Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they will make to the government of the United States of America regarding the impact on UK musicians touring in that country of any plans to increase visa costs.

The Minister for Media, Tourism and the Creative Industries raised this with the US Embassy on 16 March to make clear the concerns that the UK music industry has about the increase in US visa costs. We will continue to engage the US authorities on this.

US immigration policy is ultimately a matter for the US authorities, so any decision taken on their visa fees will be for them alone. The UK Government cannot interfere in another country's processes and must respect their systems, just as we expect them to respect the UK's processes.