Kevin Brennan

We are aware of the concerns which have been raised about the challenge of securing indemnity for live events.

Understandably, the bar for considering Government intervention is set extremely high. Given the high costs involved in setting up a scheme we need to make sure it is the most effective use of funds at a time when we are looking at how best to support the sector.

The evidence of market failure must clearly demonstrate that such a scheme is the only barrier to staging events. At the moment, progress with the vaccine rollout and beating the virus is crucial in achieving the next stages for large events as set out in the roadmap. As such, HM Treasury does not believe that now is the right time for an insurance intervention.

We are working closely with the sector to determine the appropriate and most effective response within the public health context.

The ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ announced by the Prime Minister on the 22 February provides a roadmap out of the current lockdown in England, including for live events.

The design of the roadmap has been informed by the latest scientific evidence and seeks a balance between our key social and economic priorities, whilst preserving the health and safety of the country. The Government aims to allow spectators to attend some large events, including live music events, from Step 3 (17 May at the earliest), subject to a cap on attendance and local authority approval.

Events where social distancing is unlikely to be possible, for example music festivals where audiences are standing rather than seated, will not be permitted to go ahead until step 4, subject to the findings from the Events Research Programme. This Programme will explore how large events can return with reduced social distancing requirements.

Whilst dates remain conditional, we know that the sector has been calling for “no earlier than” dates and the roadmap provides these at 5 week intervals between each step. This is to allow the government and health experts time to assess the impact of the previous step and provide a week’s notice before changes occur.

We have not received any recent representations from stakeholders regarding the proposal of a UK Creator’s Council.

Industry and Government engage regularly with a wide range of leading experts in the creative industries through the Creative Industries Council (CIC), a forum for Government and Industry to convene and share information, discuss concerns and opportunities and muster action. The CIC is formed of a broad range of representative bodies across the sub-sectors of the creative industries.

As outlined in our previous response to the DCMS Select Committee response where this proposal was raised, we would need clear and robust evidence from the sector as to the purpose of a Creator’s Council and why it would be different from the existing CIC.

The Government recognises the importance of touring for UK musicians and other creative professionals. We acknowledge that there will be some additional processes for those in creative industries working across the EU now that the transition period has come to an end. However, our agreement with the EU contains Transparency and Procedural Facilitation measures that will help ensure visa processes are as prompt and smooth as possible.

During our negotiations with the EU, the UK proposed measures, reflecting the views of the music industry itself, that would have allowed musicians to travel and perform in the UK and the EU more easily, without needing work-permits. Specifically, we proposed to capture the work done by musicians, artists and entertainers, and their accompanying staff through the list of permitted activities for short-term business visitors.

In practice this would have delivered an outcome that is closer to the UK’s approach to incoming musicians, artists and entertainers from non-visa national countries, such as EU Member States and the US, who can come to perform in the UK without requiring a visa. Unfortunately, these proposals were repeatedly rejected by the EU.

The EU did not propose and wouldn’t accept a tailored deal for musicians, artists and their support staff to tour across the EU and UK.

Going forward, we will continue our close dialogue with the creative and cultural sectors to ensure that they have the support they need to thrive.The Government recognises the importance of touring for UK musicians and other creative professionals, and has engaged extensively with the creative industries and arts sector since the announcement of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to ensure they are aware of the new requirements.

The Government recognises the importance of touring for UK musicians and other creative professionals. We acknowledge that there will be some additional processes for those in creative industries working across the EU now that the transition period has come to an end. However, our agreement with the EU contains Transparency and Procedural Facilitation measures that will help ensure visa processes are as prompt and smooth as possible.

During our negotiations with the EU, the UK proposed measures, reflecting the views of the music industry itself, that would have allowed musicians to travel and perform in the UK and the EU more easily, without needing work-permits. Specifically, we proposed to capture the work done by musicians, artists and entertainers, and their accompanying staff through the list of permitted activities for short-term business visitors.

In practice this would have delivered an outcome that is closer to the UK’s approach to incoming musicians, artists and entertainers from non-visa national countries, such as EU Member States and the US, who can come to perform in the UK without requiring a visa. Unfortunately, these proposals were repeatedly rejected by the EU.

The EU did not propose and wouldn’t accept a tailored deal for musicians, artists and their support staff to tour across the EU and UK.

