Heritage Craft and Building Sector

Debate between Baroness Twycross and Baroness Andrews

Monday 12th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

Helpfully, my noble friend Lady Smith is sitting next to me, and I have confirmed with her what I understood to be the case, which is that schools still routinely teach children those skills. One of the challenges is how we make sure young people understand the exciting careers available. Within some of the work that is going on with regard to building skills and the targets for new homes, there are a lot of retrofitting skills and expertise being rolled out, which is clearly one way in which we can make sure that we restore heritage buildings given the amount of our built environment that is over a particular age.

[Baroness Andrews (Lab)]

My Lords—

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[Baroness Andrews (Lab)]

My Lords, I thank the Chief Whip. I am very interested in what the noble Baroness has said about the range of initiatives, and very glad that she is talking to the rest of the heritage sector. The question that was raised, however, was about the strategic direction and need for systematic and scaled-up investment on a credible and systematic basis in terms of heritage skills. Although we need the skills to bring the historic environment up to scratch and to make the most of it, whether we are repurposing buildings or restoring them, this is not a niche issue. These skills are transferable into the whole of the construction economy, and we desperately need a lot of additional quality in that sector as well. Can the Minister give me some assurance that there is an endgame here where we will see a significant increase in the quality of apprenticeships and other qualification routes, whereby we will build our capacity to do these jobs over the next decade?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I am sure that my noble friend is in no doubt about the commitment of the Prime Minister and this Government to apprenticeships. From my perspective, it is an exciting opportunity for us to make sure that we increase the number of apprenticeships available in heritage skills. We have a problem in that heritage construction is not recruiting fast enough to replace an ageing workforce; that will become critical if we do not address it. Rather than tell the sector what we think should happen, I want to work with it to make sure that we get the workforce we need for the future to restore and maintain our incredible built environment within the heritage realm, which we know the public value hugely.

Arts Sector

Debate between Baroness Twycross and Baroness Andrews

Monday 30th June 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The Secretary of State is clear that, when she talks about “arts everywhere”, this genuinely means that every part of the country should have access to arts and theatre not just here in London but around the country. I can reassure the noble Baroness that this principle is at the heart of our plans.

[Baroness Andrews (Lab)]

Does the Minister agree with me that, when we audit the arts in simply economic terms, we undervalue them hugely? The value of the arts goes so much towards our social capital, our social well-being and our cultural health. Is the DCMS preparing an audit that will enable us to see this in its full dimension, so that when we do get a coherent arts policy, we will be able to judge how it impacts on the community, on individuals and on social health and well-being?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

My noble friend makes an important point. Participation in publicly funded arts programmes is associated with improved mental health and well-being, as well as the impact on social capital and social cohesion to which my noble friend pointed. Research already commissioned by DCMS reveals that cultural engagement contributes approximately £8 billion annually in health and well-being benefits. Engagement with the arts shows improved quality of life, reduced use of health and social care services, and increased productivity. It has a huge public benefit—one that we seek to protect.

Listed Historic Buildings

Debate between Baroness Twycross and Baroness Andrews

Tuesday 14th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

My noble friend the Leader of the House has noted the issues with the heating. I will not comment on the heating, but it is quite warm in the Chamber today—so that at least is positive.

The restoration and renewal programme is a matter for Parliament. I understand that a debate is coming up very soon on this issue, which I encourage noble Lords with a particular interest to take part in. I cannot comment on whether the Palace will be added to the Heritage at Risk Register, but clearly there has been lots of discussion about the issues facing what is an invaluable building for parliamentarians but which is also of historic and cultural value to the country.

[Baroness Andrews (Lab)]

My Lords, does the Minister agree—I am sure she does—that the historic environment is an enormous social and economic asset to this country? Sometimes we overlook it because we are so familiar with it, but it is particularly important in social regeneration, no matter the community, which is why it was part of the previous Government’s levelling- up programme. How will our Government optimise all the benefits that the historic environment can bring, particularly in the context of the growth agenda?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I am very happy to agree with my noble friend about the value of heritage. Indeed, in preparing for this Question I read a fascinating list of properties, buildings and even high streets—including one I lived very close to until quite recently—that have benefited from investment and restoration. This benefits local communities and contributes to economic growth and preserving heritage for present and future generations.