Thangam Debbonaire: UK arts sector risks losing global reputation

"They are good for our economy, for our lives and for our planet. They give good economic return on investment for exports, tourism and jobs. The social return is enormous," she said. 

She added: "This is an ecosystem. The commercial and the non-commercial, the different art forms and the enormous range of skills – they all interact to sustain the whole. But much of this sector is threatened, as other noble Lords have referred to, and we risk losing our global reputation for excellence."

People from all backgrounds can earn a good living in the arts providing the sector is adequately supported, Debbonaire continued. 

"Opera, for example... employs so many working-class people, from the chorus to the technicians.

"[But] when we do it wrong, opportunities become exclusive, and we allow talent to go undeveloped," she said.

Debbonaire concluded: "Fighting for the whole ecosystem, and for everyone to enjoy it, will always be necessary and I will use my skills, my knowledge, my experience and my time in this place to make that political case while I am here."

Elsewhere, the debate, which was begun by fellow peer Barbara Keeley, challenged the government on its action to safeguard music education.

Members of the Lords accused Labour of not taking sufficient action on this front, while the government’s spokesperson reasserted Labour’s desire for "all children, regardless of background", to study creative subjects including music. 

They cited the ongoing curriculum review and the planned National Centre for Arts and Music Education as among the positive steps towards the goal - although some Lords claimed that progress towards the latter, announced in March, was slow and unclear.