Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Performing and Creative Arts, Media Studies and Archaeology

Monday 21 June 2021 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial funding for performing and creative arts, media studies, and archaeology courses was cut by 20 million.
  • The Government maintains that they fully support the arts despite funding cuts.
  • The Office for Students (OFS) has been asked to consult on changing high-cost subject funding to prioritize certain subjects.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Margaret Greenwood Lab
Education Culture, Media & Sport
Context

MP is concerned about the impact of funding cuts on performing and creative arts, media studies, and archaeology courses at universities across constituencies.

Question

What steps he is taking to support universities to provide courses on (a) performing and creative arts, (b) media studies and (c) archaeology. The Government's decision to cut funding to performing and creative arts, media studies and archaeology courses by a total of £20 million will diminish our future cultural offer, reduce opportunities for students and put jobs at risk.

Answer from Michelle Donelan

Despite the hon. Member's claims, the strategic priorities grant accounts for approximately only 0.05% of higher education providers' total income. The House should be under no illusion that this Government 100% support the arts, which is why we asked the OFS to invest an additional £10 million in our world-leading specialist providers, many of which specialise in arts provision, and why we have spent £2 billion through the cultural recovery programme, plus furlough and plus VAT and other reliefs—more than any other country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Support for the UCU campaign to save jobs at the University of Chester was not addressed.

How: Despite Hon. Member'S Claims, Strategic Priorities Grant Accounts For Approximately Only 0.05%

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Margaret Greenwood Lab
Education Economy
Context

MP highlights research showing rapid growth in sectors employing graduates from arts, humanities, and social sciences disciplines. The University and College Union is campaigning hard to save jobs at the University of Chester.

Question

Research by the British Academy has shown that of the 10 fastest growing sectors in the UK economy, eight employ more graduates from the arts, humanities and social sciences than the other disciplines. Can I just urge the Government to get into SHAPE—social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy? Will the Minister accept that the benefit that this nation derives from university education cannot be measured solely in terms of its immediate economic impact?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

Just to reiterate, this Government are not disputing the value of the arts either to our economy or to our society. We have asked the OfS to consult on altering the high-cost subject funding to enable a reprioritisation of some subjects towards the provision of high-cost subjects that support the NHS and wider healthcare policy, high-cost STEM—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—subjects, and subjects meeting specific labour market needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Acceptance of significance of arts and culture was not directly addressed.

How: Just To Reiterate, Not Disputing The Value

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Matt Western Lab Warwick and Leamington
Education Economy Culture, Media & Sport
Context

MP cites research showing rapid growth in sectors employing graduates from arts, humanities, and social sciences disciplines. The UK sees inward investment in co-production spend in film and TV account for 83% of the entire production spend.

Question

Research by the British Academy has shown that of the 10 fastest growing sectors in the UK economy, eight employ more graduates from the arts, humanities and social sciences than the other disciplines. Can I just urge the Government to get into SHAPE—social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy? Will the Minister accept that the benefit that this nation derives from university education cannot be measured solely in terms of its immediate economic impact?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

Just to reiterate, this Government are not disputing the value of the arts either to our economy or to our society. We have asked the OfS to consult on altering the high-cost subject funding to enable a reprioritisation of some subjects towards the provision of high-cost subjects that support the NHS and wider healthcare policy, high-cost STEM—science, technology, engineering and mathematics—subjects, and subjects meeting specific labour market needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Acceptance of benefit beyond immediate economic impact was not directly addressed.

How: Just To Reiterate, Not Disputing The Value

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)