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

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the letter from the Minister of State for Digital and Culture to the Chair of the House of Commons Petitions Committee on 4 March, how the EU’s proposals on visa-free travel for touring professionals and artists was "not consistent with our manifesto commitment to take back control of our borders".

The EU tabled text regarding the paid activities that could be allowed as part of visa-free visits. However, these proposals would not have addressed the creative and cultural sectors’ concerns. The proposals were non-binding, did not include touring but only ‘ad-hoc performances’, did not include technical staff, and did not address work permits.

The EU’s proposals were also part of a wider package, including a visa-waiver for all EU citizens that was not consistent with the manifesto commitment to take back control of our borders. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement allows the UK to determine whether short-term visits from the EU should be subject to visa requirements or not, and ensures that the provision will not apply to future Member States unless the UK agrees to apply these provisions to do so.

The UK’s rules for touring creative professionals are significantly more generous than in many EU Member States. We have said our door is open if the EU is willing to reconsider its position.