Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lucy Frazer and Stephen Metcalfe

Thursday 11th January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

2. Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of tax relief on the growth of the creative industries.

[The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lucy Frazer)]

Let me begin by welcoming the Minister back to her place. Since 2012, the Conservative Government have introduced tax reliefs for the creative industries year on year. That is one of the reasons why the creative industries are growing at twice the rate of the rest of the economy, and why they are world leading. The Labour party opposed every single one of those tax reliefs, and despite its warm words it offers no substantive action.

[Stephen Metcalfe]

As my right hon. and learned Friend says, since we came to office we have introduced a number of tax reliefs that have supported children's television, video games, production, galleries, orchestras, theatres and museums. It is for the Chancellor to decide on tax policy, but can my right hon. and learned Friend tell us what more she can do to make this go further, to ensure that we remain one of the world’s leading production venues?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lucy Frazer and Stephen Metcalfe

Thursday 20th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

9. What steps she is taking to support skills and training in the creative industries.

[The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lucy Frazer)]

The creative industries sector vision sets out how we will support individuals to get the skills they need to work in the industry. From schools to T-levels, and from apprenticeships to returners, our ambition is to support 1 million more jobs in the creative industries by 2030. Yesterday I co-chaired a roundtable with the Education Secretary to improve flexi-job apprenticeships in the sector. Last week the cultural education plan’s expert advisory panel met for the first time, and procurement for creative skills bootcamps are now live.

[Stephen Metcalfe]

I commend my right hon. Friend on the recent creative industries sector vision, which will help to build a pipeline of talent that will underpin the creative industries. Does she agree that it is vital that we invest in building the skills throughout the country, recognising that many of the growth sectors within the industry are outside London?

[Lucy Frazer]

That is right. We know that creative businesses flourish in geographic clusters, from games in Leamington Spa to fashion in Leeds, and we have already announced that we will invest a further £50 million in at least six new clusters, creating new centres of excellence that will act as magnets for inward investment and talent.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lucy Frazer and Stephen Metcalfe

Thursday 15th June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

Further to the question from the hon. Member for Ogmore (Chris Elmore), 18% of all female criminal prosecutions in 2021 were for the non-possession of a television licence, which seems completely unreasonable. Will my right hon. and learned Friend meet me and my constituent Josiane to discuss that further and receive a 250,000-signature petition asking for decriminalisation?

[Lucy Frazer]

Like my hon. Friend, I am concerned that criminal sanction for TV licence evasion is increasingly disproportionate and unfair in a modern public service broadcasting system. Our review of the BBC funding model will consider whether a mandatory licence fee with criminal penalties is still appropriate. As the Minister for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries mentioned, the BBC has recently published the findings of its gender disparity review and set out a 10-point plan of action, which we will be monitoring.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lucy Frazer and Stephen Metcalfe

Tuesday 28th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Lucy Frazer)]

I am proud that HMRC is a leader in tax transparency, has a number of double tax treaties and co-operates with a large number of countries and international organisations to share tax information to ensure that people pay their fair share.

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

T3.   The global cost of living crisis is affecting many of our constituents, so it is welcome that those on means-tested benefits—one in three households—will receive £1,200 in support from the Government this year. When will that vital support be hitting bank accounts?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lucy Frazer and Stephen Metcalfe

Tuesday 7th December 2021 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

Can the Minister confirm that the £1,000 a year tax cut delivered through changes to the universal credit taper rate will begin to be seen in people’s bank accounts this side of Christmas?

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Lucy Frazer)]

Yes.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lucy Frazer and Stephen Metcalfe

Tuesday 5th June 2018 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

The hon. Lady highlights the ambition of the programme, which the NAO report identifies. It is a very ambitious programme, and it is right to be ambitious about our justice system. The NAO report acknowledges the early progress that has been made and makes recommendations about how we can strengthen the process. We will be taking all those recommendations on board.

[Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock) (Con)]

8. What assessment he has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals on a no body, no parole law.