By 2030, the government aims to meet Britain’s electricity demand with energy from clean sources. 66% of British electricity currently comes from clean sources.

By 2030, the government aims to meet Britain’s electricity demand with energy from clean sources. 66% of British electricity currently comes from clean sources.

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards agreeing the UK–EU Youth Experience Scheme.

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards agreeing the UK–EU Youth Experience Scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the EU Entry/Exit System on freight movements through the Short Straits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the EU Entry/Exit System on freight movements through the Short Straits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of consumer protections available to passengers whose journeys are disrupted by failures of the EU Entry/Exit System.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of consumer protections available to passengers whose journeys are disrupted by failures of the EU Entry/Exit System.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the European Commission on the operational impact of the EU Entry/Exit System on UK travellers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the European Commission on the operational impact of the EU Entry/Exit System on UK travellers.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the concerns of (1) touring, and (2) temporary and permanent work positions for, performing and other artists will be on the agenda at the next UK-EU Summit.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the concerns of (1) touring, and (2) temporary and permanent work positions for, performing and other artists will be on the agenda at the next UK-EU Summit.

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enable UK craftspeople to showcase their work at exhibitions in Europe; and whether this topic will be on the agenda at the next UK–EU Summit.

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enable UK craftspeople to showcase their work at exhibitions in Europe; and whether this topic will be on the agenda at the next UK–EU Summit.

Inflation measures the change in prices over time. Find the latest data on inflation in the UK, the Eurozone, and selected EU countries.

Inflation measures the change in prices over time. Find the latest data on inflation in the UK, the Eurozone, and selected EU countries.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of non-EU allies to European defence and security; and what discussions they have had with NATO and EU counterparts on ensuring that the capabilities, expertise and strategic contributions of non-EU NATO allies including the UK, Türkiye, Norway...

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of non-EU allies to European defence and security; and what discussions they have had with NATO and EU counterparts on ensuring that the capabilities, expertise and strategic contributions of non-EU NATO allies including the UK, Türkiye, Norway...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what comparative assessment has been made of asylum application growth in the United Kingdom and EU Member States since 2021, and what factors have been identified as contributing to any difference in those trends.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what comparative assessment has been made of asylum application growth in the United Kingdom and EU Member States since 2021, and what factors have been identified as contributing to any difference in those trends.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the reasons why the number of asylum applications to the United Kingdom has increased at a different rate from applications made in EU Member States since 2021.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the reasons why the number of asylum applications to the United Kingdom has increased at a different rate from applications made in EU Member States since 2021.

From October 2027, it will be possible for some drink containers to be recycled in exchange for money, as part of the UK’s new deposit return schemes (DRSs).

From October 2027, it will be possible for some drink containers to be recycled in exchange for money, as part of the UK’s new deposit return schemes (DRSs).

To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made on securing better access to the EU for performing artists and musicians.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what progress they have made on securing better access to the EU for performing artists and musicians.

My Lords, securing better access to the EU for our creative and cultural sectors is a priority for this Government. We remain committed to pursuing practical, mutually beneficial improvements with the European Commission and member states and welcome the Commission’s recent commitment in its visa strategy to explore practical flexibilities for touring artists. We continue to pursue improvements that will enable UK artists, performers and crews to build audiences and seize opportunities across Europe, supporting growth across our industries.

My Lords, securing better access to the EU for our creative and cultural sectors is a priority for this Government. We remain committed to pursuing practical, mutually beneficial improvements with the European Commission and member states and welcome the Commission’s recent commitment in its visa strategy to explore practical flexibilities for touring artists. We continue to pursue improvements that will enable UK artists, performers and crews to build audiences and seize opportunities across Europe, supporting growth across our industries.

I thank the Minister for that Answer. Dancers, actors, artists and musicians are having a dire time of it in terms of touring in the EU. For example, 85% of musicians have had a significant loss of income and more than 40% have had a total loss. For young musicians and groups, touring is no longer viable at all. Despite the Minister’s assurances, I hear from the creative industries, from people dealing with Europe and from across the channel that the perception is that this is not a high priority for the department or the Government. I would like to challenge the Minister to say a bit more about that and why she would dispute it, if she does. I was assured by the outgoing Prime Minister, and other Members of this House have assured us, that this is a very important aspect of touring that affects people’s income and the whole reputation of our culture.

