Recommendations & Conclusions
30 items
1
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The many and varied sectors under the remit of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are integral to the UK’s national life and identity, as well as being vital drivers of economic growth and employment. Yet many parts of these sectors face an existential threat due to Covid-19 …
Government response. Sport - Conclusions and recommendations 2–9
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
We are concerned that a lack of confidence, and a fear of being in close proximity with people from outside their own household, will affect people’s return to group sports, particularly those that take place indoors (such as indoor exercise classes), those that require physical contact (such as rugby), and …
Government response. Sport England launched the Join the Movement campaign on 26 March, which provides tips, advice and guidance on how people can keep or get active in and around the home. Join the Movement has involved the health and fitness industry, …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
3
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The cessation of community sport countrywide during lockdown has hit under- represented groups the hardest. While we welcome the announcement that some recreational sports teams can now resume play, we are concerned about gyms and leisure centres. These facilities act as community hubs, often providing subsidised facilities to those who …
Government response. to be active. It is important that leisure centres remain accessible for people from all backgrounds as we make efforts to return to normality after the Covid-19 lockdown period. Outdoor swimming pools have been able to open from 11 July …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
4
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
We recognise the importance of ‘horizon-scanning’ work to ensuring people maintain and increase their activity levels, which in turn will boost their resilience to the virus. However, smaller organisations are unlikely to have the resources 56 Impact of COVID-19 on DCMS sectors: First Report available to collect data, analyse it …
Government response. Sporting Future identified the huge opportunity that the digital agenda presents for sport and physical activity. Using data to make people more aware of activity opportunities available to them has continued to be a key focus. has been steadily increasing. …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
5
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
With no clear messaging from the Government about when spectators can expect to return to sporting events, we support calls from elite sports organisations for the Government to extend its financial assistance for those organisations that are unable to generate revenue until mass gatherings are permitted. We recommend that DCMS …
Government response. . The Covid-19 pandemic has presented a significant challenge to many of DCMS’ sectors including sport and we understand that pausing the planned 1 October changes for a return of socially distanced crowds at sporting events will be disappointing for …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
6
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The current football business model is not sustainable. The Covid-19 crisis has shone a stark light on the financial issues within football, specifically in the leagues below the Premier League. The Premier League is the main income generator of English football. If it does not step up to help the …
Government response. Football clubs are the heart of local communities, they have unique social value and there are many with a great history. It is vital they are protected. The Government has been in regular contact with the football authorities to understand …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
7
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
We firmly believe that football must use its response to the Covid-19 crisis to ‘reset’. The crisis has shone a light on the culture of unfair pay in football. The decision by some Premier League clubs to furlough non-playing staff was deplorable, and we welcomed its reversal. Parachute payments must …
Government response. Football clubs are the heart of local communities, they have unique social value and there are many with a great history. It is vital they are protected. The Government has been in regular contact with the football authorities to understand …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
8
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
Football must also become more representative. The fact that no Premier League club and virtually no English Football League club has a black owner, Chair or chief executive, is a fundamental inequality at the heart of the game. We do not believe that the voluntary initiative proposed by the FA …
Government response. Sport England and UK Sport announced a joint review of the Code for Sports Governance on 23 July 2020. The review will look at areas where the Code would benefit from further 6 Impact of Covid-19 on DCMS sectors: Government …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
9
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The lack of visibility of women’s sport this summer risks undoing work to improve funding for women’s elite sport. Cancellation of women’s events is likely to reduce the number of women being inspired to take part in sporting activities. In its response to Impact of COVID-19 on DCMS sectors: First …
Government response. We recognise that women’s sport has already been heavily impacted by the pandemic with a lack of media coverage and visibility and a loss of sponsorship deals which women’s sport has historically found difficult to attract in the first place. …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
10
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The Department should investigate how the market for recorded music is operating in the era of streaming to ensure that music creators are receiving a fair reward.
