Speeches by Alaba.

“Brilliant. I know we have touched on rights holders in the EU, but I want to make sure that I get this right. How are rights holders in the EU responding to the opt-out clause?”

“I want to explore a bit the intellectual property around generative AI. My question is to you, Mathilde: what should the UK Government learn from the legal models on policy alternatives being developed in other territories?”

“Martin, do you want to add anything there?”

“My next question is for Nick and Martin. This is more around regional disparities and recruitment as well. Do you sense that it is harder to recruit from certain regions over and above others? I will add another element to that question around career choice and career pathways, and trying to bring people into the indus…”

“It is quite recent, yes. He said that “the education system was not teaching the right blend of skills that we needed in not just visual effects, but games, animation and the whole 3D-visualisation sector. Those skills were maths, physics, art and coding. It is a strange mix, but it is the right mix for us.””

“Of course. I do not have a date, I am afraid, but I will repeat it.”

“Thank you. I will quickly quote someone. Neil Hatton, the UK Screen Alliance CEO, said that “the education system was not teaching the right blend of skills that we needed in not just visual effects, but games, animation and the whole 3D-visualisation sector. Those skills were maths, physics, art and coding. It is a st…”

“In July, you came into the role. How did you feel the Department was positioned to take on board the direction that the new Government want from it?”

“Yes; apologies, Chair. I want to also declare an interest. I was from the creative sector before I came into this House. I own a creative agency and run grassroots music festivals.”

“The industrial strategy is obviously very important to the Government. If you look at the areas that underpin the industrial strategy, areas like sport and heritage are missing from that, and even tourism as well. Is there any reason why those areas are not necessarily referenced?”

“In terms of other sectors, how do you feel the Department is set up to support them?”

“Brilliant. Moving quickly on to the freelancers in the creative industries, as you know, those industries are underpinned by freelancers and creative people. What is the Government’s view as to how they can support that catalyst for change, that catalyst for creativity, that catalyst for new dimensions within industry?…”

“Thank you for that. Late payments is sometimes an area where freelancers feel they may not have a voice as such because they want the next gig, they want the next contract. It is a very symbiotic world, certainly in certain niches. I would definitely implore that the late payment aspects be front and centre as well.”

“Thank you. There is one last thing I wanted to ask you regarding grassroots music. Big arenas are being asked to support smaller grassroots venues. Do you feel that the large arenas are taking it seriously? Do you think that they understand the position and the role they play in the food chain of music and concert prod…”

“This Budget represents a huge step towards restoring the vibrancy and potential of my constituency. The commitments in this Budget will support our hospital and health services, revitalise trade and hospitality, and knit the community closer together. Over the past 14 years, our public services have been neglected and …”

“I pay tribute to all hon. Members who have made such brilliant speeches today. I pay particular compliments to the Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Thamesmead (Ms Oppong-Asare), for supporting me on my journey into politics. I do not come from a political background—I come from a military and self-empl…”

“My hon. Friend’s result was declared 20 minutes after mine, and we became Southend’s first black MPs. It is really important to talk about reframing narratives. Black history has too often been seen through the prism of the transatlantic slave trade and the American civil rights movement, so I want to talk about how bl…”

“I thank the hon. Member for Mid Leicestershire (Mr Bedford) for securing this debate. This is a matter close to me because my background is in the hospitality sector. I spent 23 years running and owning bars, pubs, restaurants and festivals, and I provided consultancy services to the industry. In my role as the MP for …”

“T6. In Southend East and Rochford, the Freight House and the Kursaal sit vacant. In times gone by, my community used those sites greatly. We cannot allow buildings with such cultural capital potential to sit vacant. Does the Minister agree that the regeneration of cultural sites such as the Kursaal and the Freight Hous…”

“I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Derby North (Catherine Atkinson) for securing the debate, which is incredibly important to me and my constituency of Southend East and Rochford. When we talk about high streets and city centre regeneration, we are talking about so much more than just the retail industry. The ripple…”