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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will assess the potential effect of the loss of the 35 theatres on the Theatres Trust at-risk register on (a) the local night-time economy (b) local employment and (c) the regeneration of local areas; and if he will make a statement.

We recognise that the arts and culture can bring huge benefits to local communities, and this is why Arts Council England is investing over £100 million of public money into 190 theatres and touring companies over four years. Investment such as this has a positive impact on the lives of participants, it stimulates growth in the creative industries and attracts visitors.

​Our historic £200 billion four year local authority funding settlement has also provided councils with the certainty to plan ahead and provide the services that their residents want​.​ It is for Local Authorities to decide how they invest but we are clear that investing in arts and culture is one of the best decisions local authorities can make, and, despite difficult decisions that have had to be made, many local authorities have continued to invest in arts and culture, developing innovative partnerships to support these sectors.