Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Baroness Bull, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
Baroness Bull has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Baroness Bull has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
In order to be eligible for the grant funding which is available for closed businesses there are three key considerations for Local Authorities when determining the eligibility for a grant under mandatory closure schemes:
Where an organisation meets all these criteria, they are considered eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed). Both static and fixed fairground businesses may be eligible if they currently pay ongoing fixed property costs.
Where businesses are not eligible to receive support from mandatory grant schemes, they may be able to access support from Local Authority discretionary grant schemes including the Additional Restrictions Grant.
As a proportion of the funding is yet to be disbursed we cannot yet comprehensively assess the CRF’s success. However, so far, over £1 billion worth of funding from the Culture Recovery Fund has been allocated, including over £800 million to almost 3800 arts, culture and heritage organisations in England, helping to support at least 75,000 jobs. Freelancers have been supported through the Fund so far and this is on top of support from Arts Council England, who have made over £51 million of awards to individuals through non-CRF funds in this financial year alone.
£400 million was held back from the first round as contingency and now forms the basis of the second round of grant (£300m) and repayable finance (£100m) funding. Applications have been assessed and an announcement will be made in due course.
Additionally, the Chancellor announced in the 2021 Budget an additional £300 million for the Culture Recovery Fund, showing an unprecedented commitment to support the sector during this pandemic. The Culture Recovery Fund as a whole also included £188 million for the devolved administrations via the Barnett formula: Northern Ireland (£33 million), Scotland (£97 million) and Wales (£59 million). We know that Scotland, Wales and NI are also deeply committed to their arts, culture, and heritage sectors and have provided a range of support funding, building on and including the CRF allocation.
The Government has been “Here for Culture” throughout the pandemic, and, as we emerge from it, we know that the public will want to be there, too. As our performance venues reopen, we will encourage people to get out there and support them, and we will continue to provide guidance to ensure venues are safe for the public.
DCMS has been working closely with the performing arts sectors to ensure that they are ready for reopening. The government published the roadmap on 22 February, which sets out a step-by-step plan to ease restrictions in England cautiously. The design of the roadmap has been informed by the latest scientific evidence and seeks a balance between our key social and economic priorities, whilst preserving the health and safety of the country. The scientific evidence shows that opening too early or too quickly risks a further lockdown.
Over the spring, the Government will run a scientific Events Research Programme. This will include a series of pilots using enhanced testing approaches and other measures to run events with larger crowd sizes and reduced social distancing to evaluate the scientific outcomes.
Government recognises the significant financial impact of Covid 19 on the performing arts sector and venues. In light of this, the Government is investing an unprecedented £1.57 billion support package for the culture sector, of which over £1 billion has now been allocated, including £800 million to almost 3,800 arts and culture organisations across the country. This includes the many theatres and performing arts venues, which have been supported through this funding. On 4 March, the Chancellor announced £300 million additional funding for the CRF, to continue to support key cultural organisations as audiences begin to return.
The first round of the Culture Recovery Fund supported the sector to survive the immediate impact of the pandemic, whilst the second is supported organisations to transition from the challenging months of lockdowns and social distancing to welcoming audiences and visitors back to the country’s theatres, museums, cinemas, music venues and heritage sites.
The Government is aware of the concerns which have been raised about the challenge of securing indemnity cover for live events. My officials continue to work closely with the affected sectors to understand all barriers to reopening, including financial support, certainty around the public health situation, and the potential challenges of insurance.
The bar for considering Government intervention is set extremely high, especially in light of the considerable extension to the furlough scheme and local business support as well as the uncertainty when mass gatherings can take place safely.
The Government decided not to seek continued participation in the Creative Europe programme as part of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU but to look at other ways of supporting the UK’s arts and cultural sectors.
We understand the role international cultural partnerships and networking play in driving forwards the very best in leading contemporary practice. This Government will continue to assess the needs of the sector through the continued impacts of COVID-19 and in establishing our place on the world stage outside of the European Union.
So far, we have provided £1.57bn through the Cultural Recovery Fund, ensuring record breaking support is available to support the cultural sector through the COVID-19 crisis.
We are aware of the concerns which have been raised about the insurance cover for live events, including dance and theatre. DCMS officials have been working closely with the sector to understand the challenges and to keep the situation under review.
