Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Creative Industries: Covid-19

Thursday 24 September 2020 · 5 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Virendra Sharma asked about support for creative industries affected by the covid-19 outbreak.
  • The Minister stated that the Government's support package includes the self-employed income support scheme and extensions to universal credit.
  • The Minister mentioned that Ealing, Southall has received 47,000 in emergency funding and over 500,000 in total support from Arts Council England.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Virendra Sharma Lab
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The creative industries have been hit hard by the pandemic, with many self-employed individuals seeing their incomes plummet.

Question

What steps he has taken to support the creative industries during the covid-19 outbreak. Hundreds of my constituents are highly skilled and self-employed in the creative industries, but most of them have seen their incomes plummet, with no real chance of recovery for the next six months at least. I give the Minister another opportunity to reconfirm that the previous package is not working and is not effective.

Answer from Caroline Dinenage

I cannot agree with the hon. Gentleman that this package of support is not working. In his own constituency of Ealing, Southall, there has been £47,000-worth of emergency funding so far, and £500,000 in total support from Arts Council England in this financial year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to a new package was not addressed

How: Cannot Agree With The Hon. Gentleman That This Package Of Support Is Not Working

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Q2 Kevin Brennan Lab
Culture, Media & Sport Benefits & Welfare
Context

The creative industries are suffering due to restrictions imposed by the pandemic, with many freelance workers receiving no help at all.

Question

I am afraid that what has been trailed by the Treasury in the media today will not do anything to help those in the creative industries who cannot work because of covid restrictions, whether in music venues, comedy clubs or theatres, or any of the freelance workers in the sector who already receive no help at all, as we saw from the Musicians Union survey this week. When will the help that has already been promised in the package the Minister mentioned actually arrive for people in the sector?

Answer from Caroline Dinenage

The Government's world-class support package has included the self-employed income support scheme, and about two thirds of our sector have been covered by that. Then, of course, there are the very generous extensions to universal credit as well. However, we know that it is very distressing for those who have fallen between the gaps.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline and targeting was not addressed

How: The Government'S World-Class Support Package Has Included The Self-Employed Income Support Scheme

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Q3 Rosie Duffield Ind Canterbury
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Equity, the performers' union, has proposed a four-pillar plan to save the performing arts industry.

Question

Equity, the performers' union, has drawn up a four-pillar plan to save the industry: providing financial support for workers, enabling the safe opening of venues, protecting vital arts infrastructure, and eliminating gaps in representation and pay. I know that the Minister has met Equity, so are the Government prepared to back its plan and save our performing arts?

Answer from Caroline Dinenage

I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I know that arts and culture is massively important in Canterbury, which she represents. In fact, it has received over £245,000 of emergency funding so far from the Arts Council.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to backing Equity's plan was not addressed

How: I Thank The Hon. Lady For Her Question.

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Q4 Virendra Sharma Lab
Culture, Media & Sport Business & Trade
Context

Many self-employed individuals in creative industries have seen their incomes plummet with no chance of recovery.

Question

Hundreds of my constituents are highly skilled and self-employed in the creative industries, but most of them have seen their incomes plummet, with no real chance of recovery for the next six months at least. I give the Minister another opportunity to reconfirm that the previous package is not working and is not effective.

Answer from Caroline Dinenage

I cannot agree with the hon. Gentleman that this package of support is not working. In his own constituency of Ealing, Southall, there has been £47,000-worth of emergency funding so far, and £500,000 in total support from Arts Council England in this financial year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to a new package was not addressed

How: I Cannot Agree With The Hon. Gentleman That This Package Of Support Is Not Working.

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Q5 Tracy Brabin Lab
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Many theatre workers are self-employed or freelance and ineligible for the self-employed income support scheme.

Question

Millions in our country long for live performing arts to return, none more so than those who work in those industries. Some 70% of theatre workers are self-employed or freelance, but many are ineligible for the self-employed income support scheme and have been excluded from Government support since March, bringing extreme hardship.

Answer from Caroline Dinenage

As I have already articulated, I meet the sector on a very regular basis, and actually it has been its feedback that has helped to form, to shape and to drive the cultural recovery fund as we have it today.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific insurance support was not addressed

How: As I Have Already Articulated

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