Music Industry Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateEarl of Clancarty
Main Page: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)Department Debates - View all Earl of Clancarty's debates with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
(3 years, 11 months ago)
Lords ChamberMy noble friend makes a very persuasive case for cathedral choirs, and the Government share her enthusiasm and recognition of their important contribution. From 15 August, we reached stage 4 of our road map on the safe reopening of venues, which has allowed choirs, including cathedral choirs, to put on live indoor performances in front of a socially distanced audience. I am pleased to say that yesterday’s announcement about groups of six makes no change to that.
My Lords, newly self-employed musicians who started self-employment in the tax year 2019-20 have no financial support under the current measures. This is the younger generation, whom we need to nurture. Can the self-employed scheme be extended to include them?
There are no current plans that I am aware of to extend the self-employed scheme to that group, but the £95 million fund announced by Arts Council England is trying to maximise employment opportunities, including for those early in their careers.