Speeches by Irons.

“I beg to move, That this House has considered the long-term funding of youth services. I thank the Backbench Business Committee for allowing time for this debate, Members for supporting it, and all the organisations that have provided material for today’s contributions. This Government have stated that they are on a mi…”

“I thank the Minister for her response. It is amazing to hear about the extra funding going in, and the Government’s approach to ensuring a long-term sustainable future for our youth services. It is a different approach from that taken by the previous Government, who ripped apart that network. Given the themes of today’…”

“I understand that MSP colleagues are considering bringing in a youth Act in Scotland, which is quite innovative, and perhaps we should try to emulate some of its provisions. With the closure of over 1,000 youth centres, one in eight local councils now has no youth centres in its area. The workforce crisis has seen yout…”

“I think we all appreciate the amendment, because we want to protect vulnerable women, children and anybody who is at risk of this sort of harm. Could we not look at doing something similar to the amendment, and the carve-out we have created with it, for our creative industries? If we can protect our vulnerable people, …”

“Do you think there is any scope, though, to look at things like something relative to the Featured Artists Coalition for festival promoters, and those other bodies that we are discussing throughout this process?”

“Based on all of your engagement with the sector, including the time you spent with Jon, are you confident that the LIVE Trust will be sustainable and well governed long term?”

“Sorry, Jon, you have more talking to do. What is LIVE’s long term funding strategy for the LIVE Trust?”

“It came up earlier that you have just appointed trustees. That is very exciting, but how will you ensure that they remain independent, and also that they have the skills and the support for good governance and keep things in line?”

“We have heard a lot from artists and grassroots music venues, but how will you ensure that the money gets to festivals and promoters as well? Obviously, we have heard a lot about the ecosystem and the wider way that this all connects so how will you support that?”

“What has the feedback from promoters and the festivals that you are working with been at this point?”

“Based on all of your engagement with the sector, including the time you spent with Jon, are you confident that the LIVE Trust will be sustainable and well governed long term?”

“Given your own experience of setting up a charity, any advice for them?”

“The Arts Council has set up the Featured Artists Coalition, and it has distributed those funds into the LIVE Trust. Is that your preference necessarily? If a body sets up something similar like that or to go straight into LIVE Trust, do you have a preference either way?”

“Do you think there is any scope, though, to look at things like something relative to the Featured Artists Coalition for festival promoters, and those other bodies that we are discussing throughout this process?”

“Finally, do you think the industry believes you when you make your threat about bringing in legislation to make the levy statutory if necessary?”

“Sorry, Jon, you have more talking to do. What is LIVE’s long term funding strategy for the LIVE Trust?”

“It came up earlier that you have just appointed trustees. That is very exciting, but how will you ensure that they remain independent, and also that they have the skills and the support for good governance and keep things in line?”

“We have heard a lot from artists and grassroots music venues, but how will you ensure that the money gets to festivals and promoters as well? Obviously, we have heard a lot about the ecosystem and the wider way that this all connects so how will you support that?”

“What has the feedback from promoters and the festivals that you are working with been at this point?”

“Based on all of your engagement with the sector, including the time you spent with Jon, are you confident that the LIVE Trust will be sustainable and well governed long term?”