Government response. The Government fully recognises the importance of understanding how creators receive remuneration and attribution in a global streaming environment. To that end, the Intellectual Property Office is supporting an independent research project, led by a coalition of industry bodies, including …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
11
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The Covid-19 crisis presents the biggest threat to the UK’s cultural infrastructure, institutions and workforce in a generation. The loss of performing arts institutions, and the vital work they do in communities by spreading the health and education benefits of cultural engagement, would undermine the aims of the Government’s ‘levelling …
Government response. On 5 July the Government announced a £1.57 billion support package to protect Britain’s world class cultural, arts and heritage institutions. This money represents the biggest ever one-off investment in UK culture and will provide a lifeline to our vital …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
12
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme have been a lifeline for all those in the creative industries who have been eligible for them. However, the closure of the schemes in October and the fact too many self-employed people have missed out on support to date, …
Government response. It is the case that some organisations will be affected by Covid-19 for longer than others, and the Government will seek to support them appropriately. In the Plan for Jobs, the Chancellor announced measures to support businesses in particular sectors, …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
13
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
We welcome the Government’s commitment to provide £1.57 billion in funding for our cultural and heritage sectors; however, whether it is enough to safeguard the cultural sector will ultimately depend on how long institutions remain closed or subject to social distancing, and we are concerned that freelancers and small companies …
Government response. The funding criteria and application process for the Culture Recovery Fund went live in early August. Money has already begun to be allocated, with £3.36 million in emergency funding for grassroots music venues allocated on 22 August. Additionally, as part …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
14
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The Government must learn from the shortcomings of previous support schemes, including those for charities and self-employed people, to ensure this package is tailored to the unique characteristics of the cultural sector and its workers, and reaches them promptly. The Government must recognise the interconnected nature of the cultural 58 …
Government response. The funding criteria and application process for the Culture Recovery Fund went live in early August. Money has already begun to be allocated, with £3.36 million in emergency funding for grassroots music venues allocated on 22 August. Additionally, as part …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
15
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
To further combat the negative effects of closure, and to stimulate long-term recovery, the Government should introduce other fiscal measures. We recommend the cut in VAT on ticket sales for theatre and live music be extended beyond January 2021, for the next three years. The Government should increase Theatre Tax …
Government response. As part of the Winter Economy Plan announced on 24 September, the government extended the temporary 15 percent VAT cut (from 20 percent to five percent) for the 10 Impact of Covid-19 on DCMS sectors: Government Response tourism and hospitality …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
16
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
Lessons must be learnt from Arts Council England’s emergency funding when it comes to distributing the additional Government support. Support cannot be limited to organisations with a track record of public funding. Although recipients must be able to demonstrate they will use public monies appropriately, such a restrictive criterion risks …
Government response. The Arts Council England has recently delivered emergency funding to both National Portfolio Organisations and £50 million dedicated to organisations that are not in its National Portfolio. In government, and at the Arts Council England, we understand that organisations not …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
17
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
Since lockdown began, we and many others in the cultural sector have been warning DCMS about the challenges of resuming live performance. The £1.57 billion of support from Government will only tide the cultural sector over for so long and will not be sufficient to compensate for a loss of …
Government response. Theatres are now able to open for socially distanced performances. We understand the challenges social distancing creates for organisations, which is why we have provided £1.57 billion of support to the cultural sector. This funding will be focused on those …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
18
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
We are concerned that innovative technology-based solutions are being explored across the theatre, sports and festivals sectors without full collaboration between them. This is exactly the issue the Cultural Renewal Taskforce was set up to address. The Cultural Renewal Taskforce must co-ordinate cross-sector work on technological Impact of COVID-19 on …
Government response. We are working with the performing arts sector, including through the venues steering group, to consider how the use of technology can support the return of larger audiences into performing arts venues as soon as possible. We are also working …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
19
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
Government must address the urgent need for the UK’s cultural industries to be covered by adequate insurance. Without it, efforts to resume filming, touring and live performance are doomed to failure. Alongside working with the insurance industry to introduce a long-term pandemic reinsurance scheme, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media …
Government response. On 28 July, the Government announced the £500 million Film and TV Production Restart Scheme. This £500 million compensation scheme will assist the film and TV production sectors who are ready to return to work, but are precluded from doing …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
20
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The issue of quarantine periods is beyond our remit, so we will limit our comments to saying that the timing and guidance about quarantining have been far from clear. Whilst we understand that there was considerable uncertainty around how the pandemic developed internationally, the tourism sector was in limbo for …