Going forward, we will continue our close dialogue with the creative and cultural sectors to ensure that they have the support they need to thrive.The Government recognises the importance of touring for UK musicians and other creative professionals, and has engaged extensively with the creative industries and arts sector since the announcement of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to ensure they are aware of the new requirements.

The consultation closed in April this year after receiving over 150,000 responses.

The government has been listening carefully to those that have responded before setting out our next steps.

The government intends to publish its response to the consultation shortly.

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) releases its testing figures on a quarterly basis. UKAD’s latest quarterly report covering July to September 2020 shows 1,406 tests were conducted. This represents an increase from the 126 tests conducted in the period before, covering April to June 2020. The drop in testing during this period was due to UKAD’s decision in March 2020 to significantly reduce its testing programme due to the pause in competitive sport caused by Covid-19.

UKAD has been working closely with medical experts to ensure new testing processes comply with the highest standards of safety and sport-specific considerations in light of Covid-19. UKAD has developed a protocol for its Doping Control Personnel to follow to ensure the safety of its testers and those being tested. This procedure is in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s guidance for resuming testing, and is fully outlined on UKAD’s website.

The issue of direct funding of the British Athletes Commission by DCMS has been raised with the department through correspondence. It was also one of the recommendations made by Baroness Grey-Thompson in her Duty of Care report (2017), commissioned by DCMS. Changing the source of funding for the BAC was not taken forward at the time, as the priority focus was to improve the resourcing of the organisation so that it could provide more effective support to athletes.

In light of this, UK Sport announced in May 2018 that it was increasing its investment in the British Athletes Commission to £1 million over the rest of the Tokyo 2020 cycle, which allowed the British Athletes Commission to increase its capacity threefold. In the current Tokyo cycle to date, the British Athletes Commission has received £1.19m from UK Sport.

My department will continue to work closely with the British Athletes Commission and UK Sport to keep the issue under review.

We are completely committed to doing all we can to ensure children and young people can participate in sport in safe and secure environments. DCMS works closely with Sport England and the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit to review and strengthen safeguarding provision wherever necessary.

All organisations in receipt of public funding from Sport England and UK Sport have been required to meet the standards set out in the Code for Sports Governance since April 2017. The Code contains specific obligations around safeguarding, including a requirement for national governing bodies to adhere to the Standards for Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport, which are issued by the Child Protection in Sport Unit. We have also taken steps to promote best practice in non-funded sports. The Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts was launched in March 2018 which sets consistent standards and provides parents with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about where to send their children for instruction.

We welcome the Ministry of Justice’s commitment to change the law around ‘positions of trust’ in the Sexual Offences Act 2003. We will continue working closely with the Ministry of Justice to ensure that sports coaches are included as part of these legislative changes.

We recognise the value of grassroots music venues and understand that this sector is facing significant challenges due to the Coronavirus pandemic. During this period we are committed to finding the best ways to protect them so that they can continue to exist as a vital part of the music ecosystem, feeding this country’s love of a broad range of culture.

DCMS officials have been in regular dialogue with their Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government counterparts and will continue to work together closely. Changes to planning processes to support the high street revival, announced by the Prime Minister on 30 June 2020, will also recognise the value of retaining cultural buildings such as grassroots music venues and theatres rather than encouraging their change of use.

We recognise that these are incredibly challenging times for theatres, and cultural venues more broadly, and the Government will continue to support these organisations through the unprecedented financial measures we have announced. DCMS has also worked closely with its arm’s-length bodies to deliver tailored support packages at speed, including the £160m Emergency Funding Package announced by Arts Council England, made possible by Government funding.

Alongside this, DCMS continues to engage with the sector extensively in order to best understand the challenges faced. We are working closely with the Arts Council to consider the additional support that may be needed to support the long-term recovery of the sector.

The Secretary of State, Ministers and officials continue to consult the creative and cultural sectors extensively to ensure they fully understand the potential impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak on the sector. DCMS is regularly engaging with HMT to establish the impact Covid-19 has had on the cultural sector and to ensure the needs of the cultural sector are factored into the developing economic response. DCMS is committed to ensuring that its unique and world class sectors are supported throughout this time and is exploring all potential options to facilitate this.

