Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has received concerning cuts to opera funding in England and Wales.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
It is important that people across the country have access to a diverse range of cultural opportunities. Arts and cultural bodies receive funding through a wide variety of sources, including through Arts Council England, an arm’s-length body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Arts Council of Wales, which as a Welsh Government Sponsored Body works within a strategic framework agreed with the Welsh Government.
In addition to the £4.6 million it received from the Arts Council of Wales each year, the Welsh National Opera will receive £4 million of public funding through Arts Council England’s 2023–26 Investment Programme, and was also successful in its application to Arts Council England's ‘Transform Programme’, through which it will receive an additional one-off payment of £3.25 million. This means the Welsh National Opera will receive over £15 million of public funding from Arts Council England between 2023 and 2026.
Cultural organisations across the UK such as the Welsh National Opera are also benefiting from the two-year extension to the higher rates of theatre, orchestra, museums and galleries exhibition tax reliefs announced at the last Budget. This extension will continue to offset ongoing pressures and boost investment in our cultural sectors. They will encourage investment in productions across the UK, support cultural organisations to tour, drive economic growth, and allow the sector to maintain its international competitiveness and reputation.
Arts Council England remains committed in its support for opera, and its 2023–26 Investment Programme has 13 organisations (an increase from the previous round) receiving a share of £30 million per annum (a figure which counts just 50% of the Royal Opera House grant, as that organisation is also home to the Royal Ballet). This represents around 40% of the Programme’s total investment in music (around £76 million p.a. when including 50% of the Royal Opera House’s funding).
Since decisions about which organisations to fund, and by how much, are made by Arts Council England at arm’s length from Government, and are a devolved matter in relation to Wales, the Department has no plans to meet any of the organisations or other Ministers named in relation to the Welsh National Opera.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans the Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has to meet with the (1) Secretary of State for Wales, and (2) Welsh Government ministers, to discuss funding cuts to the Welsh National Opera.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
It is important that people across the country have access to a diverse range of cultural opportunities. Arts and cultural bodies receive funding through a wide variety of sources, including through Arts Council England, an arm’s-length body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Arts Council of Wales, which as a Welsh Government Sponsored Body works within a strategic framework agreed with the Welsh Government.
In addition to the £4.6 million it received from the Arts Council of Wales each year, the Welsh National Opera will receive £4 million of public funding through Arts Council England’s 2023–26 Investment Programme, and was also successful in its application to Arts Council England's ‘Transform Programme’, through which it will receive an additional one-off payment of £3.25 million. This means the Welsh National Opera will receive over £15 million of public funding from Arts Council England between 2023 and 2026.
Cultural organisations across the UK such as the Welsh National Opera are also benefiting from the two-year extension to the higher rates of theatre, orchestra, museums and galleries exhibition tax reliefs announced at the last Budget. This extension will continue to offset ongoing pressures and boost investment in our cultural sectors. They will encourage investment in productions across the UK, support cultural organisations to tour, drive economic growth, and allow the sector to maintain its international competitiveness and reputation.
Arts Council England remains committed in its support for opera, and its 2023–26 Investment Programme has 13 organisations (an increase from the previous round) receiving a share of £30 million per annum (a figure which counts just 50% of the Royal Opera House grant, as that organisation is also home to the Royal Ballet). This represents around 40% of the Programme’s total investment in music (around £76 million p.a. when including 50% of the Royal Opera House’s funding).
Since decisions about which organisations to fund, and by how much, are made by Arts Council England at arm’s length from Government, and are a devolved matter in relation to Wales, the Department has no plans to meet any of the organisations or other Ministers named in relation to the Welsh National Opera.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet with the Welsh Government to discuss the cuts to the Welsh National Opera by Arts Council England.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
It is important that people across the country have access to a diverse range of cultural opportunities. Arts and cultural bodies receive funding through a wide variety of sources, including through Arts Council England, an arm’s-length body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Arts Council of Wales, which as a Welsh Government Sponsored Body works within a strategic framework agreed with the Welsh Government.
In addition to the £4.6 million it received from the Arts Council of Wales each year, the Welsh National Opera will receive £4 million of public funding through Arts Council England’s 2023–26 Investment Programme, and was also successful in its application to Arts Council England's ‘Transform Programme’, through which it will receive an additional one-off payment of £3.25 million. This means the Welsh National Opera will receive over £15 million of public funding from Arts Council England between 2023 and 2026.
Cultural organisations across the UK such as the Welsh National Opera are also benefiting from the two-year extension to the higher rates of theatre, orchestra, museums and galleries exhibition tax reliefs announced at the last Budget. This extension will continue to offset ongoing pressures and boost investment in our cultural sectors. They will encourage investment in productions across the UK, support cultural organisations to tour, drive economic growth, and allow the sector to maintain its international competitiveness and reputation.
Arts Council England remains committed in its support for opera, and its 2023–26 Investment Programme has 13 organisations (an increase from the previous round) receiving a share of £30 million per annum (a figure which counts just 50% of the Royal Opera House grant, as that organisation is also home to the Royal Ballet). This represents around 40% of the Programme’s total investment in music (around £76 million p.a. when including 50% of the Royal Opera House’s funding).
