Select committee: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Conclusion 4
First Report - The future of UK music festivals
Published 29 May 2021
Paragraph 36
Addressed to Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee The future of UK music festivals All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The success of the vaccine rollout and the target date announced during our inquiry under the Government’s roadmap for lifting lockdown gave hope to many that festivals will be able to take place this summer. However, the lifting of all restrictions on live events remains heavily contingent on the Events Research Programme. Despite initial positive data from some settings, we are not confident the pilots will deliver the evidence needed in time to lift all restrictions on live events from 21 June. By the Minister’s own admission, festivals are unique settings and yet they were initially overlooked in the first tranche of pilots. We strongly welcome the decision, following our questioning of the Minister, to conduct a festival-type pilot in early May; however a one-day event for 5,000 people does not capture the full range of UK festivals and further pilots may therefore be needed.
From: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, First Report - The future of UK music festivals (HC 49), paragraph 36, 29 May 2021
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 17 August 2021.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government welcomes the report and sets out a response to each recommendation, with an insurance scheme in place of the Committee's proposals, a commitment to explore environmental licensing objectives, and no support for front-of-house drug testing.
- On insurance, the government announced a Live Events Reinsurance Scheme, saying it "should also address" the call to extend the Events Research Programme, which it describes as "science-led".
- On environmental objectives, it "agrees with the Committee" on supporting festivals' emissions pledges, and says DCMS "will work closely with DEFRA and MHCLG to explore" the licensing proposal "over the coming months".
- On drug checking, it is "unable to support the use of front-of-house testing until further assessments are carried out", while continuing to support back-of-house testing of seized substances.
- On monthly reporting on EU touring, the government considers working closely with the creative industries "the most appropriate channel" for updates, and says 19 of 27 Member States have confirmed no visas or work permits are needed for short-term tours.