Theatres across the country have benefited through the unprecedented financial support announced by the government, including the job retention scheme, a years' business rates holiday and the various loan schemes available. DCMS has been working closely with Arts Council England (ACE) to monitor and respond to the challenges being faced by the arts and cultural sectors. On 24 March, Arts Council England announced a £160m emergency response package, made possible by Government funding, to ensure the immediate resilience of this vital sector, and to ensure that, where possible, it can respond creatively to the needs of communities at this extremely challenging time.

I, as well as my colleagues at the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), continue to engage with a range of departments, including HM Treasury, to understand how we can fully support the Creative Industries, and those who work in them, during this time.

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), which has so far seen 2.3 million claims worth £6.8 billion, has been extended to provide more security to individuals whose livelihoods are adversely affected by coronavirus in the coming months. The scheme has improved flexibility to bring furloughed employees back part-time in July, and a new taper requiring employers to contribute modestly to furloughed salaries from August. The scheme will help many eligible freelance workers, including those in the Creative Industries, receive up to £2,500 per month in grants.

The Government is also determined to do all it can to help sectors such as the Creative Industries in their recovery. This is why I am chairing the Taskforce responsible for the recreation and leisure sectors, called the Cultural Renewal taskforce.

As confirmed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 29 May, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has been extended until the end of October 2020. The level of Government grant will be slowly tapered from August 2020 to reflect that some people will be returning to work.

DCMS continues to engage with the sector extensively in order to best understand the challenges faced. DCMS is also regularly engaging with other departments, including HMT, to ensure the needs of the cultural sector are factored into the developing economic response.

In order to support the sustainability of the Arts sector, including arts companies and arts venues, DCMS has worked closely with Arts Council England (ACE) to provide a tailored package of financial support. In March, ACE announced a £160m emergency response package to complement the financial measures already announced by the Government and to ensure immediate resilience of this vital sector.

This includes £20 million of financial support for individuals, including visual artists, so they can better sustain themselves, and their work, in the coming months. The Arts Council have received 10,293 applications from individuals for this fund and will be publishing the details of how they have awarded this funding at the beginning of June, once all the decisions have been made and applicants notified.

The Secretary of State, myself and officials continue to consult the Art sector extensively to ensure we fully understand the financial impact of the Covid-19 outbreak on the sector.

On the basis of that engagement, DCMS and ACE are continuing to work closely to consider the additional measures that are needed to ensure the long-term recovery and growth of the cultural sector, including self-employed artists.

My department is in constant contact with the cultural sector representatives to assess the impact of Covid-19 on the sector and we are working to develop support for the sector in response to COVID-19. Significant support has already been delivered at speed by DCMS arm’s-length bodies. Arts Council England having launched a £160m Emergency Funding Package, the National Lottery Heritage Fund launching a £50m Heritage Emergency Fund, and Historic England launching a £2m Emergency Fund. All of these are delivering support across the cultural sector

The Government continues to monitor the impact of these funds and the other measures announced by the government for the cultural sector.

DCMS is engaging daily with HMT and other government departments to ensure the needs of the cultural sector are factored into the developing economic response, and to support those working in the sector during this period.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced measures to support businesses and organisations that have been impacted by the pandemic.

This includes the Government stepping in to help pay people’s wages – a scheme which is one of the most generous of any in the world – paying grants to support as many jobs as necessary. Any employer in the country who promises to retain their staff, can apply for a grant to cover most of the cost of paying people’s wages. Government grants will cover 80 per cent of the salary of retained workers up to a total of £2,500 a month, with this limit set well above the median income. The cost of wages will be backdated to 1st March and will be open for at least three months. The Government will consider extending the scheme for longer if necessary.

We are also deferring the next three months of VAT, a direct injection of £33 billion of cash to employers which means no business will pay any VAT in March, April or May; and they will have until the end of the financial year to repay those bills.

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will now be interest free for twelve months, an extension from the initial announcement of six months. We have already introduced and announced an extension to the Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which is for small and medium-sized businesses. On Tuesday, the Chancellor expanded the amount that can be borrowed from £1.2 million to £5 million.

We are aware of the issues created by refund requests for cancelled events due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Government has put in place a number of financial measures to support businesses and organisations that have been impacted by the pandemic.

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme will now be interest free for twelve months, an extension from the initial announcement of six months. We have already introduced and announced an extension to the Business Interruption Loan Scheme, which is for small and medium-sized businesses. On Tuesday, the Chancellor expanded the amount that can be borrowed from £1.2 million to £5 million.