I thank the Minister for that Answer. Dancers, actors, artists and musicians are having a dire time of it in terms of touring in the EU. For example, 85% of musicians have had a significant loss of income and more than 40% have had a total loss. For young musicians and groups, touring is no longer viable at all. Despite the Minister’s assurances, I hear from the creative industries, from people dealing with Europe and from across the channel that the perception is that this is not a high priority for the department or the Government. I would like to challenge the Minister to say a bit more about that and why she would dispute it, if she does. I was assured by the outgoing Prime Minister, and other Members of this House have assured us, that this is a very important aspect of touring that affects people’s income and the whole reputation of our culture.

Helping touring artists is a manifesto commitment. We continue to engage with the EU and member states to determine how best to improve arrangements for touring across the European continent. We know that there can be additional practical barriers for those at the start of their careers who often have fewer resources, as the noble Lord will be aware. Following his appointment, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building a closer, more ambitious relationship with the European Union, based on shared interests and practical co-operation. To be clear, I can reassure the noble Lord that, in his first call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Prime Minister agreed that UK and EU teams should work closely towards a UK-EU summit later this year.

Helping touring artists is a manifesto commitment. We continue to engage with the EU and member states to determine how best to improve arrangements for touring across the European continent. We know that there can be additional practical barriers for those at the start of their careers who often have fewer resources, as the noble Lord will be aware. Following his appointment, the Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building a closer, more ambitious relationship with the European Union, based on shared interests and practical co-operation. To be clear, I can reassure the noble Lord that, in his first call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the Prime Minister agreed that UK and EU teams should work closely towards a UK-EU summit later this year.

My Lords, in the light of the cancellation of the summit on 22 July—today—and the fact that this matter has been raised by many noble Lords on many occasions, can the Minister give us some reassurance that it will be on the agenda when the EU-UK summit takes place later this year?

My Lords, in the light of the cancellation of the summit on 22 July—today—and the fact that this matter has been raised by many noble Lords on many occasions, can the Minister give us some reassurance that it will be on the agenda when the EU-UK summit takes place later this year?

I cannot write the agenda before a date is set, but this is a priority for the Government. In March, when Minister Murray co-chaired the first UK-European Commission high-level meeting on culture with Commissioner Micallef, he made sure that this was discussed. It marked a step forward since the UK-EU summit and brought together UK and commission representatives to discuss common priorities. This is one of our manifesto commitments, and it remains a commitment of this Government.

I cannot write the agenda before a date is set, but this is a priority for the Government. In March, when Minister Murray co-chaired the first UK-European Commission high-level meeting on culture with Commissioner Micallef, he made sure that this was discussed. It marked a step forward since the UK-EU summit and brought together UK and commission representatives to discuss common priorities. This is one of our manifesto commitments, and it remains a commitment of this Government.

My Lords, this problem, as we have heard, has gone on for many years now, despite the protestations of the Government that they are doing all they can. Is it not now time for the Government to take a much more ambitious approach to our relationships with the EU and start negotiating our return to the single market, which would solve this problem?

My Lords, this problem, as we have heard, has gone on for many years now, despite the protestations of the Government that they are doing all they can. Is it not now time for the Government to take a much more ambitious approach to our relationships with the EU and start negotiating our return to the single market, which would solve this problem?

The only thing I would add to what I said previously is to repeat that, when the new Prime Minister spoke following his appointment, he reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building

a closer, more ambitious relationship with the European Union. Part of this will be to make sure that we have the summit later this year, if at all possible.

The only thing I would add to what I said previously is to repeat that, when the new Prime Minister spoke following his appointment, he reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building

a closer, more ambitious relationship with the European Union. Part of this will be to make sure that we have the summit later this year, if at all possible.