Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of making the Theatre Tax Relief permanent on the theatre industry.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
At Spring Budget 2024, the government announced that from 1 April 2025, the rate of theatre tax relief will be set permanently at 40% (for non-touring productions) and 45% (for touring productions).
This is a highly generous level of relief that will support theatre companies to continue to put on outstanding home-grown productions. 705 theatre companies benefitted from theatre tax relief in the last year of available statistics.
Further information can be found in HMRC’s Creative Industries Statistics, which can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/creative-industries-statistics-august-2023
Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Government’s draft legislative changes to part 15C of the Corporation Tax Act 2009 on (a) jobs and (b) new productions in the theatre sector; and if he will meet UK Theatre and the Society of London Theatre to discuss those changes.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
HMRC has published two information notes on Administrative changes to the creative industry tax reliefs and, Clarifications of the rules for cultural tax reliefs. These notes include impacts of the changes and can be found here: Administrative changes to the creative industry tax reliefs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and Clarifications of the rules for cultural tax reliefs - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Officials held a meeting with Society of London Theatre to discuss the theatre tax relief draft legislative changes on 23 November 2023.
Asked by: William Wragg (Independent - Hazel Grove)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has received recent representations from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council on the presence of RAAC at the Forum Theatre in Romiley.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department recently received correspondence from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council (dated 22 January) regarding the presence of RAAC at the Forum Theatre in Romiley.
The Government’s approach to RAAC has been informed by experts, encouraging owners to identify any RAAC present and to assess the structural adequacy of their buildings. In cases of suspected or confirmed RAAC, theatres should continue using the Institute of Structural Engineers’ (IStructE) guidance to assess what action is necessary. Where appropriate, theatres with RAAC should have mitigation and management action plans in place.
We will provide a response to Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council in due course.
Nov. 01 2023
Source Page: King's Theatre National Lottery Heritage Fund award: FoI releaseFound: King's Theatre National Lottery Heritage Fund award: FoI release
Asked by: Lilian Greenwood (Labour - Nottingham South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the proportion of (a) all children, (b) children educated in state schools and (c) children educated in private schools who have attended a live theatre performance by the end of (i) primary and (ii) secondary education.
Answered by David Johnston - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The Department does not collect data on the number or proportion of children who have attended live theatre by the end of primary and secondary education.
Arts subjects, including drama, are an important part of a pupil’s school experience, with drama forming part of the National Curriculum for English.
As set out in the programmes of study for Key Stages 1 to 3, pupils should gain knowledge, skills and understanding of the artistic practice of drama and should be able to adopt, create and sustain a range of roles. They should also have opportunities to improvise, devise and script drama for one another and a range of audiences, as well as to rehearse, refine, share and respond thoughtfully to drama and theatre performances. Teachers will use their professional judgement as to how and when such opportunities are created.
In addition, all pupils taking GCSE drama or an A level in drama and theatre studies are entitled to experience live theatre. This entitlement reaffirms the Government’s commitment to providing pupils with an enriching arts education. Pupils should not be limited to watching a DVD or a peer performance; they should have the opportunity to sit in the audience and experience a live performance.
Dec. 16 2023
Source Page: Funding for V&A museum in Dundee and Kings Theatre in Edinburgh: FOI releaseFound: Funding for V&A museum in Dundee and Kings Theatre in Edinburgh: FOI release
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps she has taken to support the theatre industry (a) nationally and (b) in Romford constituency.
Answered by John Whittingdale
Theatre is the artform that receives the most public funding via Arts Council England, and there are now more theatre organisations in its National Portfolio than ever before. In 2023–24, Arts Council England is investing over £140 million in 194 theatre organisations, including 47 new theatre organisations joining the portfolio this year. The Arts Council will be investing £31,000 in theatre organisations in Romford in 2023–24.
In addition, theatres and orchestras will continue to benefit from the extension by His Majesty’s Government of the higher rates of tax relief for a further two years, as announced at Spring Budget 2023.