We are also deferring the next three months of VAT, a direct injection of £33 billion of cash to employers which means no business will pay any VAT in March, April or May; and they will have until the end of the financial year to repay those bills.

Covid-19 presents a significant challenge to many of DCMS’ sectors, including the cultural sector. The Chancellor has been very clear that the pandemic will have a significant impact on our economy, even with the unprecedented measures the Government has already announced and implemented, such as the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, £20bn of direct fiscal support for businesses in England through tax relief and cash grants, and the Coronavirus job retention scheme.

During the response to this outbreak, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Digital and Culture have led a number of calls with representatives of the creative and cultural sectors, amongst other DCMS sectors, to understand the challenges that they are facing. There are plans for ongoing, regular contact with members and representatives of the cultural sector.

Officials are also continuing to engage with sector organisations regularly in order to best understand the impact of Covid-19 on their activities and how the Government can further support the cultural sector.

No such estimate has been made. However, we know that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to many of DCMS’ sectors including music and the wider live events sector. That is why the Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including: a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme; £330 billion worth of government backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses and a Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. We continue to work closely with our partners across music and the live events sector to understand the impact of Covid-19 on their activities and provide the necessary support.

Policy responsibility for take-up of Pension Credit is a matter solely for the Department for Work and Pensions.

However, the Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances.

The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers; including information on https://gov.uk/, in leaflets and by telephone. DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.

In July 2019, Ofcom published its report and recommendations on how the prominence regime may need to change to ensure that Public Service Broadcasting programming remains easy to find regardless of how viewers are watching and accessing content. The report included recommendations for new legislation.

The Government is giving careful consideration to Ofcom’s recommendations, and will set out next steps in due course.

The Department has received a number of representations, from across the country on the subject of establishing a UK Town of Culture.

These have reaffirmed the role that arts, culture and heritage can play in making towns attractive places to live, work and visit. The department is continuing to explore opportunities to support towns, and is engaging with towns in order to better understand their needs.

We already support towns in many ways including working closely with MHCLG to support the delivery of the Towns Fund and the delivery of the £95million High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme with Historic England. In addition, the £250m Cultural Investment Fund announced in October will benefit many towns through culture-led regeneration.

DCMS has engaged extensively with union bodies, orchestras, individual musical practitioners and cultural organisations. We understand the importance of being able to tour. We recognise that this depends on musicians and crew being able to move quickly and easily between countries, taking necessary equipment with them.

The Home Office has been closely involved in our conversations. They are well informed of the needs of the cultural sector as they look to develop the UK’s future points based immigration system and as we seek to negotiate our future relationship with the EU.

Recognising the depth of the UK-EU relationship, the Government has proposed that we seek to agree reciprocal mobility arrangements with the EU. These will support businesses to provide services and to move their talented people. This is reflected in the Political Declaration on our future relationship. The details will be discussed in the next phase of negotiations.

Local authorities in England have a statutory duty under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. They are responsible for determining the delivery of a modern and efficient library service that meets the requirements of their communities, including the provision of access to computers with internet access. No assessment has been made by DCMS; however public libraries are continuing to provide opportunities for people to get online and to access public services.

The potential effect on BBC revenues of decriminalising licence fee evasion was considered as part of David Perry QC’s TV Licence Fee Enforcement Review in 2015.

The government believes that it is right to look again at whether the criminal sanction remains appropriate for TV licence fee evasion, given ongoing concerns about whether the criminal sanction is unfair and disproportionate.

Events on Group B of the list, including the Six Nations, can have live coverage on subscription television provided that secondary coverage is offered to the eligible free-to-air broadcasters.

The Government is clear that the existing list works well with the inclusion of the Paralympic Games and women’s equivalents of men’s events currently on the list, on which the Government is consulting, and strikes the right balance between retaining free-to-air sports events for the public, and allowing rights holders to negotiate agreements in the best interests of their sport. The Government therefore has no intention of undertaking a review of the list, or of moving the Six Nations from the category B list to the category A list.

The appointment of the Chair of S4C is an ongoing priority for DCMS. An announcement regarding the preferred candidate will be made in due course prior to the candidate appearing before a Pre-Appointment hearing held by the Welsh Affairs and DCMS Select Committees. An interim Chair is currently in place.

