Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cultural and Charitable Organisations: Cost of Living

Thursday 9 March 2023 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial statements acknowledged the difficulties cultural and charitable organisations face due to increased running costs during the cost of living crisis.
  • The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has taken action to support organisations with their bills and continues to engage with them to monitor their needs.
  • The Minister highlighted the government's support for charities, including provision of over 750 million during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields
Economy Culture, Media & Sport Benefits & Welfare
Context

Organisations in South Shields are facing financial difficulties due to the cost of living crisis, leading to potential closures and increased reliance on public donations.

Question

What steps she is taking to support (a) cultural and (b) charitable organisations during the cost of living crisis. Cultural organisations across the region are struggling with increased running costs and some may face closure while millions live in poverty. Food banks rely heavily on public donations to meet demand, leaving a gap that should be filled by state assistance.

Answer from Stuart Andrew

This is a difficult time for DCMS sectors, including our cultural and charitable organisations, given increased running costs. We remain firmly on their side and have taken action to support such organisations with their bills. My Department continues to engage with these organisations to monitor the impact.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or funding commitments were not provided, only general support was mentioned.

How: We Remain Firmly On Their Side

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Q2 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields
Economy Culture, Media & Sport Benefits & Welfare
Context

Charities and food banks are facing financial difficulties due to the government's economic policies, leading to increased reliance on public donations.

Question

Thanks to the Government's economic illiteracy and punitive welfare policies, cultural organisations are facing closure and millions are living in poverty. Cultural community groups and food banks almost entirely rely on donations to stay afloat and meet demand. Is it not an abdication of this Government's duty—and unsustainable—to leave it to charitable donations from the public to fill gaps left by the state?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

As someone who spent 16 years working in the charity sector, I would say no. Charities have an amazing role to play within our communities, and we have been right behind them. During the covid pandemic, we provided more than £750 million for charities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment or timeline was not given regarding current government support for charities beyond mentioning past funding during the pandemic.

How: As Someone Who Spent 16 Years Working In The Charity Sector, I Would Say No.

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Q3 Barbara Keeley Lab
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The BBC has announced a new strategy that includes job cuts and redundancies in its orchestras, which is seen as devastating to the world of choral music.

Question

The cost of living crisis appears to have caused the BBC to announce that some of the finest musicians in the world will lose their jobs. The BBC's new strategy for classical music plans to “deliver savings” by axing the world-famous BBC Singers and making 20% redundancies in all BBC orchestras. These plans have been described as a dark day for choral music and cultural vandalism.

Answer from Stuart Andrew

As the hon. Lady will know, of course, the BBC is operationally independent, but my colleagues in the Department regularly meet the BBC, and I am sure they will be happy to raise many of the issues that she has just brought to the House.

Not addressed: The specific ask was not addressed; instead, the answerer referred to the operational independence of the BBC.

How: As The Hon. Lady Will Know, Of Course, The Bbc Is Operationally Independent

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