Oral Answers to Questions

Richard Holden Excerpts

Thursday 3rd July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Nandy]

I apologise; I could not make head nor tail of that, but this Government are absolutely determined to support bingo. It is something that I immensely enjoy—it is very popular in my home town—and will continue to do so.

[Mr Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con)]

5. What steps she has taken to promote British musical acts internationally.

[The Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism (Chris Bryant)]

The new music growth package will invest up to £30 million to help emerging British artists access international markets with support for touring, showcasing and export promotion.

[Mr Holden]

I welcome anything the Government bring forward to support our new bands and musicians across the country, but the big thing that so many musicians are asking for is that we get touring rights sorted out with our European counterparts. Could the Minister update the House on what progress there has been, if any, and how we can go further to get our bands out there and their bands over here?

[Chris Bryant]

If only the right hon. Gentleman had been a Minister in the previous Government, when they failed to take the deal that was on offer from the European Union. I am absolutely determined to get this sorted. We got something—[Interruption.] If he wants to start promoting creative industries abroad, he might start thinking about film—for instance, “Chicken Run”. We want to make sure that British acts can prosper across the whole of Europe, and I am talking not just about the big names like Dua Lipa; I am also talking about young acts like Otto Aday, who performed at the Rhondda Arts Festival on Saturday and was amazing, and Caitlin Lavagna, whose song “Run a Mile” perhaps would suit the right hon. Gentleman.