Many of those working in the Arts are reliant on the PUP, which the government plans to cut from September
Plans to introduce a basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists are welcome – if overdue, according to Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns.
“Minister for Tourism, Culture and Arts, Catherine Martin, has committed to “prioritise” a basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists. While this is welcome, it can hardly be described as a priority for the government.
“This pilot scheme was first proposed, by the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce, last November – nearly seven months ago. There has been no progress since then and we have no idea when it is likely to be introduced.
“Meanwhile, many of those working in the Arts are reliant on the PUP, which the government plans to cut from September.
“How many artists are the government going to include in its basic income pilot – and is it going to be more than those facing an imminent cut to their existing supports in September, if the economy has not fully reopened by then?
“Separately, the Minister has also announced her intention to develop a new tourism policy. While this is welcome, it is remarkably vague. The tourism and hospitality sector is on its knees and the government has had a long time to plan and implement measures for the current tourism season – which is already underway.
“If the Minister feels the need to develop a new tourism policy, the inference is that she does not believe the existing one is fit for purpose. Announcing, with great fan-fare, plans to develop a future strategy is not much use to businesses that need help today.
“There are measures in government’s economic plan that are welcome, including the extension of the EWSS and the maintenance of the reduced 9pc VAT rate to 1 September 2022, which will provide certainty to businesses.
“However, the tourism and arts portions of the economic recovery plan are largely pledges to introduce plans at some unspecified later date.
“Announcing intentions to introduce pilot schemes or new policy, at this late stage of the pandemic, when work on those measures could have already long commenced, is disappointing.”
2 June, 2021
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