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The Earl of Effingham (Con)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 24 June 2025

Debate

Music and Dance Scheme

Contribution

My Lords, please allow me to quote the noble Baroness, Lady Longfield, in her role as executive chair of the Centre for Young Lives: “Creativity and the expressive arts should be part and parcel of every child’s education from primary school”. Please also allow me to quote the Prime Minister: “Every young person should have access to music, art, design and drama. That is our mission”. Perhaps the Minister can help us understand why Ed Sheeran, backed by Elton John, Eric Clapton and hundreds of other artists, wrote to the Prime Minister just three months ago to say: “The time to act is now. State schools … have seen a … decrease in music provision … How many more venues need to close, how many music programs need to be cut before we realise that we can’t just celebrate success, we have to protect the foundations that make it?”

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