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Written Question
Events Industry
Wednesday 7th October 2020

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the contribution of the live events industry to the UK economy.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

In 2018, the leisure events industry contributed £39 billion to the UK economy and the GVA contribution was £30.4 billion. This includes arts and cultural events, music events and festivals, and sporting and recreational events.

We appreciate the important role that the live events sector plays in the UK’s economy.


Written Question
Events Industry: Coronavirus
Monday 5th October 2020

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to support the live events industry; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

We appreciate the important role that the live events sector plays in the UK’s economy, and that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to the sector.

The Chancellor has announced the Winter Economy Plan to protect jobs and support businesses over the coming months, once the existing Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme come to end. From November, the Jobs Support Scheme will provide further support to returning workers, while the extended Self-Employed Income Support Scheme will aid the self-employed who are currently actively trading but are facing reduced demand.

We are also offering businesses who face a drop in demand for their services and possible cash flow issues generous terms for the repayment of deferred taxes and government-backed loans, and are extending the application window of the government-backed loan schemes and continuing reduced VAT (from 20% to 5%) on concert tickets to March 2021.

We will give all businesses that borrowed under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme the option to repay their loan over a period of up to ten years. This will reduce their average monthly repayments on the loan by almost half. We also intend to allow CBILS lenders to extend the term of a loan up to ten years, providing additional flexibility for UK-based SMEs who may otherwise be unable to repay their loans.

In addition, the Secretary of State provided a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This support package will benefit the live events sector by providing support to venues and many other cultural organisations to stay open and continue operating.

Sport England have announced a £195 million package of support to help community clubs through this crisis. It recently boosted its Community Emergency Fund by a further £15 million to meet the demand, taking the total package up to £210 million.

We recognise that the live events industry and its supply chain has been severely impacted by Covid-19. We continue to meet with the stakeholders to discuss the specific issues facing the industry.


Written Question
Events Industry: Coronavirus
Monday 5th October 2020

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on financial support for the live events industry.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

We appreciate the important role that the live events sector plays in the UK’s economy, and that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to the sector.

The Chancellor has announced the Winter Economy Plan to protect jobs and support businesses over the coming months, once the existing Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme come to end. From November, the Jobs Support Scheme will provide further support to returning workers, while the extended Self-Employed Income Support Scheme will aid the self-employed who are currently actively trading but are facing reduced demand.

We are also offering businesses who face a drop in demand for their services and possible cash flow issues generous terms for the repayment of deferred taxes and government-backed loans, and are extending the application window of the government-backed loan schemes and continuing reduced VAT (from 20% to 5%) on concert tickets to March 2021.

We will give all businesses that borrowed under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme the option to repay their loan over a period of up to ten years. This will reduce their average monthly repayments on the loan by almost half. We also intend to allow CBILS lenders to extend the term of a loan up to ten years, providing additional flexibility for UK-based SMEs who may otherwise be unable to repay their loans.

In addition, the Secretary of State provided a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This support package will benefit the live events sector by providing support to venues and many other cultural organisations to stay open and continue operating.

Sport England have announced a £195 million package of support to help community clubs through this crisis. It recently boosted its Community Emergency Fund by a further £15 million to meet the demand, taking the total package up to £210 million.

We recognise that the live events industry and its supply chain has been severely impacted by Covid-19. We continue to meet with the stakeholders to discuss the specific issues facing the industry.


Written Question
Entertainments: Government Assistance
Friday 17th July 2020

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has plans to provide a package of financial support for the live events and entertainment industry until that industry can trade normally again; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

DCMS is engaging with a range of departments to support the economic response to Covid-19, and ensuring that the needs of its sectors including live entertainment and outdoor events and those who work in them, are fully understood. DCMS will continue to work with these valuable sectors to understand the difficulties they face and help them access support through these challenging times and through recovery.

On Sunday 5 July 2020, the Secretary of State announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of cultural and creative sectors including some businesses operating in the night time economy.

We are working closely with DCMS’ Arm’s Length Bodies to develop guidance indicating who can apply for the different elements of this funding, and we will publish detailed guidance as soon as possible in July.


Written Question
Entertainments: Government Assistance
Tuesday 14th July 2020

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what additional support he plans to provide to organisations that provide services to the live entertainment industry and unable to resume economic activity when the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme close; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

On Sunday 5 July 2020, the Secretary of State announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of cultural and creative sectors.

We are working closely with DCMS’ Arm’s Length Bodies to develop detailed guidance indicating who can apply for the different elements of this funding. We will publish this guidance as soon as possible in July.

We are committed to reopening creative businesses, including live entertainment and outdoor events, as soon as it is safe to do so. The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport recently set out a five stage roadmap that the government will work through to get the live entertainment and outdoor events sectors back up and running as soon as possible. The ministerially-chaired Events and Entertainment Working Group was established to support the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce, and it focuses on developing covid-19 secure guidance to enable the safe reopening of the live entertainment and outdoor events sectors.


Written Question
Entertainments: Government Assistance
Tuesday 14th July 2020

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to provide fiscal support to the live entertainment and events industry when the Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Support Scheme ends in the event that companies in that industry are unable to resume economic activity as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

On Sunday 5 July 2020, the Secretary of State announced a major £1.57 billion support package for key cultural organisations to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. This funding will provide targeted support to organisations across a range of cultural and creative sectors.

