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 recovery of (a) theatres (b) the exhibitions sector and (c) live industries in London ahead of the summer 2021 season; and if he will make a statement.

We are aware that COVID-19 and related restrictions have severely impacted these sectors and their supply chains. We continue to engage with stakeholders through the Tourism Industry Council, the Events Industry Senior Leaders Panel and the Venues Steering Group. These groups include representatives from leading sector organisations and other experts to develop action plans for how we can best support the sector’s safe reopening.

Theatre, the exhibitions sector and live music and festivals have been eligible to access Government COVID-19 support. This includes various government-backed loans, business grants, reduction in VAT and the extended furlough and self-employed support schemes. The recently announced discretionary Local Restrictions Support Grant and Additional Restrictions Grant provides Local Authorities with funds to support businesses who meet the eligibility criteria in the guidance here, https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-local-restrictions-support-grant-for-closed-businesses And on 5th January the Chancellor announced one-off top up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses worth up to £9,000 per property to help businesses through to the Spring.

Theatres and live music have also benefited from the Cultural Recovery Fund. As of 11 December, £1 billion worth of funding from the Culture Recovery Fund has been allocated across all four nations of the UK. In England CRF funding has benefited over 3,000 organisations, with over £300m awarded to London through grants and repayable finance awards.