The information requested for (a) is shown in the table below.

Number (headcount) of teachers in state funded secondary schools in England teaching art and design – November 2010 to 2018

Information on subjects taught by teachers in state funded secondary schools in England is collected from around 85% of state funded secondary schools through the School Workforce Census. This is then grossed up to provide national estimates.

The published information shows the proportion of teaching hours spent teaching art and design has remained broadly stable between 2010 and 2018. National level estimates show that in 2010, 4.1% of all teaching hours were spent teaching art and design. In 2018, this was 3.8%. All editions of the publication can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-workforce.

Information for individual local authorities is not held centrally.

The information requested is detailed below and is from internal DWP data which is correct at the time of this response.

a) English regions

b) UK

• The project that led on delivering our new PCs instructed offices to place the number of devices they have for replacement. However, some offices ordered a reduced number of devices based on capacity in the office and the need of customers at that time.
• We closed a number of offices between 2017 and 2019. In the past twelve months, we have closed a further 9 sites and completed 7 co-locations and where those offices were co-located, DWP devices were not installed because PCs for public use were provided by the Local Authority or Third Party.

We also have improved access to our Wi-Fi services in all jobcentres, allowing customers to use their own personal devices to access internet services.

We also constantly review the number of PC’s available for customers and have capacity to increase the number of devices quickly, if the need arises.

The Government has provided a comprehensive economic response that is one of the most generous globally, including very substantial steps to protect jobs. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has helped to pay the wages of people in 9.9 million jobs across the country, providing £46.4bn worth of support as of 13 December. The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) has received claims from 2.7 million self-employed workers, amounting to £13.7bn as of 13 December.

The Government will set out the next phase of the plan to tackle the virus and support jobs at Budget 2021.

The Government has invited representations from stakeholders on various aspects of the business rates system through the fundamental review of business rates.

This year, due to the direct adverse effects of COVID-19, the Government has provided an unprecedented business rates holiday for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties worth over £10 billion. The Government has also frozen the business rates multiplier for all businesses for 2021-22. Business rates are devolved in Wales, and so any reliefs are a matter for the Welsh Government.

The Budget will set out the next phase of the Government’s plans to tackle the virus, protect jobs and support business.

The temporary reduced rate of VAT was introduced on 15 July to support the cash flow and viability of over 150,000 businesses and protect 2.4 million jobs in the hospitality and tourism sectors, and is due to run until 31 March 2021.

This policy will cost over £2 billion and is a temporary measure. The Government keeps all taxes under review, and all stakeholder views are carefully considered. Any future decisions on tax policy will be made at Budget.

The Government has announced a significant support package to help businesses from a range of sectors through the winter months, which includes an extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, an extension of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant, and an extension of the application window for the Government-backed loan schemes.

In recent weeks the Government has received representations on extending the Self-Assessment deadline date. These have come from professional bodies representing tax agents. They have focused on the general Self-Assessment population and tax agents rather than those ineligible for financial support during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Government is aware that many taxpayers may struggle to meet their Self-Assessment obligations this year due to the impacts of COVID-19. While taxpayers were encouraged to file their tax return by 31 January 2021 if possible, anyone who could not file their return by the 31 January deadline will not receive a late filing penalty if they file online by 28 February 2021.

Taxpayers’ other Self-Assessment obligations are unchanged, including the obligation to pay their bill by 31 January 2021.

Anyone having difficulty paying their tax bill, whether they have received financial support from the Government or not, can use HMRC’s Time to Pay (TTP) service once they have filed their return.

The Government is aware that many taxpayers, including those who may have been ineligible for financial support during the COVID-19 outbreak, may have difficulty in meeting the Self-Assessment payment deadline this year due to the impacts of COVID-19.

The Government has no plans to waive tax bills for taxpayers. However, HMRC are committed to helping all taxpayers pay their tax liabilities. Anyone having difficulty paying their tax bill by 31 January 2021, whether they have received financial support from the Government or not, can use HMRC’s automated self-serve Time to Pay (TTP) online service once they have filed their return.

For liabilities up to £30,000, taxpayers can set up an instalment arrangement online without having to contact HMRC beforehand. TTP is still available for taxpayers with liabilities exceeding £30,000, but they must contact HMRC to make the necessary arrangements.

