The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
(Oliver Dowden):...When a UK business, for example, in the video
games industry, designs a new game, they do not just support the
video games industry. They boost tech, our artists and designers,
the musicians who compose the game’s soundtrack and the animators
who bring the characters to life. The furlough scheme, business
grants and support for the self-employed have been a lifeline to
all those businesses, which will continue...Request free trial
The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
():...When a UK business, for example, in the video
games industry, designs a new game, they do not just support the
video games industry. They boost tech, our artists and designers,
the musicians who compose the game’s
soundtrack and the animators who bring the characters to life. The
furlough scheme, business grants and support for the self-employed
have been a lifeline to all those businesses, which will continue
to benefit from the schemes, as well as from the Budget’s new
apprenticeship offer...
(Wirral South) (Lab):...The adjustments made to
the self-employment income support scheme were not good enough
either. Bringing newer entrants to the industry into the scheme was
welcome, but analysis by the Musicians’ Union
suggests that around 23% of its members are still left out in the
cold. I understand from Prospect trade union that, while the fifth
round of the scheme may run from May to September, it only provides
three months’ worth of support, which means that the effect is
identical to the scheme running out at the end of July. This will
affect many industries, but it is particularly acute in the
creative industries, in which it may take until much later in the
year for normal work patterns to resume and in which two thirds of
people are self-employed...
...The creative industries about which the Secretary of State
and I have spoken have been hit hugely by Brexit, as well as by
covid. The Government show no show sign at all that they will fix
the problems. Those in the fashion industry warn that restructuring
is necessary due to the industry’s European and global supply
chains and the disruption that our leaving the EU has caused, but
where is the help? musicians and performers are
unable to tour freely in Europe—a vital stepping-stone for many
emerging artists and a key part of a crucial industry. All that
because the many are having to pay the price for the ideological
obsession of the few...
(Gordon) (SNP) [V]:...There has also been no
additional funding to support musicians and touring artists who
have suffered the double whammy of coronavirus and an end to
visa-free touring in Europe and no provision for live events
insurance, without which the industry will be reliant on support
for much longer than necessary. The Scottish Government have
stepped in with funds for the performing arts venue relief, for
cultural organisations and the venues recovery fund, which has
supported theatres and other performing arts venues across
Scotland. That provision is supporting grassroots music venues and
providing a stabilisation fund, furlough top-up payments and
one-off grants for nightclubs and soft play centres. The UK
Government can and should follow suit...
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