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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps his Department has taken to support the live music industry in (a) London and (b) the UK.

The live music industry is a vital part of the UK’s music ecosystem, contributing £1bn to the economy in 2016 and it must be allowed to continue to thrive. We have reformed entertainment licensing and recently announced that the Agent of Change principle will be included in the National Planning Policy Framework, helping to protect music venues when new housing is built.

In London we worked closely with industry and the GLA on the abolition of Form 696 and supported the Mayor’s Night-time Commission to identify measures to support the nighttime creative industries including live music. We will continue working with industry and Whitehall colleagues on a range of issues affecting the live music industry in London and across the UK.