Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possibility of implementing the proposals for tax incentives in the Independent Review of Arts Council England, published on 16 December 2025.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

With regard to tax incentive recommendations in the Arts Council England Review, the government already provides the culture and creative industries with tax reliefs, which are some of the most generous in the world. They provided £2.4 billion support in 2023-24 - including £261 million for Theatres Tax Relief, £50 million for Orchestras Tax Relief, and £28 million in Museums and Galleries Exhibition Tax Relief. The Chancellor considers changes to the tax system at fiscal events in the usual way and in the context of the wider public finances.

The government is now considering the Review with relevant departments and the Arts Council, and will publish a response shortly.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK's cultural sector as a whole, and its national museums and galleries in particular, on levels of overseas tourism to the UK.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government recognises the significant role that the UK’s cultural sector plays in attracting international visitors and supporting the visitor economy. The UK’s museums, galleries, heritage sites, and wider cultural offer are a key part of the country’s global appeal and contribute strongly to the UK’s reputation as a world class tourism destination.

Evidence from VisitBritain indicates that cultural and heritage assets are key motivations for inbound visitors. Data from the International Passenger Survey shows that visiting museums or art galleries is the ninth most popular activity among overseas visitors, with around 11.8 million visits in 2024 (30% of inbound visitors) and associated visitor spending of around £12.7 billion. Cultural heritage more broadly also attracts significant participation, with around 11.2 million visitors (29%) visiting castles or historic houses and 7.9 million (20%) visiting religious buildings.

Through VisitBritain’s international marketing activity and the Government’s support for the cultural sector, the UK continues to promote its rich cultural offer to international audiences. This supports inbound tourism, drives visitor spending across the UK’s regions and nations, and strengthens the UK’s global soft power and reputation as a leading cultural destination.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 11 March (HL15210), what insurance arrangements they envisage for NHS-accredited hospitals providing services commissioned by public health authorities which were previously part of the NHS but are now part of local government.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Where National Health Service accredited hospitals provide services commissioned by public health authorities which were previously part of the NHS but are now part of local government, any liability arising from clinical negligence is covered by the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST). CNST is a state indemnity scheme administered by NHS Resolution.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce secondary legislation to clarify how different public bodies should carry out their duty to further the purposes of Protected Landscapes.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has published guidance on how the Protected Landscapes duty is intended to operate and broad principles to guide relevant authorities in complying with it.

It will explore further the most appropriate approach through legislation to clarify that developers of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects are not required to pay financial compensation to protected landscape organisations in order to comply with the duty.