EU-UK Cultural Exchange Arrangements
Debate between Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall and Baroness Twycross(1 month, 4 weeks ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
These are complex negotiations, but we will continue to engage with the EU and member states to explore solutions that improve mobility arrangements for touring across Europe. We welcome the constructive tone of recent UK-EU engagement on cultural mobility, including references in the EU visa strategy to practical flexibilities for touring professionals. We recognise that the 90-day and 180-day limits continue to pose a significant challenge for touring professionals working across multiple EU member states so, as well as working with individual states, we continue to work with partners at a more European-wide level.
Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Lab)
My Lords, I hope I am not stepping on anyone’s toes but, to pick up the point that my noble friend Lady MacLeod just made, the focus of this discussion tends to be on touring. In fact, as my noble friend indicated, the lives of many musicians depend on their being able to take up employment in the EU—for example, in orchestras or opera companies—and 90 days is simply not enough to fulfil a contract which goes to build the reputations of those musicians and then, as my noble friend said, enhances the reputation of our creative industries overall. Can the Minister be clear about what efforts are being made to make it easier for people to take up contracts overseas, particularly in the EU?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
As I mentioned in an earlier response, Minister Murray co-chaired the first UK-European Commission high-level meeting on culture. One priority for his work in this area is ensuring that, working closely with music and arts industry stakeholders, we engage with European counterparts to work through some of the clear obstacles that we would be keen to address in relation to our creative sector being able to access EU countries. The previous question on visas shows that we are actively looking at this, but there are issues that we need to work through.
World Cup Ticket Prices
Debate between Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall and Baroness Twycross(1 month, 4 weeks ago)
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Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Lab)
My Lords, while wishing the very best success to all the teams from the UK competing in the World Cup, will my noble friend accept that other forms of entertainment are available over the summer?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
In response, and echoing my noble friend Lady Hayman from earlier, absolutely: yes.
National Museums and Galleries
Debate between Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall and Baroness Twycross(3 months ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I thank the noble Lord for his really constructive engagement with me over the months I have been the Minister for this area. In terms of Section 33A, we are working across government and with the museums to understand the impacts. We will look to find solutions to any operational issues as the discussions take place over the coming weeks and months, and my officials are working with their counterparts in the Treasury.
Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Lab)
My Lords, I am sure my noble friend would agree with me that the introduction of the free entry scheme by the Labour Government in 1997 was one of the glories of that Government’s achievements. It would be an enormous pity if that were to be diluted at this stage—although, of course, we all understand that the income streams museums are able to draw on are diminishing, and that the real-terms value of what they get in public funding has diminished since 2010. Can she expand a little on what other ways of increasing income streams she and her department are discussing with the museum sector to avoid having to put charging back on the agenda?
Creative Industries: Freelance Champion
Debate between Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall and Baroness Twycross(6 months, 1 week ago)
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Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The noble Lord describes exactly what a freelance champion should do: to be a representative and voice for all those across the sector. I will make sure that I forward the working spec to all noble Lords who have taken part in this debate.
Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Lab)
My Lords, my noble friend the Minister will agree with me, I am sure, that, within the overall creative industries, the arts sector—performing and visual arts, and museums—is a significant employer of freelance practitioners. I would just say that within that sector there is a great deal of good practice in the employment of those freelancers. What progress has been made on the excellent report that our noble friend Lady Hodge recently produced on the Arts Council, which funds many of those organisations?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The Government and particularly DCMS strongly welcomed our noble friend Lady Hodge’s review of Arts Council England. It is an excellent read, which I commend to any noble Lords who have not read it. We are planning to publish our full response later this year, but we are already looking in detail at how our noble friend’s recommendations could be worked through.
Film Industry
Debate between Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I am not going to respond to the suggestion that my favourite films indicate that we are going to be picking and choosing. The Secretary of State’s Statement made it clear that “The Kings Speech” was also an independent film. There is a balance, as there should be, and a range of voices should be heard. This is the first step in ensuring that we support the film industry, specifically the independent film industry. A particular focus was provided so that this could go ahead of the Budget, for production purposes and so that people did not lose potential funding. The Government are committed to ensuring that, across the piece, we have a creative sector and industry that reflects the country and is supported across the country. At the heart of this will be the skills agenda and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to acquire the skills required.
Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Lab)
My Lords, of course the Statement that my noble friend has just repeated is very welcome. Although it builds on the work of the previous Government, much in it is to be commended. I hope we will build on it further. However, I take her back to some of the points raised by the noble Lord, Lord Parkinson. Does she accept that, in this country, unlike in many other countries, the various elements of the creative industries are closely connected, and many people work across theatre, television and film in a way that they do not so much, for example, in America? Therefore, it is very important to maintain support, of which tax credits are an important element, across all aspects of the cultural industries. I understand that she cannot say what might be in the Budget, but will she please stress to her colleagues in the Treasury how important it is to maintain the tax credits that are available currently in theatre and for orchestras in order not to have, by withdrawing them, a bad impact on other elements of the industry?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
My noble friend is right. To give her some reassurance, I think the Treasury and DCMS are entirely clear on the contribution made by all creative industries to this country’s economy. I remind noble Lords that the creative industries are worth £125 billion in economic value to the UK and employed 2.4 million people in 2022. This is the first step in the Government’s plans for and support for creative industries, but I cannot pre-empt decisions made by the Treasury. As I mentioned earlier, the Budget will be held later this month.