in congratulating Skegness on being awarded the prestigious blue flag for the quality of its beach. I am concerned that not enough people can enjoy that, however, because of the lack of direct public transport from London. National Express has not restored its coach service since the pandemic and there is no direct train from London to Skegness. Will he work with me and the Department for Transport to try to improve direct transport links?
That is a bit transporty for me. First, the best ice cream in Britain is produced in the Rhondda by Subzero, and I am happy to have a contest with the hon. Member any day of the week on that front if he wants.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister avoided addressing transport issues directly, redirecting the discussion to ice cream quality.
Off-Topic Response
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The Independent Venue Community is a charity aiming to bring community activity into night-time music venues when they are usually closed, promoting health and wellbeing, arts sector growth, and town centre renewal.
Earlier this week, I attended the launch of the Independent Venue Community, which is a charity aiming to bring community activity into night-time music venues when they are usually closed. Does the Minister agree that such innovative thinking is beneficial to health and wellbeing, the arts sector more generally and town centre renewal? What support can the Department offer to see such schemes rolled out nationwide?
All I really want to say is yes, because I agree with everything my hon. Friend said. Since you like brevity, Mr Speaker, and brevity is the soul of wit, I am just going to say yes.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide specific support or funding details for rolling out such schemes.
Off-Topic Response
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The Music Venue Trust has revealed that almost 95% of arena and stadium shows do not have any levy at all, highlighting the need for income to rejuvenate grassroots venues.
I heard the Minister mention this in passing, but would he not concede that the voluntary grassroots music levy is not making the progress we had all hoped for? The Music Venue Trust has revealed that almost 95% of arena and stadium shows do not have any levy at all. We need that income to rejuvenate grassroots venues; the Minister knows that. Surely it is now time to think of a formal levy and even legislation, if required.
I have said that we will make the levy statutory if we need to do so, but we are making progress. I had wanted us to have made substantial progress by the first quarter of this year. The levy has already been applied to half a million tickets and I want to get to much bigger numbers by the end of the year. The Culture, Media and Sport Committee did a really good job in coming up with the idea and we are determined to push it forward.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not explicitly commit to statutory levy without conditions
We Will Make The Levy Statutory If We Need To Do So
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
Labour Government is delivering a national youth strategy and opening a network of Young Futures hubs.
As this Labour Government deliver a national youth strategy and open a network of Young Futures hubs, what assurances will the Minister give that the Department will learn from the best practice of charities such as the Thirst Youth Café and FUTUREhope in my constituency? Will she join me to meet them and find out more about how they deliver for young people in Hertford and Stortford?
The Government value youth services and we know the vital role they can play in young people’s lives. I have had a number of cross-Government meetings on this issue in the last few weeks. We continue to work on our national youth strategy, and if my diary allows, I will be delighted to visit.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not explicitly commit to meeting with charities but showed willingness
If My Diary Allows
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
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Context
UK film industry thrives due to iconic locations such as Glastonbury Tor, Montacute House, Wells.
Somerset is home to some iconic film locations such as Glastonbury Tor, which featured in “The Kid Who Would Be King”; Montacute House, which featured in “Wolf Hall” and “Sense and Sensibility”; and Wells, where “Hot Fuzz” was filmed. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that the film industry in the UK thrives and continues to use our iconic locations?
The hon. Lady is right: one of the things that brings a lot of people to the UK as tourists—we want to reach 50 million international visitors by 2030—is seeing places where things were filmed. I went to Bath recently and saw many different places where there has been filming for “Bridgerton” and lots of different movies. It is an important part of our business and sometimes we need to make sure that local authorities take up such opportunities.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit specific measures but emphasized importance
We Need To Make Sure That Local Authorities Take Up Such Opportunities
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Billinghay swimming pool in the constituency has fallen into disrepair and a local group is trying to raise funds for restoration.
The bands I played in never quite got to a European tour—[Interruption.] Artists tell me how much they and their teams have suffered in the disastrous post-Brexit landscape for touring artists. We have the best bands and artists in the world and they bring huge joy to us here. They want to share the love abroad and in so doing bring a lot of money to the UK economy. Will my hon. Friend assure me that he is acting with haste? As Shakespeare said, All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances.
Local authorities suffered huge cuts under the previous Government, and that is why many swimming pools have fallen into disrepair. I will look into the issue for the hon. Lady. I also understand that there is a Westminster Hall debate on a similar subject the first week back after recess.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to support restoration but offered to look into it
I Will Look Into The Issue For The Hon. Lady
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
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Context
Artists and their teams have suffered due to the post-Brexit landscape for touring artists.
The bands I played in never quite got to a European tour—[Interruption.] Artists tell me how much they and their teams have suffered in the disastrous post-Brexit landscape for touring artists. We have the best bands and artists in the world and they bring huge joy to us here. They want to share the love abroad and in so doing bring a lot of money to the UK economy. Will my hon. Friend assure me that he is acting with haste? As Shakespeare said, All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances.
And, “one man in his time plays many parts”. Clearly, my hon. Friend is one of those people. We are determined to sort this out. I know that there are many of us who fear that we lost many things when Brexit happened. However, there are other wise words from Shakespeare. As Queen Margaret in Henry VI said: “wise men neer sit and wail their loss, but cheerily seek how to redress their harms”.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to specific action but expressed determination
We Are Determined To Sort This Out
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
Amazing dancers from Eastbourne’s Shining Stars Dance Academy have qualified for the dance world cup in Spain but require funding to attend.
The amazing dancers at Eastbourne’s Shining Stars Dance Academy have qualified for the dance world cup in Spain this July. It will cost thousands of pounds to get them there, though, so they have launched a crowdfunding campaign. Will the Minister back their campaign to get to the world cup and congratulate them for their achievement?
Yes, and if the hon. Member sends me a link, I will contribute myself.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to formal support but offered personal contribution
If The Hon. Member Sends Me A Link
Response accuracy