Understandably, the bar for considering Government intervention is set extremely high, especially in light of recent announcements including the considerable extension to the furlough scheme and local business support as well as the uncertainty when mass gatherings can take place safely.
The evidence of why an indemnity scheme needs to be developed now must be clearly demonstrated and robust evidence must be provided that indemnity cover is the only barrier to staging events.
Given the high costs involved in setting up a scheme we also need to make sure it is the most effective and appropriate use of funds at a time when we are looking at how best to support the sector in facing the wider challenges around recovery and renewal. As such, HM Treasury does not believe that now is the right time for an insurance intervention.
This Government recognises the importance of our world leading creative and cultural industries. That is why it provided an unprecedented £1.57bn package of support to help these sectors through the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, over £1 billion has been awarded to almost 3800 organisations, with at least 75,000 jobs saved so far, and many more freelancers also benefiting from new work that can now be created. At Budget 2021, HMT also announced £300m of additional funding for the Culture Recovery Fund which will be made available to support cultural organisations in England as audiences begin to return. This demonstrates our firm commitment to ensuring that UK culture continues to thrive.
We know that while leaving the EU will bring changes and new processes to touring and working in the EU, it will also bring new opportunities. Leaving the EU has always meant that there would be changes to how practitioners operate in the EU.
UK performers and artists are of course still able to tour and perform in the EU, and vice versa. However, we understand the concerns about the new arrangements and we are committed to supporting the sectors as they get to grips with the changes to systems and processes.
We are now working urgently across government and in collaboration with cultural and creative industries, including through a new working group, to help address these issues so that touring in Europe can resume with ease as soon as it is safe to do so.
We have worked with higher education providers to offer twice-weekly asymptomatic testing using lateral flow device (LFD) tests to all students residing in their term-time accommodation or accessing university facilities, and to all staff. This is playing an important role in identifying cases of the virus and breaking chains of transmission.
We have supported higher education providers in recovering the costs for the set-up and running of asymptomatic testing sites.
From May, higher education providers can offer their staff and students home test kits which can be collected from a location on campus.
Anyone that tests positive for COVID-19 through an LFD test is offered a confirmatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test free of charge, and the same applies to students and staff in the higher education sector.
?The government’s assessment is that studying these subjects can provide pupils with knowledge that will help them in later life, including improving their understanding of international relations and their intercultural understanding. We are pleased that the proportion of pupils taking history and languages GCSEs has increased since the government’s introduction of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) performance measure in 2010. Studying the EBacc subjects keeps pupils’ options open for further study and future employment.
The Department for Transport’s assessment is that the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement will allow for the vast majority of haulage operations that were being undertaken by UK hauliers before the end of the transition period.
The agreement does introduce some limits, and UK hauliers will only be allowed to undertake two movements within the EU before returning to the UK. These rules will apply to specialist hauliers, such as hauliers who carry equipment for touring performers.
Alternative arrangements for specialist hauliers were discussed in detail as part of negotiations, including specific proposals for liberalised access, but the EU was unable to agree more flexible arrangements.
The Department for Transport is in regular contact with the road haulage industry and is working closely with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to support the creative industries sector.
As mentioned in my letter on 1 June, the private provision of COVID-19 vaccination is not a decision for the Government.
Vaccines that have been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for use in the United Kingdom can be prescribed by a physician, either in the National Health Service or privately. However, as yet, the pharmaceutical companies producing COVID-19 vaccines have not made these treatments commercially available to the private health care sector in the UK either through pharmacies or other healthcare providers.
On 25 January 2023, the Government published Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice that the primary course COVID-19 vaccination should move, over the course of 2023, towards a more targeted offer during vaccination campaigns to protect those persons at higher risk of severe COVID-19. As the JCVI updates its clinical advice, the Government has and will continue to review its policy position, working with manufacturers, clinicians and other appropriate stakeholders. There is currently no private provision of COVID-19 vaccination in the UK and the Government has no plans to provide information regarding the private purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. We continue to develop options for the future supply of COVID-19 vaccines. We would expect private healthcare providers, including pharmacies, to inform the public if, and when, the option to purchase a COVID-19 vaccination becomes available in the United Kingdom.
