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Written Question
Entertainers: EU Countries
Tuesday 9th May 2023

Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to negotiate with the EU a visa waiver agreement for UK musicians and other artists touring and working on a temporary basis in the EU.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK took an ambitious approach to negotiations with the EU, and our proposals would have ensured that touring artists and their support staff did not need work-permits to perform in the EU. Regrettably, these were rejected by the EU.


It is not UK Government policy to negotiate visa-waivers. The Government is focussed on supporting the creative sector to adapt to requirements for touring in the EU and has now confirmed the vast majority of Member States offer visa and work permit free routes for touring. The UK Government has engaged with the remaining Member States on allowing creative professionals to tour more easily, however ultimately it is up to these countries to align their requirements more closely with the UK's generous rules.


Written Question
USA: Visas
Tuesday 21st March 2023

Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they will make to the government of the United States of America regarding the impact on UK musicians touring in that country of any plans to increase visa costs.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

The Minister for Media, Tourism and the Creative Industries raised this with the US Embassy on 16 March to make clear the concerns that the UK music industry has about the increase in US visa costs. We will continue to engage the US authorities on this.

US immigration policy is ultimately a matter for the US authorities, so any decision taken on their visa fees will be for them alone. The UK Government cannot interfere in another country's processes and must respect their systems, just as we expect them to respect the UK's processes.


Written Question
Musicians: EU Countries
Monday 4th April 2022

Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the Churchill Lecture delivered by Lord Frost at the University of Zurich on 15 March; and in particular, his suggestion that "we should take another look at mobility issues" affecting the UK and the EU.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

The Government has fulfilled its commitment to the British public to take back control of our borders and introduce a single global immigration system. We have clarified mobility arrangements under the new system when concerns have been raised, including in the case of musicians travelling between the UK and EU. On youth mobility, we remain open to negotiating reciprocal Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) arrangements with other countries and territories, including the EU or nations within it. The UK has 10 successful youth mobility schemes and we are looking to agree more.


Written Question
Ukraine: Cultural Heritage
Friday 18th March 2022

Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they are giving to Ukraine to help protect that country’s arts and cultural heritage; and how they are delivering that assistance.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for DCMS has written to the Ukrainian Minister of Culture, offering whatever practical support is feasible. We are working with UNESCO, Blue Shield International, the British Council and other allies to ensure Russia meets its obligations under the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. This requires Russia to avoid damaging significant heritage sites, monuments or other cultural property in Ukraine.

I commend all those in the UK cultural sector who have demonstrated their solidarity with the artists and people of Ukraine, from arranging performances in support of Ukraine to lighting their buildings in Ukrainian colours.


Written Question
EU Countries: Visas
Thursday 3rd February 2022

Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 18 January (HL Deb, col 1553) that "issues around friction-free visa travel within the European Union and changes to border requirements are high on the agenda", whether this will include discussion of a visa-waiver agreement for the performing arts between the UK and the EU at the next meeting of the EU–UK Partnership Council.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

We raised the issue of touring artists at the first Partnership Council meeting on 9 June and at the Specialised Committee on Services, Investment and Digital Trade on 11 October. The agenda for the next meeting of the Partnership Council will be agreed with our EU counterparts in due course. We will ensure that priority issues for the UK are discussed at the meeting and our interests protected.

21 out of 27 EU Member States, including France, Spain, Germany and Italy, have confirmed that UK musicians and performers do not need visas or work permits for some short-term touring. It is important that we recognise that these routes do exist, to ensure our creative professionals are not discouraged and can resume touring with confidence.

We are continuing to work with the remaining 6 Member States that do not allow any visa or permit free touring to encourage them to adopt a more flexible approach. We do enable visa-free visits from EU citizens, but we wish to retain control of how we apply the policy.


Written Question
British Nationals Abroad: EU Countries
Friday 12th February 2021

Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how exempted professionals, including those in IT and engineering, who are UK citizens and resident in the EU should evidence their status on entry to an EU country under the UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Withdrawal Agreement protects UK nationals and their family members who were lawfully resident in the EU by the end of the transition period, on 31 December 2020. Those in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement and their family members are exempt from the EU's temporary restrictions on non-essential travel due to Covid-19 and have a right to enter, exit and transit to their host Member State. To evidence their status, UK nationals must carry evidence of their residence in the EU, as well as a valid passport, to travel. Boarding should be permitted upon presentation of a residence permit; a certificate of application; a frontier worker permit; or any document that credibly evidences their status under the Withdrawal Agreement. Documents that could be used include proof of an EU address; payslips issued by an EU employer; EU bank account statements; or utility bills evidencing an EU address.

The separate provisions in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement on entry and temporary stay for business purposes apply to UK nationals living in the EU, in EU countries other than their Member State of residence or frontier work, in the same way as they do to UK nationals living in the UK. Member State rules vary and business travellers should check, prior to travelling, if they need a visa, work permit or other documentation. If a visa or work permit is needed, business travellers should apply well in advance of any travel. The Travel Advice pages published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provide the most up to date information on travelling to European countries.


Written Question
Visas: EU Countries
Friday 18th September 2020

Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the EU about allowing UK citizens to visit EU countries for a continuous visa-free 180-day period from 1 January 2021.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

The Government has discussed mobility arrangements across a number of areas as part of negotiations on our future relationship with the EU, and these discussions are ongoing.

The EU has already legislated such that UK nationals will not need a visa when travelling to the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This will apply from the end of the transition period to all UK nationals travelling to and within the Schengen area for purposes such as tourism.

This is the standard length of stay that the EU provides to the nationals of eligible third countries that offer visa-free travel access for EU citizens, in line with existing EU legislation.

As things stand, stays beyond the EU's 90/180 day visa-free allocation from 1 January 2021 onwards will be for individual Member States to decide and implement through domestic entry rules and visa arrangements for non-EU citizens. UK nationals will need to discuss the specifics of their situation with the relevant Member State authorities and should be prepared to provide any extra documentation that may be required.


Written Question
Yemen: Military Intervention
Tuesday 23rd February 2016

Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what response they have made to the destruction and damage to cultural heritage sites in Yemen by the Saudi Arabian-led intervention, including the destruction of the Old City of Sana'a, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We remain concerned about any damage to cultural property in Yemen and are aware of reports of alleged damage by actors in the conflict. Yemen and many members of the Saudi-led coalition are parties to the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of Armed Conflict and to the 1972 World Heritage Convention. We have raised our concerns regarding protection of cultural property with both the Government of Yemen and the Saudi Arabian government.


Written Question
Yemen: Military Intervention
Tuesday 23rd February 2016

Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether UK advisers have highlighted to the government of Saudi Arabia the status of Yemeni cultural heritage, including the list of sites provided by the International Committee of the Blue Shield to the Ministry of Defence.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We remain concerned about any damage to cultural property in Yemen and are aware of reports of alleged damage by actors in the conflict. Yemen and many members of the Saudi-led coalition are parties to the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of Armed Conflict and to the 1972 World Heritage Convention. We have raised our concerns regarding protection of cultural property with both the Government of Yemen and the Saudi Arabian government.


Written Question
Ashraf Fayadh
Thursday 10th December 2015

Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Saudi Arabia in the case of Ashraf Fayadh.

Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are aware of, and concerned about, the case of Palestinian national Mr Ashraf Fayadh. We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and strongly support freedom of expression in every country. We regularly make the Saudi Arabian authorities aware of our views, and will consider suitable opportunities for raising our concerns over this case.