Nationally Significant Cultural Institutions: Capital Maintenance Costs

Debate between Lord Hunt of Kings Heath and Baroness Dacres of Lewisham

Monday 2nd November 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Dacres of Lewisham (Lab)]

I agree 100% with what the noble Lord said, which is why this Government are putting all their effort into ensuring that we are getting that talent pipeline. We have specialist heritage apprenticeships and national arts education pipelines to ensure just that.

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)]

My Lords, more generally in relation to opera, will my noble friend remind the party opposite that it was under its watch that the Arts Council was pressurised into basically defunding much of English National Opera’s support? It reduced the amount of money for opera touring. If we are looking seriously at devolution, can we ask the Arts Council to re-examine its approach to traditional opera, and to touring opera in particular?

[Baroness Dacres of Lewisham (Lab)]

My noble friend raises an interesting point. The Arts Council is doing a lot of work when it comes to innovative funding. That was one of the main points of the Hodge review. Not only that but we are making sure that we are putting that investment in now, with £1.5 billion through our Arts Everywhere fund, ensuring that everyone, everywhere, regardless of their socioeconomic background, has access to the arts.