Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Arts and Culture: Brexit

Thursday 20 July 2023 · 2 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

  • The UK arts and culture sector has many strong existing positive relationships in Europe, and the government is taking steps to deepen these ties through bilateral agreements and support from the British Council.
  • The Scottish arts and film industry has lost 27 million in EU funding due to Brexit, according to the UK Trade and Business Commission.
  • The UK Government has established the UK-wide shared prosperity fund to match fund what was originally available from the EU, providing local authorities and nations with control over the funding allocation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Martyn Day SNP
Brexit Culture, Media & Sport
Context

No specific event or incident prompted this question, but it addresses the broader impact of the UK's departure from the EU on the arts and cultural community.

Question

What assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK's departure from the EU on the UK arts and culture sector?

Answer from John Whittingdale

The UK arts and culture sector has many strong existing positive relationships in Europe, and we are taking a number of steps to deepen ties. The Government have developed bilateral agreements with European countries, and the British Council offers further sector-specific support, including the recently announced spotlight on culture between the UK and France.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific figures or commitments to address potential funding shortfalls due to Brexit

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Q2 Martyn Day SNP
Scotland Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The UK Trade and Business Commission reported that the Scottish arts and film industry lost €27 million in EU funding as a consequence of Brexit, prompting concern about the sector's financial stability.

Question

The UK Trade and Business Commission found that the Scottish arts and film industry has lost €27 million in EU funding as a consequence of Brexit, so will the Minister's Government make up for that shortfall and the calamity that Brexit has imposed on the sector?

Answer from John Whittingdale

While the UK decided not to participate in Creative Europe, nevertheless the UK shared prosperity fund, which is a UK-wide funding initiative, has match funded what was originally available from the EU and also gives local authorities, and indeed nations, control over how that money is spent.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm specific figures or commitments to directly address the €27 million shortfall in EU funding for Scotland's arts and film industry

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