Performing Arts: Job Support Scheme

Lord Aberdare Excerpts

Tuesday 29th September 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

I believe that the Government understand and accept that. That is why we have put record funding into the cultural sector through the recovery fund.

[Lord Aberdare (CB) [V]]

My Lords, given that over a third of musicians are considering leaving the sector and that many freelance musicians do not even qualify for the support that is currently available, what prospects can the Minister offer to freelancers who remain ineligible for the extended Self-employment Income Support Scheme either because they have only recently started work or because their work is split between paid and freelance, or because they are paid via dividends as small business owners?

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My Lords, although the Culture Recovery Fund has not been dispersed yet, the DCMS has provided £3.36 million in emergency funding, which has been allocated to support 135 grass-roots music venues. Support for the self-employed was extended as part of the winter economy plan. For those who do not qualify for that support, the application period for bounce-back loans was also extended. The repayment period for bounce-back loans was extended to up to 10 years, and that can nearly halve the monthly repayments for those who are eligible and choose to take out those loans.