Speeches by Hinds.

“In terms of market share, it is difficult to measure these things precisely for events, but it is probably fair to say that, #despiteBrexit, we still do well compared to other European nations on major events. In the middle east and in south-east and eastern Asia, there is a lot of growth, and we may well be losing glo…”

“I thank the Paymaster General for his personal work in this area. The increase in the unethical research award is a material improvement, and I am particularly thinking of the former pupils at Treloar’s. However, there is still some uncertainty in the community about the evidence that will be required to qualify for th…”

“12. What recent steps he has taken to ensure that people infected and affected by contaminated blood are compensated.”

“I think that would try Madam Deputy Speaker’s patience. Today is the day that we can take action on those two points.”

“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is a pleasure to have heard the last few speeches, which made very important points, but even with five minutes, time is still short for me. I will speak briefly about a couple of aspects of social media and mobile phones. On social media, let us get on with it. We have had this issu…”

“Yes, combined authorities.”

“It just won’t.”

“More on tax: obviously you are an important cultural organisation and have an important role in promoting access to culture. In discussions with your sponsoring Department, do you talk about your role in economic growth, employment and export earnings?”

“I was going to ask more about tax. I want to come on to the so-called visitor levy or bed tax. This might also fall into the bracket of something that was in the Hodge report. Notwithstanding that you said you agree with all the recommendations of that report, I am not sure you have explicitly endorsed the idea of a be…”

“That is because they think they are all going to get some of the financial benefits.”

“I do not think it is something that Baroness Hodge made up. She reports having heard from a lot of people through the arts world that it is the case. Why do you think, if it is in your DNA, and it is something that John Maynard Keynes wanted to do from the start, that these conclusions were reached?”

“You have a new strategy, or framework, I think, due in the next month or so. We understand it is going to be simpler and less prescriptive, with less bureaucracy and so on. In terms of supporting freedom of expression and the pursuit of excellence—the two things I have just been asking about—will that new framework be …”

“Baroness Hodge, in her report, draws a distinction between excellence and access to excellence. Obviously the two things are related, but the strong suggestion in her work, and from her discussion with others, is that excellence itself has been downgraded over time in what the Arts Council seeks to support. Why do you …”

“I am sorry; I should not interrupt.”

“I want to follow on from Natasha’s line of questions, on the arm’s length principle. I just wonder whether you think the greater danger of the arts being directed in a particular direction comes from Government or from what you might call a dominant ideology.”

“Sometimes we call it culture—the dominant ideology. There are definitely themes that run through society, aren’t there? You yourself, Darren, used the phrase earlier: you said there are some things that it is not acceptable to say today which may be acceptable tomorrow. That is a dominant ideology.”

“In a time when we sometimes worry about so-called cancel culture, do you see a responsibility for the Arts Council to make sure that a whole range of voices is heard? For things that, to use your phrase, may not be acceptable to say today but may become so—frankly, even things that do not become so, they are still some…”

“Hang on; you say if it is not there then we are censors. There are negative freedoms and positive freedoms, aren’t there? You do not necessarily have to actually censor something to not nurture it, or to make it not possible. Sir Nicholas, I think you were going to speak.”

“Is that one of your published principles—your stated principles in your standard terms, for example?”

“It is true that the effects of the falling birth rate have been felt most so far in places such as Hackney, but it is coming to many more places, and the effect will be felt in a much more magnified way, particularly in small rural schools. Does the Secretary of State accept that the funding formula will have to change…”