Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what financial support he is providing to the music industry to help that industry recover from the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Government acknowledges the importance of the music industry to the UK economy and that it has been significantly affected by the impacts of COVID-19.
The £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund will benefit the music sector by providing support to venues and many other organisations. Over £1 billion of the fund has now been allocated to over 3,000 arts and culture organisations across the country, including over £54 million to over 300 music venues. A contingency element of £400 million of the Culture Recovery Fund was held back so that it could be most effectively used dependent on the state of the pandemic, with grant applications closing on 26 January 2021. This fund will support cultural organisations facing financial distress as a result of closure, as well as helping them transition back to fuller opening.
The Government’s broader economic measures have also supported the music industry. This support includes business rates relief; £1.1 billion existing discretionary funding for Local Authorities; the furlough scheme and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, which have been extended to April; and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and Bounce Back Loan Scheme, which have been extended until March. In addition, the Treasury announced a temporary reduction in VAT for concert tickets from 20% to 5% to take effect from 15 July 2020 for ticket sales until 31 March.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make it his policy to introduce a (a) two year multi-entry touring visa for musicians, (b) temporary exemption from duty for the transportation of instruments and equipment and (c) an expansion of the list of CITES-designated points of entry and exit.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
DCMS has engaged extensively with union bodies, companies, 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.
We want a relationship with the EU based on friendly cooperation. On temporary entry for business purposes (mode 4), a reciprocal agreement based on best precedent will mean that UK citizens will be able to undertake some business activities in the EU without a work permit, on a short-term basis. The same would apply for EU citizens making business visits to the UK. The precise details, including range of activities, documentation needed, and the time limit, will be negotiated.
There are several options currently available which allow certain goods to be imported temporarily into the UK from outside the EU without payment of duties, subject to certain conditions. These include ATA Carnet and Temporary Admission (TA). Similarly there are options, including ATA Carnet and Returned Goods Relief (RGR), that allow certain goods to be reimported to the UK following temporary export to another customs territory without payment of duties. At the end of the Transition Period, ATA Carnets, RGR and TA will all become options for temporarily moving musical instruments and equipment between the UK and EU.
DEFRA has already expanded the list of CITES-designated points of entry and exit available post Transition Period to a total of 29. They will continue to work with port operators, Border Force, and industry to analyse trade flows and will designate further PoE where there is clear evidence of benefit to the UK.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
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 allocate financial support to the music industry to help recovery from the effects of the covid-19 outbreak.
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, including music.
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.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance the Government has provided to people (a) financially affected by and (b) addicted to loot boxes in video games.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The government takes concerns around issues such as loot boxes in video games very seriously. We have committed to a review of the Gambling Act, with a particular focus on tackling issues around loot boxes. Further details will be set out in the government response to the DCMS Select Committee’s report on Immersive and Addictive Technologies which will be published shortly.
We also continue to work with industry and the age ratings bodies to encourage the use of parental controls that can disable or limit spending on devices, and welcomed the launch in January 2020 of the games industry’s Get Smart About P.L.A.Y. campaign encouraging parents to use parental controls and take an active role in their children’s gaming. We also welcome PEGI’s decision in April 2020 to introduce a new ‘paid random items’ content label for physical and digital copies of games.
Asked by: Mhairi Black (Scottish National Party - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
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 for domestic alternatives to the Creative Europe Programme after the transition period.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The government has made the decision not to seek participation in Creative Europe in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Domestic alternatives will be a consideration for the upcoming Comprehensive Spending Review.