Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Permitted Paid Engagement visa route limits a professional's stay in the UK to up to one month; and what plans they have to extend the duration of its validity to 90 days.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made to establish a domestic alternative to the Creative Europe's Culture sub-programme, following the announcement by the Chancellor of the Global Screen Fund on 25 November 2020.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce an insurance scheme for dance and theatre, similar to the Film and TV Production Restart Scheme announced by the Culture Secretary on 28 July 2020.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the provision for the performing arts in the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement; and what financial support they intend to provide, if any, to the performing arts sector to make up for added EU touring costs.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to negotiate bilateral agreements with all EU member states exempting (1) touring performers, (2) creative teams, and (3) crews, including (a) dancers, (b) choreographers, (c) producers, and (d) technicians, from entry requirements or restrictions on short-term work for 90 days.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of cabotage restrictions on touring performers; and what plans they have to address such effects.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the list of businesses eligible for local authority financial support as a result of COVID-19 includes travelling and permanently-sited fairground businesses.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Bethell on 4 June (HL Deb, col 1442), what is their policy on weight shaming; and what plans they have to (1) follow scientific advice, and (2) endorse effective strategies, for eradicating any form of weight stigma; and what assessment they have made of various evidence showing that such stigma (a) leads to both physical and psychological harm, (b) increases the likelihood of unhealthy behaviours and weight gain, and (c) is linked to health inequalities, racism and sexism.
Answered by Lord Bethell
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.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) steps are being taken, and (2) resources are being made available, to support and protect homeless communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
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.
Asked by: Baroness Bull (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the value of (a) history, (b) politics, and (c) modern languages qualifications in the workforce of the future; and (2) the value of having studied such subjects for improved (a) international relations, and (b) intercultural understanding.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
?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.