The Earl of Clancarty (CB)

My Lords, I, too, congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Booth-Smith, on his excellent maiden speech. I will speak on the arts and creative industries. I thank the Campaign for the Arts and the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society for their briefings. There is, of course, a one-hour debate on the effect of the Budget on this sector on Thursday, but this area is certainly important enough that both the Treasury and the DCMS should be addressed on the concerns that this sector has, not least because the Budget is a mixed bag for the arts and creative industries. Perhaps worse than that, the areas where funding is most urgently needed after so many years of underfunding have not been addressed and indeed could go backwards, which is disappointing for a Government who say they will support the arts. There is good news, hopefully, for the national museums and galleries, but questions remain: how much additional funding will be made available and when will this happen? Will the Government further help other struggling arts and cultural organisations— the plight of Welsh National Opera immediately springs to mind—through the Arts Council and other funding bodies? I thank the Government for listening to concerns about VAT on specialist performing arts schools and confirming that courses covering the Music and Dance Scheme and the Dance and Drama Awards scheme will not attract VAT. I think that will be music to the ears of the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley.