Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will conduct a formal review of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the arts and creative industries.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is dedicated to fostering the growth and global leadership of the arts and creative sectors, which significantly bolster the UK’s economic prosperity, contributing 5.7% of the UK’s total Gross Value Add in 2022 (£124.6 billion). They enrich people’s lives, and play a vital role in presenting the UK as an attractive location to visit and invest.

We are determined to improve the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU by dismantling unnecessary barriers to trade. For the arts and creative sectors, this includes helping UK performing artists tour within the EU, enabling easier trade in the art, publishing and advertising sectors and facilitating greater cultural exchanges with the EU, as set out in the Government’s manifesto and Creating Growth: Labour’s Plan for the Arts, Culture and Creative Industries.

We have no immediate plans to conduct a formal review of the effect of leaving the EU on the arts and creative industries. Our focus is on working to reset the relationship with our European friends, neighbours and allies. The Prime Minister has had early positive early calls and meetings, including with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and key leaders in EU Member States. The Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations and the Foreign Secretary have also held early senior ministerial engagements with European counterparts, including at NATO and the European Political Community. Further engagements will be taking place over the coming weeks and months.

We recognise that strengthening the relationship will take time, but this Government is ambitious and wants to move forward at pace, with clear manifesto priorities for the creative and cultural sectors.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address concerns about the level of government funding for classical music, including the funding of institutions such as the English National Opera and the Welsh National Opera.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We are committed to ensuring that creativity and culture can be enjoyed by everyone, not just by the privileged few. This applies equally to classical music and opera as it does to any
other musical genre.

In addition to their earned income and philanthropic support, the ENO and WNO are funded by arms’ lengths bodies including Arts Council England and the Welsh Arts Council, whose decisions
are made independently of government.

The Government is aware of the significant financial challenges facing many arts organisations and the new Secretary of State for Culture will be working closely with the cultural sector at large to
support them to thrive.

The Creating Growth plan for the Creative Industries which was published in March sets out a number of early priorities for the new Government in relation to the arts and culture - and includes commitments to review Arts Council England, attract more funding from different sources for arts organisations, and ensure every child gets a good creative education.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to support the regeneration of seaside towns.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Every town and city across the country has a vital contribution to make to our economy and we are committed to transferring power out of Westminster, and into local communities. We will give local leaders – including those in coastal communities – a range of new powers and tools to kickstart their economies and transform their neighbourhoods and high streets.

Our English Devolution Bill will support coastal communities, empowering them with a strong new ‘right to buy’ beloved community assets, such as empty shops, pubs, and community spaces. We will also introduce a registration scheme for short-term lets to protect the spirit and fabric of communities and let them reap the benefits of thriving tourism. Details of this, and future policy on holiday lets, will be published in due course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will negotiate for the UK to rejoin Erasmus+.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The department is working to reset the relationship with its European friends to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to trade. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has said that the department must do more to champion ties between the UK and the EU’s people and culture, for example, holidays, family ties, school and student exchanges, the arts and sport.

This is not about renegotiating or relitigating Brexit, but about looking forward and building a strong and constructive relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will reintroduce VAT-free shopping for tourists.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events. The government will set out its fiscal plans at a budget on 30th October alongside a full economic and fiscal forecast.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will review the amounts payable for Initial Teacher Training bursaries for arts subjects

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

For those starting initial teacher training (ITT) in the 2024/25 academic year in art and design and music, the department is offering a £10,000 bursary.

The bursaries that the department offers are designed to incentivise more applications to ITT courses. The department reviews bursaries each year before deciding the offer for trainees starting ITT the following academic year. In doing this, the department takes account of a number of factors, including historic recruitment, forecast economic conditions and teacher supply need in each subject.

The government is committed to delivering 6,500 new expert teachers. To deliver that commitment, the department will review the way bursaries are allocated and the structure of retention payments. The department will announce its recruitment and retention incentive offer for 2025/26 in due course.

All trainees on a tuition fee-funded ITT course can apply for a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan to support their living costs. Additional funding is also available depending on individual circumstances, such as the Childcare Grant. More information about teacher training funding can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding.