The Government has been ‘too slow’ to respond to the needs of the
DCMS sectors during the Covid-19 outbreak with many organisations
facing an “existential threat” to their survival, say MPs.
In a wide-ranging report, the DCMS Committee finds Ministers have
consistently failed to recognise the scale of the challenge that
Covid-19 presents to culture, sport and tourism.
MPs say the response to the crisis by the Department of Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport has been hampered by the Department’s
lack of spending power and a fundamental misunderstanding across
Government of the needs, structures and vital social contribution
of sectors such as the creative industries.
DCMS remains one of the smallest government departments by budget
and staffing and has seen one of the highest turn-over of
Secretaries of State of any, with as ninth in the role since May 2010.
The Report finds the loss of performing arts institutions and
cultural workers would put at risk the Government's 'levelling
up' agenda and reverse decades of progress in cultural provision,
diversity and inclusion.
DCMS Committee Chair said:
“We are witnessing the biggest threat to our cultural landscape
in a generation.
The failure of the government to act quickly has jeopardised
the future of institutions that are part of our national life
and the livelihoods of those who work for them.
Our report points to a department that has been treated as a
‘Cinderella’ by government when it comes to spending, despite
the enormous contribution that the DCMS sectors make to the
economy and job creation. We can see the damaging effect that
has had on the robustness and ability of these areas to recover
from the Covid crisis. The £1.57 bn support is welcome but for
many help has come too late.
We urge the government to act on our recommendations, to
recognise the value these sectors provide and imagine how much
bleaker the outcome for all without their survival.”
Download report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5801/cmselect/cmcumeds/291/29102.htm
