Topical Questions

Jo Platt (Leigh and Atherton) (Lab/Co-op) asked the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, to make a statement on her departmental responsibilities. Platt highlighted the success of the Wigan & Leigh short film festival in her constituency and welcomed the government's announcement of tax reliefs to create jobs and boost the creative industries. In response, the Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, Chris Bryant, agreed with Platt's comments. Julia Lopez (Hornchurch and Upminster) (Con) then questioned the Secretary of State, suggesting that the government was more focused on "good vibes" rather than good policy. Lopez asked whether Nandy was among the ministers who had written to the Chancellor about the Budget and their spending asks, and which had been listed as a priority. Nandy responded that she did not need to write to the Chancellor, as they had a close relationship and discussed matters directly. She highlighted the £63 billion of investment into the UK's creative industries that was secured at the government's recent investment summit. Lopez followed up, stating that some DCMS stakeholders who attended the summit were worried, seeing a government that "milks their stardust" but imposes new taxes and regulations. Lopez asked Nandy to be specific about what "putting rocket boosters" under the creative industries meant in practice. Nandy stated that it meant introducing an independent film tax credit, which the previous government had talked about but not implemented. She criticised the legacy left by the previous government, saying the current administration was fixing the problems they had created. Peter Prinsley (Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket) (Lab) then asked the Secretary of State to join him in congratulating cyclists who had raised £200,000 in memory of those killed in a 1974 plane crash in Bury St Edmunds. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Stephanie Peacock, responded positively to this. Richard Holden (Basildon and Billericay) (Con) raised the issue of women being criminalised for non-payment of the BBC licence fee, and asked whether the government would consider decriminalising this. Nandy acknowledged the importance of the issue and said the upcoming BBC charter review would provide an opportunity to look at it. Other questions were asked by Olivia Bailey (Reading West and Mid Berkshire) (Lab), Josh Babarinde (Eastbourne) (LD), Harpreet Uppal (Huddersfield) (Lab), David Mundell (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) (Con), Bayo Alaba (Southend East and Rochford) (Lab), John Glen (Salisbury) (Con), Chris Bloore (Redditch) (Lab), and Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD). The ministers provided responses addressing the specific points raised in these questions.