Lords debates impact of arts sector on jobs and growth

Debate 

Baroness Thornton (Labour), former Lords opposition spokesperson for culture, media and sport, put forward the debate.  

This was a general debate. During debates, members put their experience to good use to discuss current issues and draw the government's attention to concerns.      

Members speaking  

Contributing members included:

• Baroness Benjamin (Liberal Democrats), presenter, producer and governor of the National Film and Television School
• Lord Berkeley of Knighton (Crossbench), composer and trustee of the Mid Wales Music Trust 
• Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (Liberal Democrats), trustee of One Dance UK, Birmingham and the Lowry Arts Centre, Salford Quays
• Viscount Chandos (Labour), trustee and associated company director of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts
• Viscount Colville of Culross (Crossbench), journalist, director and senior producer for the BBC
• Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Labour), chief executive of the Royal Opera House and governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company
• Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Conservative), former Minister for Arts and Heritage at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
• Baroness Prashar (Crossbench), former non-executive director of Channel 4 and member of the Arts Council
• Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour), former director of the British Film Institute.

Opening the debate, Baroness Thornton said:

'The Arts Council invests money from the Government and the National Lottery to support creativity and culture. However, since 2017, arts funding from national bodies has been cut by 16% in real terms.'

Baroness Benjamin added:

'What consideration has been given to enhancing the children’s television tax relief from 24% to at least 34%? This would help attract investment in children’s production.

'What consideration have the Government given to encouraging platforms such as Netflix and Disney+ to donate part of their 30% European quota to children’s content.'

Lord Berkeley of Knighton said:

'The closure of university arts departments is a terrible worry. Most recently, it was the music department at Cardiff University. It followed in the wake of other universities, such as the University of East Anglia, which has such a splendid record in literature, with Ian McEwan, Angela Carter and Kazuo Ishiguro—a Nobel laureate, no less.'

Baroness Twycross (Labour), Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, responded on behalf of the government:

'This government recognise the huge economic potential of these industries, which support more than 2.4 million jobs and represent over 5% of the UK’s total gross value added.

'We recognise that pathways into creative careers can start in school, which is why we have provided £3 million of new funding for the creative careers programme.'

Catch up

Watch and read the debate   

Watch on Parliament TV or read the Lords Hansard transcript. 

Explore background information   

• Find out more about the issues the debate covers in the House of Lords Library briefing.
• Learn more about how the House of Lords checks and challenges government. 

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