To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she Department has made of the potential impact of Performing Right Society licensing fees on the profitability of microbusinesses, freelancers and sole traders, particularly those with low turnover or earnings below the income tax threshold.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she Department has made of the potential impact of Performing Right Society licensing fees on the profitability of microbusinesses, freelancers and sole traders, particularly those with low turnover or earnings below the income tax threshold.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what oversight exists of tribunal decisions relating to Performing Right Society licensing fees; and what criteria are used to determine whether such fees represent fair and reasonable usage costs for small businesses and sole traders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what oversight exists of tribunal decisions relating to Performing Right Society licensing fees; and what criteria are used to determine whether such fees represent fair and reasonable usage costs for small businesses and sole traders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had with PRS for Music on matters relating to the music industry and artists.

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had with PRS for Music on matters relating to the music industry and artists.

I know that the hon. Lady is campaigning hard on this issue and I will look at all that she has said.

I know that the hon. Lady is campaigning hard on this issue and I will look at all that she has said.

Many grassroots music venues are struggling, with 40% closing in London alone over the past decade. There are many pressures on venues, but will the Minister look specifically at the call from the Music Venue Trust for PRS for Music to scrap its minimum tariff, which is hitting grassroots venues very hard, and to introduce the 3% fee across the board?

Many grassroots music venues are struggling, with 40% closing in London alone over the past decade. There are many pressures on venues, but will the Minister look specifically at the call from the Music Venue Trust for PRS for Music to scrap its minimum tariff, which is hitting grassroots venues very hard, and to introduce the 3% fee across the board?

Westminster hall adjournment debate on the effects of Phonographic Performance Limited regulations on small and medium-sized enterprises.

Westminster hall adjournment debate on the effects of Phonographic Performance Limited regulations on small and medium-sized enterprises.

The hon. Lady wants to intervene to inform my brief contribution with her expertise.

The hon. Lady wants to intervene to inform my brief contribution with her expertise.

I thank the Minister for his answer and his speech so far. He has referred to the Government response to the investigation and report by Professor Hargreaves. Can he provide an estimated timetable for the Government response? Is it likely to be produced in the next month, the next two...

I thank the Minister for his answer and his speech so far. He has referred to the Government response to the investigation and report by Professor Hargreaves. Can he provide an estimated timetable for the Government response? Is it likely to be produced in the next month, the next two...

It is delightful, Mr Bayley, to speak in successive debates in this Chamber under your benevolent stewardship. I congratulate the hon. Member for South Down (Ms Ritchie) on securing this debate and on her speech, and in the short time available I will do my best to deal with some...

It is delightful, Mr Bayley, to speak in successive debates in this Chamber under your benevolent stewardship. I congratulate the hon. Member for South Down (Ms Ritchie) on securing this debate and on her speech, and in the short time available I will do my best to deal with some...

I shall deal with that specific question before I finish speaking. No doubt inspiration will wing its way to me to inform my response—the hon. Lady knows what I mean by that. She has made it clear that there are areas in which we can make improvements, notwithstanding the constraints...

I shall deal with that specific question before I finish speaking. No doubt inspiration will wing its way to me to inform my response—the hon. Lady knows what I mean by that. She has made it clear that there are areas in which we can make improvements, notwithstanding the constraints...

I am very much looking forward to the Minister's reply to tomorrow's debate on the Hargreaves recommendations. He knows that nothing in the Hargreaves report suggests or recommends exempting small and medium-sized businesses with fewer than 50 people, so can he now rule that out and ensure that musicians continue...

I am very much looking forward to the Minister's reply to tomorrow's debate on the Hargreaves recommendations. He knows that nothing in the Hargreaves report suggests or recommends exempting small and medium-sized businesses with fewer than 50 people, so can he now rule that out and ensure that musicians continue...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his welcome intervention. I recognise that in another life he was a musician, and is a member of a popular Celtic folk band in Scotland, which has played in Northern Ireland on several occasions. I recognise the musicians' plight, and that they and the...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his welcome intervention. I recognise that in another life he was a musician, and is a member of a popular Celtic folk band in Scotland, which has played in Northern Ireland on several occasions. I recognise the musicians' plight, and that they and the...

After 10 years as a Member of Parliament, I have not received one complaint on the subject from an SME in my constituency, and I, too, represent a rural area. Most small businesses are content to pay a small price to enable them to use wonderful music to enhance their...

After 10 years as a Member of Parliament, I have not received one complaint on the subject from an SME in my constituency, and I, too, represent a rural area. Most small businesses are content to pay a small price to enable them to use wonderful music to enhance their...

I am grateful for the opportunity to have this important debate under your chairmanship, Mr Bayley. I want to talk about the licence regime operated by Phonographic Performance Ltd, which governs copyright for musical recordings, and by the associated Performing Rights Society; they issue music licences that cover the copyright...

I am grateful for the opportunity to have this important debate under your chairmanship, Mr Bayley. I want to talk about the licence regime operated by Phonographic Performance Ltd, which governs copyright for musical recordings, and by the associated Performing Rights Society; they issue music licences that cover the copyright...

If I may, I will say with a degree of temerity that there is a major difference between paying two licence fees, and paying for coffee and other services offered by a café. I am sure that we could elaborate further in the margins of the debate. The licensing arrangements,...

If I may, I will say with a degree of temerity that there is a major difference between paying two licence fees, and paying for coffee and other services offered by a café. I am sure that we could elaborate further in the margins of the debate. The licensing arrangements,...

I wonder whether the hon. Lady will expand on one aspect of that argument. If music is a necessity and part of the raw material required to provide a service in a café, for example, how does it differ from any other products offered by that café, such as coffee?...

I wonder whether the hon. Lady will expand on one aspect of that argument. If music is a necessity and part of the raw material required to provide a service in a café, for example, how does it differ from any other products offered by that café, such as coffee?...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention, but I am simply using the definitions proposed by the European Union. I accept his point, but perhaps I could continue my speech. It is likely that many firms with fewer than four employees are unaware of the exemption, and more should...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention, but I am simply using the definitions proposed by the European Union. I accept his point, but perhaps I could continue my speech. It is likely that many firms with fewer than four employees are unaware of the exemption, and more should...