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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to provide further support to (a) Polar Bear in Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle constituency and (b) other grassroots music venues.

The Government is committed to supporting our grassroots music venues, which are the lifeblood and research and development centres of our world-leading music sector.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in regular discussions with all parts of the music industry, including live venues of all sizes across the country. The department works closely with stakeholders and across Government to ensure the live music sector continues to thrive.

The Government has provided significant support to the live music sector. This includes more than £1 million during the pandemic from the Emergency Grassroots Music Venues Fund, and through the Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund in Arts Council England (ACE). In July 2021, The Polar Bear in Hull was awarded a £31,200 Project Grants through ACE’s Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund. This scheme has been extended until September 2023, and we will continue to engage with the sector on its future.