My Lords, the Government fully recognise the scale of the challenges facing creative and cultural professionals wishing to tour in and trade with Europe. We are working to address these while resetting relationships and deepening ties with our European friends. In line with our manifesto, Ministers have raised touring with European counterparts on multiple occasions, and officials are collaborating across Whitehall with stakeholders and meeting their European counterparts to advocate for pragmatic solutions. This is a priority for the Government.
My Lords, I welcome the Minister to her new role and thank her for the meeting we had with her. I hope that it was helpful in understanding that this affects not just music touring, important though that is, but the visual arts, craft, fashion and film. Without a commitment to rejoining the single market, how will the Government deal effectively with these pressing concerns and secure the place of our arts and creative industries in Europe?
I thank the noble Earl. We had a very interesting conversation. There tends to be an assumption that we are talking about music when we talk about touring, but it covers the broadest range of elements, including fashion, gaming and so many things. We make it clear that we are looking to reset the relationship with Europe. We are not talking about returning to where we were. There has already been high-level engagement with the Prime Minister on several occasions and with other Ministers, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer met Finance Ministers for the first time just yesterday. These are the conversations we are having with great urgency on how we can address some of the problems.
My Lords, I thank the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, for the way he has stuck to this agenda, and for the service he has given to the arts in so doing. In the review that the Minister is undertaking, will she understand that many aspects of the arts and culture are devolved, whereas trade is not? Therefore, can she set up a mechanism for co-ordinating with the devolved regimes to help advise the Government on the course they may take?
I also add my thanks to the noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, and all other Members of this House for raising these matters repeatedly; it is important to focus on what is happening. I note very carefully the comments made by the noble Lord, Lord Wigley, and, obviously, we shall be having an interesting debate later today about Welsh opera, for example. These relationships are critical, and I will take back the noble Lord’s comments.
My Lords, last week the Prime Minister launched the Plan for Change—a great statement of support for our creative industries, because it was launched at Pinewood Studios. However, those industries are crying out for us to rebuild ties with Europe. Our young people are being cut off from European culture, and vice versa, yet the relatively narrow youth mobility scheme suggested by the EU has been rejected by the Prime Minister. Can the Minister explain why?
To reiterate my earlier comments, the negotiations are ongoing, and it would not be appropriate to go into the detail of where we are. Let us be honest: this is incredibly complicated. I do not think anyone really understood the level of complexity involved in leaving the EU and all its greater implications. I hear the noble Baroness’s comments; they will be fed in. I am very heartened by the change in relationships, the willingness to embrace and have discussions, and, most importantly, collaboration with the wider sector, which will absolutely direct the course of travel.
My Lords, I welcome my noble friend the Minister’s comments about resetting relations with Europe. As someone who for many years accompanied my own children, who were members of youth orchestras, around all the major countries of Europe, I ask whether in the discussions the Government are now having with partner countries in Europe special emphasis will be given to making it easier for youth orchestras to travel in the summer, both to and from Europe, to enrich the musical, cultural and educational needs of our young people.