Grass-roots Music Venues

Debate between Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay and Lord Livermore

Monday 26th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I will absolutely do what the noble Baroness asks. The Government have heard exactly what she said: that the existing policy to mitigate the impact of development on existing activities, including live music, is not always applied effectively. The creative industries sector plan committed to improving the implementation of the agent of change principle. MHCLG’s current consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework proposes that the policy be more explicit about the matters to be considered, such as both the current and permitted levels of activity within existing uses, which includes licensing for music and cultural venues. This will enable decision-makers to consider the right information early on, addressing the conflict between new and existing development.

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

My Lords, live music venues are the R&D incubators for our creative industries. Some 53% of venues made no profit last year, and the Government’s choices on national insurance contributions and business rates have given them an additional tax bill of £7 million. At a recent helpful meeting with the noble Baroness, Lady Twycross, a number of noble Lords met representatives of music venues who said that one of the difficulties is hearing different things from the Treasury and from the Valuation Office Agency. So regarding the meeting the Minister’s kindly agreed to on behalf of the noble Lord, Lord Bassam, may I encourage him to bring along somebody from the Valuation Office Agency to help clarify the situation for these vital parts of our grass-roots music sector?

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I am not in a position to promise who specifically will attend the meeting, but I will absolutely take that representation back to the department to see if it is possible. I agree with the noble Lord on the importance of music venues; as he says, they are the R&D incubator for the rest of the sector. As part of the industrial strategy, the Government have recognised music and performing and visual arts as a priority sub-sector, and we have recognised the potential for growth. The UK is the third biggest music market globally. As you all know, as part of the music growth package, we are backing the next generation of British talent by doubling funding to support independent artists and grass-root music venues.

Tax Reliefs: Theatre, Orchestra and Museums and Galleries Exhibition

Debate between Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay and Lord Livermore

Tuesday 15th October 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay]

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to maintain the current rates of Theatre Tax Relief, Orchestra Tax Relief, and Museums and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief, as announced in the Budget on 6 March, beyond the current Spending Review period.

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Livermore) (Lab)]

My Lords, the Government are committed to supporting the creative industries, which play a key role in driving economic growth. As part of the Government’s industrial strategy, a creative industries sector plan will be developed, working with business, local leaders and sector experts. I am unable to comment on any specific taxes ahead of the Budget; any tax changes will be confirmed in the Budget on 30 October.

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

My Lords, I understand that the Minister is limited in what he can say ahead of the Budget later this month, but the Government were willing last week to provide certainty for one part of our brilliant creative industries by confirming that they would continue the support we announced in March for independent film production. Does he acknowledge that brilliant organisations in theatres, orchestras, museums and galleries are already planning their programmes for 2026 and beyond, and need certainty too? If the Minister cannot give them that today, will he press that point on his colleagues at the Treasury and urge them to confirm the permanent uplift of the tax reliefs we announced in March, particularly in a week when the Government are enlisting the help of cultural icons to promote investment in the UK?

[Lord Livermore (Lab)]

I know that the noble Lord has genuine concern for, and a great deal of expertise and experience in, the arts and culture sector. As I said, the Government are committed to supporting the creative industries, and to creating good jobs and accelerating growth in film, music, gaming and the other creative sectors that the noble Lord mentioned. That is why we have ensured that the creative sector is a key part of our industrial strategy. As the noble Lord said, I cannot comment on any specific taxes, but he will know that the Government face a very challenging fiscal situation. He will know that the previous Government left a £22 billion black hole in the public finances, which they concealed from the public, Parliament and the OBR. Addressing that will involve very difficult decisions on spending, welfare and tax.

Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill

Debate between Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay and Lord Livermore

Committee stage & Committee: 2nd sitting (Hansard) & Committee: 2nd sitting (Hansard): House of Lords
Tuesday 2nd June 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord Livermore]

My Lords, as we have heard, Amendment 21 would introduce a review requirement relating to progress on the Government’s stated target of achieving universal access to gigabit broadband by 2025. I hope the Minister will be able to make a clear commitment to progress reports, either from his department or from Ofcom. While we do get estimates of statistics from the latter, there must be some mechanism for understanding how the Government aim to address any shortcomings.

Furthermore, the view of the committee this afternoon seems very clear that more needs to be done, and we are certainly sympathetic to the idea of an amendment such as that suggested by the noble Lord, Lord Fox. Amendment 22 seeks to upgrade one of the delegated powers in the Bill to the affirmative procedure. The 12th report of our Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee did not flag this power as problematic, but it would nevertheless be helpful if the Minister could outline the process that these regulations will be subject to prior to their publication and entry into force.

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this lively and wide-ranging debate. A number of issues of a Second Reading type were raised, which is quite understandable given the practical restrictions on noble Lords being present at Second Reading. I will attempt to address those briefly before turning to the amendments, but I am sure that my noble friend Lady Barran will be happy to write with further details if they are still needed afterwards.

On security, I am afraid I cannot give the noble Lord, Lord Fox, a specific date for the introduction of the telecoms security Bill any more than we could earlier in Committee. However, I can certainly reassure him that we understand the importance of that issue, and of turning to it in a timely manner. However, on security issues more broadly, the National Cyber Security Centre is considering what the impact of the additional sanctions placed on Huawei by the United States Government might be. Moreover, in the first Committee sitting, my noble friend Lady Barran committed to meeting certain noble Lords with Ministers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office specifically with regard to this issue of high-risk vendors and human rights, and I am sure that she would be very happy for the noble Lord, Lord Fox, and others to join if they wished.