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Written question asked by Shaun Davies (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 16 March 2026. It was answered by Dan Tomlinson (Labour) on Thursday, 19 March 2026 on behalf of the Treasury.

Choirs: Tax Allowances

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the Orchestra Tax Relief scheme to include a cappella choirs.

Answer

The Government recognises the importance of the creative industries, including orchestras, and supports them through funding and through the tax system. Orchestra Tax Relief (OTR) provides tax relief on production costs and provided around £50 million of support in 2023‑24. There is currently no other country in the world which offers such a tax relief for orchestras.

In considering any changes to existing tax reliefs or introducing new ones, Government has to consider a wide range of factors, including the specific aims of the relief, the costs and complexity of designing and administering new provisions, and fairness.

Decisions on tax are taken by the Chancellor at fiscal events, in the context of overall public finances.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
120085
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Tax allowances Choirs
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk