Extract from committee stage (Lords) (day 2) of the Trade (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) Bill - Dec 14

Lord Foster of Bath (LD):...One further point is that we have absolutely no idea what the impact will be. In his letter to me, the Minister says:

“We do not expect the measures in this Bill to result in significant direct impacts on UK musicians and UK record labels, or on broadcasters, public venues, or other users of music, in the UK”.

He acknowledges in that letter that

“changes will result in more foreign performers becoming newly eligible for rights in the UK”,

yet he still concludes:

“As such, we expect the direct impact of the measures in the Bill on the UK parties to be small”.

I hope that he can explain the justification for the conclusion that he has come to when we have had no consultation yet—it has not even begun—on these issues.

I have proposed Amendment 28, which requires that we publish an assessment of the impact of performers’ rights provisions in the CPTPP on qualifying individuals in the UK. The Minister has told me in his letter that his conclusion is that it will be minimal. I have no understanding of the basis of that justification and I look forward to the Minister’s explanation...

For context, OPEN HERE