HM Treasury takes care to pay due regard to the equality impacts of its policy decisions relating to the COVID-19 outbreak, in line with all legal requirements and the Government’s commitment to promoting equality. There are internal procedural requirements and support in place for ensuring that such considerations inform decisions taken by ministers.

HM Treasury takes care to pay due regard to the equality impacts of its policy decisions relating to the COVID-19 outbreak, in line with all legal requirements and the Government’s commitment to promoting equality. There are internal procedural requirements and support in place for ensuring that such considerations inform decisions taken by ministers.

The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including almost £300 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP.

Help for self-employed workers in sectors like the creative industry has been provided through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). SEISS provides grants to those who are self-employed, or members of partnerships, worth 80% of their trading profits/partnership trading profits, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. The value of the grant is based on a 3-year average of trading/partnership trading profits, from the tax years 2016-17 to 2018-19. SEISS is available to those who generate majority of their income from self -employment and who earn less than £50k. Some 95% of people who are mainly self-employed could benefit from SEISS. The scheme went live on 13 May.

In addition, to support those on low incomes at this time, the Government has announced a package of temporary welfare measures, including:

• A £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit (UC) standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element.
• An increase in the Local Housing Allowance rates for UC and Housing Benefit claimants.

• A relaxation of UC minimum income floor for all self-employed UC claimants affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19.
• A 3-month mortgage holiday for homeowners

Details of the range of support for individuals affected by COVID-19 is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19.

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) allows eligible individuals to claim a taxable grant worth 80 per cent of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months, and capped at £7,500 in total. This scheme is intended to support individuals who rely primarily on their trading profits from self-employment and who have been adversely affected by COVID-19.

The self-employed are a very diverse population. They have a wide mix of turnover and profits, with monthly and annual variations even in normal times. The SEISS is based on trading profits, as providing support on the basis of an individual’s past turnover would be unfair. For example, an individual could have had a high turnover, but have made a loss. A turnover-based system would provide more support to such an individual than to an individual with a lower turnover who made a profit.

More information about how income and trading profits are calculated can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/how-hmrc-works-out-total-income-and-trading-profits-for-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme.

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) allows eligible individuals to claim a taxable grant worth 80 per cent of their average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment covering three months, and capped at £7,500 in total. This scheme is intended to support individuals who rely primarily on their trading profits from self-employment and who have been adversely affected by COVID-19.

The self-employed are a very diverse population. They have a wide mix of turnover and profits, with monthly and annual variations even in normal times. The SEISS is based on trading profits, as providing support on the basis of an individual’s past turnover would be unfair. For example, an individual could have had a high turnover, but have made a loss. A turnover-based system would provide more support to such an individual than to an individual with a lower turnover who made a profit.

More information about how income and trading profits are calculated can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/how-hmrc-works-out-total-income-and-trading-profits-for-the-self-employment-income-support-scheme.

The figures provided on 12 May were initial estimates based on PAYE RTI submissions to 8 April. PAYE schemes have until 19 April following the end of the tax year to submit details of payments. Equivalent figures based on complete data are not yet available. The data submitted by employers omits start and leaving dates for a proportion of employments, and to provide complete and full figures it would be necessary to estimate these dates. This has not been possible in the time available to answer this question.

HMRC administrative data does not cover the sources of dividend income. It is therefore not possible to determine accurately the number of individuals who have taken dividend income in lieu of a salary from Limited Companies.

HMRC publish statistics on the number of taxpayers receiving dividend income and the amounts received for tax years from 2010-11 to 2017-18. These statistics do not distinguish between dividends paid as salary, and dividends received as returns from investments. These statistics are published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/investment-income-2010-to-2011.

The Enterprise Investment Scheme is intended to incentivise investment in early-stage, entrepreneurial businesses seeking growth finance. The EIS is designed to apply equally across all qualifying businesses to prevent market distortions.

As such, there has been no assessment on the application of the EIS to specific industries or sectors. In 2018/19, 3,900 companies from a range of industries used EIS to raise over £1.9 billion of capital.

The Government recognises the valuable contribution of the film industry to the UK economy, which is why it also provides industry-specific support via the film tax relief. In 2018-19 alone, the film sector benefitted from over £595m worth of support, and 245 completed films had claimed film tax relief.