Government response. The Government has kept quarantine and travel corridor arrangements under regular review, and has added or removed countries from the list on several occasions since the implementation of quarantine policy. Risk assessments are conducted by the Joint Biosecurity Centre, in …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
21
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
International tourism to the UK had halved by April 2020 and has continued to decline. Visitor attractions, including museums and galleries, are being hit hard as a result. Not only are these organisations facing an end to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in October, they have also largely depleted their …
Government response. The Government understands the risk that insolvency poses to museums and their collections and we are looking at legislative, and non-legislative, options to prevent the dispersal, and therefore potential loss, of these collections. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
22
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
Seasonal workers in the tourism industry are falling between the cracks in the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. We recommend that DCMS works with the tourism sector and HM Treasury to review the measures in place to support tourism businesses and seasonal workers to ensure they fully meet the needs of …
Government response. Since 1 July, employers have been able to bring back employees for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim grants under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for normal hours not worked. The Chancellor …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
23
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The capacity constraints that arise from the requirements of social distancing make yield management and smoothing out demand more important than ever. The Eat Out to Help Out programme will help shift some demand to trough days. Doubtless attractions, transport providers and lodgings will re-examine their own promotional programmes to …
Government response. The Government has implemented a series of measures to support the extension of the holiday season. For example, businesses will benefit from the cut in VAT for most tourism activities until the end of March 2021, and eligible businesses won’t …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
24
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
Tourism is an incredibly important force within the UK economy; however, it is more than just the sum of its parts, and it demonstrates vital links to culture, heritage and environmental work. Moreover, tourism is an essential part of many peoples’ lives, and the prospect of some time away from …
Government response. The Government agrees with this recommendation. In July, we launched a £10 million domestic campaign encouraging UK residents to Enjoy Summer Safely. This campaign was supported by £4 million for local activity delivered by Destination Management Organisations, among others. In …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
25
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, vulnerable people across the country have suffered as a result of being excluded from digital services and communication. Yet initiatives to tackle the issue, such as the DevicesDotNow campaign, have been limited by a lack of both direct and charitable funding. The Department for Digital, Culture, …
Government response. Response to 26 and 27 to people’s lives. In order to ensure that those in financial difficulty have access to the connectivity they need, there are currently social tariffs in place that provide low cost landline and broadband services for …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
26
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
We commend the work done by cultural and fitness organisations, both before and during the Covid-19 crisis, to move access to content and facilities online. In the immediate future, DCMS should work with HM Treasury to develop a data voucher scheme, to give those with limited access to the internet …
Government response. Response to 26 and 27 to people’s lives. In order to ensure that those in financial difficulty have access to the connectivity they need, there are currently social tariffs in place that provide low cost landline and broadband services for …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
27
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
While we welcome Ofcom’s focus on affordability of broadband services, and the measures introduced across the telecoms industry to make websites and mobile data available to those who need it during the Covid-19 outbreak, more needs to be done to support all those experiencing data poverty, and particularly pay-as-you-go users. …
Government response. Response to 26 and 27 to people’s lives. In order to ensure that those in financial difficulty have access to the connectivity they need, there are currently social tariffs in place that provide low cost landline and broadband services for …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
28
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The Government has been too slow to respond to the needs of the sectors under the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s remit during the Covid-19 outbreak. In its response, DCMS has been hampered by its overall spending power, a lack of robust data on ineligibility for support and …
Government response. 2 This can be found here 3 Government response to the public consultation on implementing the European Electronic Communications Code, July 2020, available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/902879/Government_response_EECC.pdf Impact of Covid-19 on DCMS sectors: Government Response 17 Throughout the pandemic the Government …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
29
Conclusion
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
The Cultural Renewal Taskforce and working groups demonstrate a worrying lack of diversity of representation. To ensure that sectors remain accessible to all as they reopen, it is essential that all decisions and proposals by the Cultural Renewal Taskforce and its working groups are accompanied by full equality impact assessments …
Government response. DCMS sectors and have a diverse makeup. For example one of the largest working groups, the Entertainment and Events working group, contains representatives from across a broad range of entertainment venues and settings such as concert halls, festivals and cinemas.4 …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
30
Recommendation
Third Report - Impact of COVID-19 on DC…
Forming a ‘Creators Council’ could boost confidence across the sector and ensure its views are represented at a time when many of the creative industries workforce are struggling to stay in the sector. We recommend that DCMS forms a Creators Council as a mechanism for better dialogue with the creative …
Government response. 4 www.gov.uk/government/groups/cultural-renewal-taskforce-and-supporting-working-groups 18 Impact of Covid-19 on DCMS sectors: Government Response felt that DCMS has not properly heard their concerns with regard to creative freelancers. However, DCMS has listened to as many of the views across the creative industries as …
Department for Culture, Media and Sport