Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee: Lord Frost to face questions on impact of UK-EU trade deal on creative industries

Tuesday 29 June, 14.40

MPs will question Cabinet Office Minister Lord Frost on the Government’s failure to reach agreement with the EU on creative workers, leaving them facing practical and financial barriers to working in Europe.

This is a rescheduled session following the cancellation of an earlier appearance by Lord Frost who was the Government’s Chief Negotiator for Exiting the European Union, 2019-2020.

The Committee will focus on what the Government is doing to resolve ongoing problems in absence of a deal that would have enabled visa-free travel to the EU for British creatives. The value of the UK’s creative industries sector, a net exporter of services to the EU, is worth £115 billion.

Agent Craig Stanley told the previous session that he had been asked by Elton John to read a statement to the Committee which called on the Government ‘sort this mess out’ or ‘risk losing future generations of world-beating talent’.

Creative sectors impacted by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement include: touring musicians and performers; crews and road hauliers; fashion industry workers; theatre and technical staff; artists; and major museums with touring exhibitions.

Witness 14.40:

• Rt Hon Lord Frost CMG, Minister of State, Cabinet Office