Regional Arts Facilities

Debate between Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay and Earl of Kinnoull

Wednesday 27th March 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

The noble Baroness is right. All three elements that she mentioned are important, and all three are facing challenges at the moment. That is why we were so pleased that the Chancellor agreed to make permanent the tax reliefs in the Budget, because that encourages the sort of risk-taking experiment, such as touring a new production, that can help be a part of the commercial income of our brilliant arts organisations. I am glad that the noble Baroness has agreed to join the advisory panel for Dame Mary Archer’s review of Arts Council England, which can look at this important landscape and, I hope, inform the review and the recommendations that it makes to government.

[The Earl of Kinnoull (CB)]

My Lords, I declare my interest as set out in the register. Tomorrow sees the opening of the new Perth Museum, which is the new home for the Stone of Scone, or the Stone of Destiny. This has been made possible by £10 million of funding from the UK Government, and also substantial funding from the local council. This has been a brilliant model and will be transformational for Perth. Can the Minister tell us a bit more about whether the Government will make more of these types of transformational investments—capital investments—to allow regions that are relatively deprived to have vibrant arts and cultural organisations?

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

The noble Earl is right to point to the importance of partnership working. The Government are very proud to have contributed towards the museum in Perth and the new home for the Stone of Scone—I hope that the opening tomorrow goes well. In the Budget, we also joined the Welsh Government and Flintshire county council in supporting Theatr Clwyd, which does important work not just in north Wales but in the north-west of England. I had the pleasure of visiting the theatre and seeing the renovation that has been done there. Through both the levelling up fund and the UK shared prosperity fund, the UK Government are playing their part in helping arts and culture in every part of the United Kingdom.

Arrangement of Business

Debate between Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay and Earl of Kinnoull

Tuesday 20th July 2021 Lords Chamber

[The Deputy Principal Chairman of Committees (The Earl of Kinnoull) (CB)]

My Lords, the Hybrid Sitting of the House will now resume. The time limit for the following debate is one and a half hours. I call the noble Lord, Lord Bethell. Lord Bethell?

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

My Lords, I suggest that we adjourn for two minutes to see whether the technical connections with my noble friend can be restored. If not, I have his opening speech.

Russia: Alexei Navalny

Debate between Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay and Earl of Kinnoull

Thursday 22nd April 2021 Lords Chamber

[The Deputy Speaker (The Earl of Kinnoull) (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, all supplementary questions have been asked.

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

My Lords, I am afraid we must wait until the time shown on the Order Paper for the next business. I beg to move that the House do now adjourn for two minutes.

Erasmus-plus Programme

Debate between Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay and Earl of Kinnoull

Thursday 25th June 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay]

My Lords, I am not familiar with the figures that the noble Lord cites from Universities UK. I have seen that it points out that, of UK students who take part in mobility schemes, almost half of them take part in mobility schemes beyond Erasmus+. We hope to be able to continue in it if we can reach a fair and equitable deal, but of course we want British students and international students coming to the UK to take part in a variety of mobility schemes, as they currently do.

[The Deputy Speaker (The Earl of Kinnoull) (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, the time allowed for this Question has now elapsed, and we move to the fourth Oral Question.