The Government recognises the value of quality assured secondary fracture prevention services, including fracture liaison services. NHS England is working with commissioners to support the mobilisation and implementation of Fracture Liaison Services in each area and establish a greater number of clinics. This includes NHS England’s Getting it Right First-Time programme, which has a specific workstream on musculoskeletal health, and through exploring how best to support integrated care systems in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.
The forthcoming Major Conditions Strategy will set out a clear vision for musculoskeletal conditions, covering treatment and prevention, alongside other major conditions.
Research suggests music can help people with dementia reduce the need for medication, address agitation and help people and their families cope better with symptoms. The Chief Social Worker’s office have worked with the charity Music for Dementia to raise awareness among social workers and social care workers, on embedding music therapy in personalised social care plans for people living with dementia and their carers. NHS England and NHS Improvement, in collaboration with the National Academy for Social Prescribing and Music for Dementia, facilitated a series of webinars on the topic of creative support and supported Music for Dementia to produce guidance on music prescriptions for social prescribing link workers. We will publish a new dementia strategy in 2022, which will explore the role of arts and music-based interventions.
Health Education England have promoted the allied health professions, including music therapists. This included a Career Changer campaign with a number of music therapists with a musician background. We are continuing to deploy social prescribing link workers across the
National Health Service and have exceeded the first target of 1,000 link workers by March 2021. As of September 2021, there were over 1,400 new link workers in place and we are working towards the target of at least 900,000 people referred to social prescribing by 2023/24.
Research suggests music can help people with dementia reduce the need for medication, address agitation and help people and their families cope better with symptoms. The Chief Social Worker’s office have worked with the charity Music for Dementia to raise awareness among social workers and social care workers, on embedding music therapy in personalised social care plans for people living with dementia and their carers. NHS England and NHS Improvement, in collaboration with the National Academy for Social Prescribing and Music for Dementia, facilitated a series of webinars on the topic of creative support and supported Music for Dementia to produce guidance on music prescriptions for social prescribing link workers. We will publish a new dementia strategy in 2022, which will explore the role of arts and music-based interventions.
Health Education England have promoted the allied health professions, including music therapists. This included a Career Changer campaign with a number of music therapists with a musician background. We are continuing to deploy social prescribing link workers across the
National Health Service and have exceeded the first target of 1,000 link workers by March 2021. As of September 2021, there were over 1,400 new link workers in place and we are working towards the target of at least 900,000 people referred to social prescribing by 2023/24.
The United Kingdom Eating Disorders Genetic Initiative (EDGI) is funded by the National Institute for Health Research’s (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre Maudsley BioResource for Mental Health. The NIHR has invested £6.5 million into their Mental Health Bioresource, BioResource for Translational Research and Biosample theme.
The Managed Quarantine Service securely retains all the exemption correspondence and associated data within internal Departmental system and fully complies with the relevant provisions of the UK General Data Protection Regulation. Personal data is retained for as long as necessary for the purposes it is needed.
Since February, approximately 60 cases have been granted exemptions from COVID-19 managed quarantine facilities on medical grounds. We do not hold data centrally on the number of unsuccessful exemption requests on medical grounds.
To apply for a medical or compassionate exemption, a traveller should contact the Managed Quarantine Service at least 14 days before their travel date, with medical evidence to support their application. Evidence must be supplied from a healthcare professional, applying professional clinical judgement on the basis of past treatment and an assessment of whether it is possible for adequate care to be provided in a managed quarantine facility. This includes considering whether additional medical support could be provided by telephone, or by a family member joining an individual in quarantine. This will need to be assessed against the public health risk of variants of concern and conditions may be placed on any exemption.
Applications are considered by trained Departmental staff, following detailed procedures designed by public health professionals and are supported by medically qualified public health professionals. These individuals are recruited and remunerated according to standard civil service procedures.
No specific assessment has been made. The regular testing offered at universities is with lateral flow devices (LFDs) rather than polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. In line with wider national policy, all positive LFD tests are followed by a confirmatory PCR test. The intention is for 100% of viable positive samples from PCR tests to be presented for sequencing to identify and understand new variants. PCR testing and sequencing are provided and funded by NHS Test and Trace.
As of 5 May, 7,647 people were quarantined in a managed quarantine hotel. Since the beginning of the service on 15 February, approximately 35,605 have quarantined in a managed hotel.
We oppose weight shaming. Our focus is on tackling the causes of obesity, improving diets and preventing ill health. Many of the measures in the three chapters of the childhood obesity plan will have an impact on reducing obesity and improving diets across all age groups.
In addition, Public Health England encourages the population to follow a healthy balanced diet through the 5 A Day campaign, Change4Life and OneYou social marketing campaigns.
Whilst the Government keeps all tax reliefs under review, the Government is not planning to expand the scope of Theatre Tax Relief (TTR) to include 50 per cent of marketing spend. The objective of theatre tax relief is to support and incentivise production and that is why eligible expenditure is focussed on the costs that are incurred producing and closing the theatrical production, rather than marketing.
The Government assesses that the equivalent scheme in New York is less generous overall than the UK relief: the amount of relief a production can receive is capped at $3 million and there are additional eligibility criteria and a more limited scope (for example, ballet and opera will not qualify). Whilst the UK scheme excludes marketing, it is uncapped and more generous in scope.
At Spring Budget 2023, the Government went further to support theatres by extending the 45 per cent (for non-touring productions) and 50 per cent (for touring productions) rates of TTR for a further 2 years. The rates will taper to 30 per cent /35 per cent on 1 April 2025 and return to 20 per cent /25 per cent on 1 April 2026.
The extension will continue to offset ongoing pressures and boost investment in our cultural sectors.
Pay.UK also has a range of sanctions available to them that can be used against businesses that do not comply with the Bacs rules, ultimately including removing them from the service altogether if necessary.
Freelancers who are ineligible for the SEISS are likely to be those who receive less than half of their income from self-employment. The design of the SEISS, including the eligibility criteria which require that an individual’s trading profits must be at least equal to their non-trading income, means it is targeted at those who are most reliant on their self-employment income.
Freelancers who are ineligible for the SEISS may be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). The CJRS is available to individuals regardless of their employment contract or employment rights, as long as they meet the relevant eligibility criteria.
The Government recognises the value of the cultural sectors and has announced £300 million in additional funding to build on the existing £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund. To date, the Culture Recovery Fund has allocated more than £800 million of grants and loans to over 3,000 cultural organisations in England. Organisations supported include independent cinemas, theatres, museums, orchestras and music venues.
The Permitted Paid Engagement visitor route allows professionals in several sectors, including the creative sector, to enter the UK for up to one month to undertake permitted paid engagements, where they have been invited by a UK-based organisation and without the need to apply through the sponsored work routes.
Those wishing to undertake longer periods of engagement in the UK may use the T5 Creative concession, which allows non-visa nationals to enter the UK for up to three months without applying for a visa in advance, provided they have a Certificate of Sponsorship. For anyone wishing to remain in the UK for up to 12 months, the full T5 Creative route is also available.
We will continue to keep our policy under close review, including through wide engagement and dialogue with stakeholders from a range of sectors.
The Migration Advisory Committee report on the future point-based system and salary thresholds has been published. We are considering their recommendations very carefully.
The first round of the Fund will focus on three themes: smaller transport projects that make a genuine difference to local areas, town centre and high street regeneration, and support for maintaining and expanding the UK’s word-leading portfolio of cultural and heritage assets.
Bidding authorities should consult a range of local stakeholders across the full geography of a place in developing their proposed investments for the Fund. Bids should demonstrate evidence for this overall local engagement as part of their strategic case through stakeholder letters or similar.
Further details on how the Fund will operate were published in the prospectus at Budget – including who can bid, the types of projects eligible for funding, and the criteria for assessing proposals. Further guidance and templates for bid submissions, including package bids, will be provided to local authorities shortly after Budget.
The Government recognises the challenges faced by those who are homeless or sleeping rough during the Covid-19 outbreak. We are working closely with local authorities and the sector to minimise the risk for vulnerable people and those currently unable to self-isolate.
As an initial first step we have announced £3.2 million in emergency funding for local authorities to help rough sleepers and those at risk of sleeping rough to self-isolate. This funding will assist local authorities with providing accommodation and support to vulnerable people who are at risk of, or who have been diagnosed with, Covid-19.
This is in addition to a £1.6 billion fund allocated to local authorities to help them respond to coronavirus (Covid-19) pressures across all the services they deliver. This includes increasing support for the adult social care workforce and for services helping the most vulnerable, including homeless people.
Public Health England have also published guidance for those working in hostel and day centre environments.