Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made since April 2016 of the effect of changes to funding of local music services on community music ensembles, particularly youth music ensembles and choirs, and on progression routes through to national ensembles and conservatoires for the most talented.

In addition to funding that schools receive to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum, department funding for music education hubs has increased from £58 million in 2014/15 to £75 million each year until 2020. Music education hubs support and enhance the quality of music teaching in schools, reaching beyond school boundaries, to ensure that the aims of the National Plan are delivered. In addition, we recently announced £96 million for arts education in 2018-20, including over £60 million for the Music and Dance Scheme, which enables our most talented young musicians to attend specialist institutions.

Since April 2016 the department has not made any assessment of the effect of changes to funding of local music services. However, since 2013, Arts Council England has commissioned an independent analysis of Music Education Hubs’ annual performance. The reports, which provide information on music education hubs’ activities, including their support for ensembles and choirs, are at: www.artscouncil.org.uk/children-and-young-people/music-education-hubs-survey The most recent of these reports is attached.