We are working closely with DCMS’ Arm’s Length Bodies to develop detailed guidance indicating who can apply for the different elements of this funding. We will publish this guidance as soon as possible in July.

We are committed to reopening creative businesses, including live entertainment and outdoor events, as soon as it is safe to do so. The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport recently set out a five stage roadmap that the government will work through to get the live entertainment and outdoor events sectors back up and running as soon as possible. The ministerially-chaired Events and Entertainment Working Group was established to support the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce, and it focuses on developing covid-19 secure guidance to enable the safe reopening of the live entertainment and outdoor events sectors.


Written Question
Entertainments and Theatres: Coronavirus
Wednesday 8th July 2020

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to help ensure that (a) theatres, (b) arenas, (c) other live entertainment venues and (d) the events industry can safely reopen as the covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Answered by Caroline Dinenage

We are committed to reopening creative businesses, including theatres, arenas, other live entertainment venues and the outdoor events industry, as soon as it is safe to do so.

The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport recently set out a five stage roadmap that the government will work through to get the performing arts and live entertainment sectors back up and running as soon as possible.

The ministerially-chaired Events and Entertainment Working Group was established to support the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce. It focuses on developing covid-19 secure guidance to enable the safe reopening of the performing arts, music, entertainment and outdoor events sectors.


Written Question
Gaming Machines
Monday 10th September 2018

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that category B4 gaming machines are not placed in areas outside of locations permitted by the Gambling Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Tracey Crouch

As specified in the Gambling Act 2005, B4 gaming machines can only be located in casinos, betting shops, tracks with pool betting, bingo halls, Adult Gaming Centres, members’ clubs, miners’ welfare clubs or commercial clubs. Most B4 machines are located in clubs. The Gambling Commission and relevant Local Authority are responsible for issuing the necessary licences and permits. The Gambling Act 2005 also specifies the circumstances in which local authorities can revoke licences: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/19/schedule/13.

Local Authorities are responsible for compliance and enforcement measures of B4 machines located in clubs, which is financed from the income the licensing authority receives by way of premises and permit fees.

All forms of illegality in gambling are taken seriously as the inherent risk is that the protections afforded by legally sited and properly supervised machines are not present. The Gambling Commission will continue to work with and support licensing authorities in addressing such issues. Any evidence for illegally sited B4 gaming machines should be reported immediately to the relevant Local Authority.

Neither the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport nor the Gambling Commission hold figures on the number of investigations or revoked licences for B4 gaming machines.


Written Question
Gaming Machines: Licensing
Monday 10th September 2018

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many gaming machine permits for category B4 gaming machines have been revoked in each year since 2010 for breaching Gambling Commission requirements relating to permitted locations; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Tracey Crouch

As specified in the Gambling Act 2005, B4 gaming machines can only be located in casinos, betting shops, tracks with pool betting, bingo halls, Adult Gaming Centres, members’ clubs, miners’ welfare clubs or commercial clubs. Most B4 machines are located in clubs. The Gambling Commission and relevant Local Authority are responsible for issuing the necessary licences and permits. The Gambling Act 2005 also specifies the circumstances in which local authorities can revoke licences: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/19/schedule/13.

Local Authorities are responsible for compliance and enforcement measures of B4 machines located in clubs, which is financed from the income the licensing authority receives by way of premises and permit fees.

All forms of illegality in gambling are taken seriously as the inherent risk is that the protections afforded by legally sited and properly supervised machines are not present. The Gambling Commission will continue to work with and support licensing authorities in addressing such issues. Any evidence for illegally sited B4 gaming machines should be reported immediately to the relevant Local Authority.

Neither the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport nor the Gambling Commission hold figures on the number of investigations or revoked licences for B4 gaming machines.


Written Question
Gaming Machines: Licensing
Monday 10th September 2018

Asked by: Maria Eagle (Labour - Garston and Halewood)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what policies and enforcement measures are in place to ensure that permit holders for category B4 gaming machines adhere to Gambling Commission requirements relating to permitted locations; and what resources his Department has allocated to licensing authorities for the enforcement of those requirements.

Answered by Tracey Crouch

As specified in the Gambling Act 2005, B4 gaming machines can only be located in casinos, betting shops, tracks with pool betting, bingo halls, Adult Gaming Centres, members’ clubs, miners’ welfare clubs or commercial clubs. Most B4 machines are located in clubs. The Gambling Commission and relevant Local Authority are responsible for issuing the necessary licences and permits. The Gambling Act 2005 also specifies the circumstances in which local authorities can revoke licences: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/19/schedule/13.

Local Authorities are responsible for compliance and enforcement measures of B4 machines located in clubs, which is financed from the income the licensing authority receives by way of premises and permit fees.

All forms of illegality in gambling are taken seriously as the inherent risk is that the protections afforded by legally sited and properly supervised machines are not present. The Gambling Commission will continue to work with and support licensing authorities in addressing such issues. Any evidence for illegally sited B4 gaming machines should be reported immediately to the relevant Local Authority.

Neither the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport nor the Gambling Commission hold figures on the number of investigations or revoked licences for B4 gaming machines.