Tabled by
The
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they intend to
have with the European Union concerning the post-Brexit position
of the United Kingdom’s creative professionals touring in the
European Union.
(CB)
My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend , and with his permission, I
beg leave to ask the Question standing in his name on the Order
Paper.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport ( of Whitley Bay) (Con)
My Lords, the UK made proposals for permit-free touring and for
specialist hauliers to be exempt from cabotage limits. Sadly,
these were rejected by the European Union. We have raised touring
at both the EU-UK Partnership Council and the EU-UK Trade
Specialised Committee on Services, Investment and Digital Trade.
Our focus is now on supporting the sector, including by working
directly with member states. This approach has delivered results,
most recently with Spain, meaning that 21 member states now allow
some visa-free and permit-free touring.
(CB)
My Lords, the music industry is frustrated that so little has
been done to resolve touring issues in the 13 months since the
TCA was applied, and is concerned that increased costs will rule
out European touring for artists, companies and orchestras. Will
the Government negotiate a cabotage exemption for the cultural
and creative sector and an own-account exemption for groups that
tour with their own trucks and now face extra costs of £16,000
per day? Does the Minister accept that dual registration, on
which the Government are currently consulting, is not a workable
solution for a UK orchestra with a single specialist touring
vehicle?
of Whitley Bay (Con)
My Lords, through our bilateral agreement, 21 of the 27 member
states have confirmed that UK musicians and performers do not
need visas or work permits for some short-term touring. As I say,
we continue our discussions bilaterally with the six remaining
member states. On own-account vehicles, such as those used by
orchestras, the UK pushed hard for liberalised access for
hauliers carrying equipment for cultural events during
negotiations but the EU sadly did not agree to our requests. The
Department for Transport continues to work across government and
with the industry to consider what options may be possible for
own-account operators.
(Lab)
My Lords, have the Government considered what they can do to help
youth orchestras? For many years, they have toured Europe during
the summer, to the enrichment of those who have played in them
and the audiences to whom they have played. I declare an
interest: both my children were members of the Stoneleigh Youth
Orchestra, which travelled all over Europe under its conductor
Adrian Brown. I just hope that, when the Government consider the
wider questions triggered by the Question from the noble Earl,
they will also take into account the important need to continue
the cultural and musical links between younger people and
Europe.
of Whitley Bay (Con)
I strongly agree with the noble Viscount. It is important that
people of all ages—professionals and amateurs alike—have the
opportunities for cultural exchange. That is why the UK has a
generous offer and is welcoming to musicians from around the
world. Through our discussions with member states, we have
clarified that arrangements are much more workable than at times
has been reported—for example, splitter vans are not subject to
the TCA market access rules. We continue to work with sector
organisations, including youth orchestras.
(Con)
My Lords, the creative industries are a huge success story in the
UK. This year, the UK film industry is set to overtake Hollywood
in its capacity. Will the Minister give an update on progress in
building a website, so that people who want to tour in Europe can
go to a one-stop shop to find out the requirements? Will he
commit to publishing the papers that show the points that the UK
Government are making to the European Union to try to unblock
this blockage?
of Whitley Bay (Con)
My noble friend is absolutely right. As we emerge from the
pandemic, our creative industries are leading the way in helping
us to build back stronger. On GOV.UK, landing pages for each
member state explain the rules and the outcome of our
negotiations with the remaining six states. I will take his point
about publishing documentation back to the department and let him
know.
(Con)
The noble Lord, , wishes to contribute
virtually and I think this is a good point to call him.
(LD) [V]
My Lords, the UK’s second largest industry, the creative arts,
was left high and dry by the Government’s trade deal with the EU.
Touring in Europe is now almost impossible for British musicians
and other performers because of a mountain of new red tape and
costs. Bilateral deals are not enough. When will the Government
do what the Tongan Government were able to do for their
performers and negotiate EU-wide cultural exemptions for visas,
work permits and trucking restrictions?
of Whitley Bay (Con)
The case is not as gloomy as the noble Lord puts it. As I said,
21 of the 27 member states have already clarified their offer,
and the UK’s offer to the rest of the world is very generous. We
made a similar offer to the one that was rejected by the EU to
the EFTA nations, which was agreed, showing that our proposals
were not just possible but can be agreed and made to work.
