Oral Answers to Questions

Catherine West Excerpts

Thursday 5th November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Caroline Dinenage]

I am sure that, like me, Mr Speaker, you are holding your breath until the day that we can both enjoy my right hon. Friend’s impressive falsetto once again, but in the meantime I am pleased to confirm that performing arts professionals may continue to rehearse, train and perform for broadcast, recording or livestream purposes. Of course, the intention after this four-week period is for an easement of restrictions back into the tiered system that previously operated throughout the country, in which case my right hon. Friend will be able to be in fine tune, to all our great delight, once more.

[Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green) (Lab)]

What plans his Department has to support creative freelancers who are not eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

[Ruth Cadbury (Brentford and Isleworth) (Lab)]

What plans his Department has to support creative freelancers who are not eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

[The Minister for Digital and Culture (Caroline Dinenage)]

Our world-beating cultural and creative industries are absolutely nothing without the people who work in them. We are working hard to help freelancers in those sectors to access support, particularly if they do not qualify for the self-employed income support scheme. Arts Council England has made available £119 million to individuals, of which £23 million has already been distributed. Around £96 million is currently still available to apply for.

[Catherine West]

Many of the staff who work in creative venues are very low-paid. What provisions will the Government make if venues remain closed after the beginning of December, which is very likely?

[Caroline Dinenage]

The hon. Lady will know that the £1.57 billion cultural recovery fund will benefit freelancers because it enables the assisting of organisations to reopen and restart performances, perhaps in a digital or livestream capacity. It will help many organisations to put on cultural activity in this financial year, which they would not otherwise have been able to do. I am sure the hon. Lady will be delighted that in her own constituency of Hornsey and Wood Green, for example, the recovery funding has enabled the sharing out of more than £571,000 between six organisations. I am sure it will be a lifeline for many of them.

--- Later in debate ---

[Oliver Dowden]

As the Minister for Media and Data, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr Whittingdale) and I have made repeatedly clear from this Dispatch Box, we did not want the BBC to do this. I welcome the fact that at least the most vulnerable are covered and will continue to get support.

[Catherine West (Hornsey and Wood Green) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

[Mr Speaker]

We cannot do a point of order in the middle of questions.