Since decisions about which organisations to fund, and by how much, are made by Arts Council England at arm’s length from Government, and are a devolved matter in relation to Wales, the Department has no plans to meet any of the organisations or other Ministers named in relation to the Welsh National Opera.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet with Arts Council England to discuss funding cuts for the Welsh National Opera.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
It is important that people across the country have access to a diverse range of cultural opportunities. Arts and cultural bodies receive funding through a wide variety of sources, including through Arts Council England, an arm’s-length body of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Arts Council of Wales, which as a Welsh Government Sponsored Body works within a strategic framework agreed with the Welsh Government.
In addition to the £4.6 million it received from the Arts Council of Wales each year, the Welsh National Opera will receive £4 million of public funding through Arts Council England’s 2023–26 Investment Programme, and was also successful in its application to Arts Council England's ‘Transform Programme’, through which it will receive an additional one-off payment of £3.25 million. This means the Welsh National Opera will receive over £15 million of public funding from Arts Council England between 2023 and 2026.
Cultural organisations across the UK such as the Welsh National Opera are also benefiting from the two-year extension to the higher rates of theatre, orchestra, museums and galleries exhibition tax reliefs announced at the last Budget. This extension will continue to offset ongoing pressures and boost investment in our cultural sectors. They will encourage investment in productions across the UK, support cultural organisations to tour, drive economic growth, and allow the sector to maintain its international competitiveness and reputation.
Arts Council England remains committed in its support for opera, and its 2023–26 Investment Programme has 13 organisations (an increase from the previous round) receiving a share of £30 million per annum (a figure which counts just 50% of the Royal Opera House grant, as that organisation is also home to the Royal Ballet). This represents around 40% of the Programme’s total investment in music (around £76 million p.a. when including 50% of the Royal Opera House’s funding).
Since decisions about which organisations to fund, and by how much, are made by Arts Council England at arm’s length from Government, and are a devolved matter in relation to Wales, the Department has no plans to meet any of the organisations or other Ministers named in relation to the Welsh National Opera.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet with the Welsh Government to discuss the relief of traffic congestion on the M4 around Newport.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales regularly engages with the Welsh Government on a wide range of transport matters.
The Welsh Government’s continued opposition to the M4 Relief Road is holding the Welsh economy back, which is of great disappointment and only serves to project that Wales is closed for business. In rejecting the case for the M4 Relief Road, the Welsh Government are going against the findings of their own £150 million report, which recommended that the M4 Relief Road be built. The UK Government urges the Welsh Government to reconsider the impact of their roads policy on the long-term prosperity of Wales.
While decisions around the M4 in Wales remain a devolved matter, the UK Government is committed to playing its part in delivering better connectivity in reserved areas – including funding a study to develop options for new stations and services on the South Wales Main Line.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations the Wales Office has received concerning cuts to the Welsh National Opera by Arts Council England.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales received email correspondence from the Welsh National Opera in February 2023 requesting a meeting with the Secretary of State to discuss this matter.
Further information was sought and once it is received we will progress the matter further.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Wales will meet with the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to discuss reductions to the budget of the Welsh National Opera resulting from decisions made by Arts Council England.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In November 2023, Arts Council England (ACE) announced the outcome of its 2023-2026 Investment Programme. This will support 985 organisations, including the Welsh National Opera’s (WNO) activities in England. The decisions made by ACE about the allocation of funding for this Investment Programme were taken at arm’s length from the Government. This is in accordance with the well-established process, which is published on ACE’s website and made clear in the guidance for applicants. As such, central government does not review individual decisions.
The WNO will still receive £4 million per year during the 2023-2026 Investment Programme. They are also receiving a one-off investment of £3.25 million as part of ACE’s Transform Programme.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Secretary of State for Wales last met the First Minister of Wales to discuss cost of living issues.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
The Secretary of State for Wales last met with the First Minister of Wales on 23rd March in a meeting led by the Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, during which the cost of living was raised.
The UK Government recognises the challenges people are facing and we have provided a range of support to tackle the rising cost of living. For example, we have provided a £200 energy bill discount for households across the whole of the UK, including Wales. We have also provided an additional £180 million in Barnett to the Welsh Government to recognise the Council Tax Energy rebate in England. This is part of a support package worth around £20 billion over this financial year and next.
In addition to this we have increased the National Living Wage to £9.50, which means an extra £1,000 per year in gross wages for a full-time worker. We expect this increase to the National Living Wage, along with rises to the National Minimum Wage, to give a pay rise to around 120,000 workers in Wales.
Furthermore, the Government have reduced the Universal Credit taper rate from 63% to 55% and are increasing Universal Credit work allowances by £500 per annum. These together will see some households keep on average around £1,000 per year and is essentially providing a tax cut for the lowest paid in society UK wide worth around £2.2 bn in 2022-23.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Wales Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Secretary of State for Wales intends to meet Welsh Ministers to discuss the M4 relief road around Newport.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
The Secretary of State for Wales would be happy to meet Welsh Government Ministers and the Noble Lord to discuss the development of the M4 relief road.
As it stands, the Welsh Government have a moratorium on new road building and have ruled out a M4 relief road. The UK Government continues to urge the Welsh Government to reconsider its position to enable congestion to be unblocked around the Newport area.
Asked by: Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last met the Irish Foreign Minister to discuss visa requirements for EU citizens entering Northern Ireland from Ireland.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government will continue its strong cooperation with the Irish Government on a range of immigration issues, reflecting its commitment to both the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement and the Common Travel Area. These matters were most recently discussed at the British–Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Dublin on 23 March.