Regrettably, the EU did not offer a visa waiver for paid
activities during the TCA negotiations and no major G7 economy
has agreed to lock in its visa systems with the EU, which was the
proposal that was on the table.
of Hudnall (Lab)
My Lords, the Minister will be well aware that the music
industry, particularly the classical music industry, is
predominantly freelance and very much depends on international
reputations being built. What assessment have the Government made
of the impact on individual UK performers of the restrictions
that they now face when they are likely to be offered work in the
European Union? My information is that they are far less likely
now to be offered work than they used to be. Can the Minister
confirm that? Does he have any information?
of Whitley Bay (Con)
The noble Baroness is right to point to the importance of
freelancers in these sectors. Through my discussions personally
with representatives of the music industry, including classical
music organisations and orchestras, we have discussed the
challenges faced by freelancers and the support that many
organisations were able to give them, thanks to what went to them
from the Culture Recovery Fund. As I say, GOV.UK makes clear the
rules for travelling to each member state. Our own approach is
very welcoming: we want people from around the world to come to
the UK and perform here. The information that the noble Baroness
seeks is on GOV.UK, listed by individual country.
(CB)
My Lords, this is the time of year when major, high
export-earning European tours are planned, featuring performers
such as Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles, but the current rules,
particularly relating to cabotage, make the transport and
logistical arrangements for such tours impossible. What are the
Government doing to address these issues, which are both urgent
and specific to the creative performing sector, so that tours
such as these can go ahead this year?
of Whitley Bay (Con)
We do not believe that an EU-wide agreement would be feasible;
instead, we are addressing each area in turn, including those
mentioned by the noble Lord, working to provide clarity to the
sector and implementing unilateral measures where relevant. For
instance, on haulage, the Government are in the process of
implementing dual registration to support specialist concert
hauliers; and, on carnets, we have clarified that portable
musical instruments, carried or in a vehicle, can be transported
cost-free and should not require carnets.
(LD)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that we have got into a
situation where musicians are knee-deep in red tape? What are the
Government going to do to release them from this, particularly
those who do not have major backing—that is, journeymen
musicians?
of Whitley Bay (Con)
As I say, on GOV.UK, we make as clear as possible for those who
are touring or are planning tours the position in individual
member states. We are also working with the sector, including
representatives from musical organisations of all types and
sizes, so that we can understand the challenges that the industry
still faces and make sure that we are tackling them.
(Con)
My Lords, what are the main specific obstacles in coming to
agreements with those countries with which we do not have
agreements, such as Spain?
of Whitley Bay (Con)
We do now have an agreement with Spain—that is the most recent to
be added to the list. One of the six which remains is Portugal,
which of course had its general election last month. That has
slowed down the negotiations there, but those are continuing at
ministerial and official level.
(Lab)
My Lords, perhaps this is an apposite moment for the House to
acknowledge the contribution and sad death of Jamal Edwards, who
has done so much to promote a new wave of musicians and artists
to a global audience. Awarded an MBE at 24, he was an inspiration
to a new generation. With that in mind, perhaps the Minister can
tell us what support Her Majesty’s Government are giving to young
new artists who are not signed to a label but who want to tour
and take their first steps towards performing to overseas
audiences. The new Secretary of State has said that a package of
specific help is coming. When will she deliver on that promise
and help to resolve the EU’s continuing border issues?
of Whitley Bay (Con)
I was very sad to see the news about Jamal Edwards this morning,
dying so tragically young. The Government are committed to making
sure that emerging artists and new talent have opportunities. We
are working on a refresh of the national plan for music education
under the chairmanship of my noble friend Lady Fleet, and with
the Department for Education to make sure that opportunities in
schools as well as outside are available to everybody. Through
our working group, we are engaging with the sector to make sure
that those who face challenges in touring know that the
Government are working to address them.
