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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will extend access to the £1.57 billion support package for cultural and heritage organisations to members of the Professional Lighting and Sound Association affected by the covid-19 lockdown restrictions on the live events sector; and if he will make a statement.

We recognise the crucial role that individuals play in making our arts and creative industries world-leading. As a result of these grants and loans, organisations will be more able to resume cultural activity, albeit in a socially distanced way, which will increase employment opportunities for freelancers. Each organisation that receives money will know what best they can do to support their workforce, including their freelance workforce. To complement the funding for organisations made available by Government, ACE have announced £95m of additional support for individuals, and ACE will also be adding £2m into relevant benevolent funds to support those including stage managers and technicians.