The Enterprise Investment Scheme is intended to incentivise investment in early-stage, entrepreneurial businesses seeking growth finance. The EIS is designed to apply equally across all qualifying businesses to prevent market distortions.

As such, there has been no assessment on the application of the EIS to specific industries or sectors. In 2018/19, 3,900 companies from a range of industries used EIS to raise over £1.9 billion of capital.

The Government recognises the valuable contribution of the film industry to the UK economy, which is why it also provides industry-specific support via the film tax relief. In 2018-19 alone, the film sector benefitted from over £595m worth of support, and 245 completed films had claimed film tax relief.

Following initial closures as a result of global Covid-19 restrictions, UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) service points in the UK began to reopen from the 1 June in locations where it is safe to do so and in accordance with public health guidance in each country.

The additional measures UKVCAS have put in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of customers and staff mean we are not currently able to offer the same number of locations or volume of appointments across all service points as they did before COVID-19. UKVI have been working closely with Sopra Steria Limited, who run the UKVCAS network on our behalf to tackle the significant demand for appointments in order to accelerate the application process.

In response to the impact of COVID-19 on UKVI services, we have also introduced a biometric reuse process which allows UKVI to reuse previously submitted biometrics in order to assess visa and citizenship applications which means eligible customers won’t have to visit a UKVCAS service point to enrol new biometrics. Provided all family members qualify, they will be eligible for biometric reuse and eligible customers are being contacted directly.

If anyone needs to attend a physical UKVCAS appointment but is unable to travel because of coronavirus or related restrictions, they should contact UKVI through the Coronavirus Immigration Hotline (CIH) which can be reached via email or on the phone, on 0800 678 1767. Further details can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents

For visa applicants, their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) will usually be available for collection either from their local Post Office or Alternative Collection Location (ACL) according to their chosen method and location of collection which they indicated during the application process. Applicants are advised to allow 10 days on arrival in the UK before attending their designated Post Office or ACL to collect their BRP. Both locations will usually hold the BRP for up to 60 days before returning to the Home Office if uncollected. Figures are not kept in relation to the length of time it takes a visa holder to collect their BRP.

Figures are not held in a way which enable us to differentiate between BRPs that were produced and issued under standard or priority services. The production of the BRP does not form part of the service level for the consideration of standard, priority or super priority applications. This is made clear at point of application. The service level for these services only relates to the length of time in which a decision will be made on an application. It is made clear that applicants should allow 10 working days for the BRP to be delivered once notification of the decision to grant leave has been sent.

Once a decision to grant leave is approved and received by the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA), which produce the BRP on behalf of the Home Office, they have an SLA to personalise 90% of BRPs within one working day of receipt and the remaining 10% within two working days of receipt. They have never failed to meet this service standard.

For visa applicants, their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) will usually be available for collection either from their local Post Office or Alternative Collection Location (ACL) according to their chosen method and location of collection which they indicated during the application process. Applicants are advised to allow 10 days on arrival in the UK before attending their designated Post Office or ACL to collect their BRP. Both locations will usually hold the BRP for up to 60 days before returning to the Home Office if uncollected. Figures are not kept in relation to the length of time it takes a visa holder to collect their BRP.

Figures are not held in a way which enable us to differentiate between BRPs that were produced and issued under standard or priority services. The production of the BRP does not form part of the service level for the consideration of standard, priority or super priority applications. This is made clear at point of application. The service level for these services only relates to the length of time in which a decision will be made on an application. It is made clear that applicants should allow 10 working days for the BRP to be delivered once notification of the decision to grant leave has been sent.

Once a decision to grant leave is approved and received by the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA), which produce the BRP on behalf of the Home Office, they have an SLA to personalise 90% of BRPs within one working day of receipt and the remaining 10% within two working days of receipt. They have never failed to meet this service standard.

Currently, visiting artists, entertainers and musicians can perform at events, take part in competitions and auditions, make personal appearances and take part in promotional activities for up to 6 months without the need for formal sponsorship or a work visa. They can also receive payment for appearance at permit free festivals for up to 6 months, or for up to one month for a specific engagement, under the Visitor route.

Artists wishing to come to the UK for longer-term work will need to do so under the points-based system. There will continue to be special arrangements for creative workers, which in future will encompass both EEA and non-EEA citizens.