Oral Answers to Questions

Kerry McCarthy Excerpts

Thursday 16th June 2011 Commons Chamber

[Hugh Robertson]

The short answer is yes. May I thank the hon. Lady for her support both for the sport in general and, in particular, for her home team? As she correctly says, any major sports event is a fantastic opportunity to drive money into the local economy. That is why we have put more money into the major events part of UK Sport, which is standing behind the rugby league World cup, which I am sure will be a terrific success.

[Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab)]

5. What steps the creative industries council will take to help increase employment and growth in the creative industries.

[Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East) (Lab)]

6. What steps the creative industries council will take to help increase employment and growth in the creative industries.

--- Later in debate ---

[Kerry McCarthy]

Bristol is to be home to one of the new local enterprise zones announced in the Budget, with a focus on the creative industries. Will the creative industries council be able to offer practical assistance to make the zone a success, or will it be just a talking shop at the national level? Will it deliver results on the ground?

[Mr Vaizey]

I was lucky enough to visit Bristol recently, where the astonishing success of the creative industries is a wonder to behold. We certainly do not want the creative industries council to be a talking shop, which is why we set up four or five work streams, which I hope will be relevant to businesses in Bristol.

--- Later in debate ---

[Hugh Robertson]

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has announced, a number of tickets will be available to winners of the school games. A further tranche of tickets are available to Sport England through the Places People Play initiative that will go to local sports champions.

[Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab)]

T7. I want to thank the Minister responsible for the creative industries for having a productive meeting with me and a delegation this week to discuss the problems that UK musicians are having getting visas to tour the USA. Will he confirm that the Department is behind our efforts to smooth the path for musicians wishing to tour in the US and that he will do all he can to help us?