Contribution
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Featherstone, for bringing this Bill. I also welcome the noble Baroness, Lady Mackenzie of Sherwood, to her position in the Government. I declare my interests as a former schools and colleges governor; I was also for 10 years vice-president of the British Board of Film Classification and was chancellor of Bournemouth University, which has a centre of excellence in film and performing arts.
I was born and raised in a place which I think most people regard as paradise or utopia. It is called Birmingham, just off the M6 by the gasworks. I went to a grammar school which was known for its academic standing, but there was one fellow pupil who I recall seemed to have a rather unusual ambition. He spoke of his intention to read architecture at university—a perfectly laudable goal—but he also mentioned his real passion was to become an actor. I remember thinking that he would struggle, because there seemed no obvious pathway to achieving that at school. But he obviously did find a way, because Anton Lesser went on to star in Hollywood films including “Pirates of the Caribbean”, TV series such as “Game of Thrones” and numerous Shakespearean roles. I am sure Anton would have been an excellent architect, but it is arguable that his career as an actor has inspired an even wider circle.
There is someone else from my home city paradise of Birmingham who did not find a pathway into the creative arts until long after his formal education had finished. The youngest of seven children from a very humble background, his first big break was to write radio commercials for an advertising agency. He is now better known for creating the hit BBC TV series “Peaky Blinders” and is writing the script for the next James Bond film. He is none other than Steven Knight CBE.
Anton Lesser and Steven Knight were not overnight success stories. They had to find a way, where there seemed no way, in their formal education at school. It makes me wonder how many other Anton Lessers or Steven Knights—male and female—are out there who we have missed out on. It matters when you consider that the creative industries contribute £145.8 billion to the UK economy.
It also matters when you consider that we are going through a fourth industrial revolution. We have had steam, electricity, computers and now AI. We all know that artificial intelligence is bringing with it amazing benefits, especially in the health sector, but it also presents challenges, even dangers. Scientists speak of the left side of our brains supporting logical and analytical skills, while the right side supports our more creative and emotional thoughts. AI is a tool that is increasingly doing the left-side factual work for us, including for our children with their schoolwork. This is why it is all the more important for our creative skills to be protected and nurtured. After all, each of us has AI—that is, actual intelligence.
During my time as a film regulator, we on the BBFC board noticed that the number of actors coming from the public school sector grew while the number from less privileged state school backgrounds decreased. The situation is even worse for Black actors. Only 15 Black actors have played two or more lead roles in British films over the last 10 years. After school, Idris Elba, now Sir Idris Elba, did find a way, but that was working as a tyre fitter before a Prince’s Trust grant enabled him to enrol at the National Youth Music Theatre.
Over the years, I have been privileged to host a number of charitable events at which pupils from the BRIT School have performed, singing and playing instruments, but not every pupil who has artistic talents can enrol at the specialist BRIT School. Last March, the Government announced plans to create a national centre for arts and music education. The centre is due to launch this month, so can the Minister say what progress is being made on this? In March of this year, the Government Whip, the noble Baroness, Lady Blake of Leeds, stated the Government were “not yet clear” on whether a joint fund will be created to support arts activities in schools. The idea was that the Department for Education, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England would work together with donors, trusts and foundations to achieve this. Please can the Minister also give us an update on that plan?
For this Bill to be effective, it will need financial backing. Britain has a strong and historic tradition of wealthy people giving back to society in various ways. This is why it is sad that the billionaire Christopher Rokos is the latest wealthy donor to leave the UK. I wish this Bill success. As a Private Member’s Bill, perhaps it has limited chances of that, but, as the saying goes, those who say it cannot be done should not try to stop those who are doing it.