Access to Nature Green Paper
Debate between Baroness Bull and Baroness Hayman of Ullock(1 week, 4 days ago)
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
That kind of responsibility needs to be part of the Green Paper. If we encourage people to get out and about, they need to understand responsible behaviour. On the other issues spoken to by the noble Baroness, it is important that we work with farmers and local communities, but also with local authorities. They have responsibility for the maintenance of footpaths, for example, and proper maintenance makes a difference.
Baroness Bull (CB)
My Lords, the Minister has talked a lot about access for children, which is, of course, very important, and she has used the word “walk” quite a lot. Access to nature is equally important for people who do not have the ability to walk: I am thinking in particular of elderly people with mobility issues. It is not just the green spaces themselves but the roads that lead to them, which often do not have something as simple as a dropped kerb. Can the Minister make sure that the Green Paper covers access for people of all ages and all abilities?
Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
The noble Baroness raises such an important point. What I have not said, of course, is that with the new National River Walk and with other walks that we are doing, such as the Coast to Coast being redesignated as the National Trail, we are improving accessibility. This is in order to ensure that people in wheelchairs, those who are less able and people with pushchairs can get out and about. We are also looking to ensure that we have better cycle routes, better access for horses when people want to ride, and also for canoeing and using the rivers.
Musical Instrument Certificates
Debate between Baroness Bull and Baroness Hayman of Ullock(7 months, 3 weeks ago)
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Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Lab)
The consultation is on CITES, which covers all sorts of areas and not just musical instruments. As I said, we are carrying out a consultation and will take the responses into account. It is important to show that we are supporting music. We support orchestras through the tax system and funding. At the Autumn Budget last year, the Government confirmed that, from April this year, orchestra tax relief on production costs was to be set at a generous rate of 45%. We also support orchestras through the Arts Council England investment programme; 23 orchestral music organisations are funded through its national portfolio investment programme for 2023 to 2026. We are keen to support the arts.
Baroness Bull (CB)
My Lords, the Minister cited the common understanding that emerged from the May summit earlier this year. Can she say—if not now then in writing—exactly what efforts have taken place since that meeting to support travel and cultural exchange?