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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will conduct a formal review of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the arts and creative industries.

The Government is dedicated to fostering the growth and global leadership of the arts and creative sectors, which significantly bolster the UK’s economic prosperity, contributing 5.7% of the UK’s total Gross Value Add in 2022 (£124.6 billion). They enrich people’s lives, and play a vital role in presenting the UK as an attractive location to visit and invest.

We are determined to improve the UK’s trade and investment relationship with the EU by dismantling unnecessary barriers to trade. For the arts and creative sectors, this includes helping UK performing artists tour within the EU, enabling easier trade in the art, publishing and advertising sectors and facilitating greater cultural exchanges with the EU, as set out in the Government’s manifesto and Creating Growth: Labour’s Plan for the Arts, Culture and Creative Industries.

We have no immediate plans to conduct a formal review of the effect of leaving the EU on the arts and creative industries. Our focus is on working to reset the relationship with our European friends, neighbours and allies. The Prime Minister has had early positive early calls and meetings, including with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and key leaders in EU Member States. The Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations and the Foreign Secretary have also held early senior ministerial engagements with European counterparts, including at NATO and the European Political Community. Further engagements will be taking place over the coming weeks and months.

We recognise that strengthening the relationship will take time, but this Government is ambitious and wants to move forward at pace, with clear manifesto priorities for the creative and cultural sectors.