APPG Classical Music Meeting

On Wednesday 21 January 2026, the APPG of which I am co Chair with Baroness Barbara Keeley held a meeting to discuss and hear from our two speakers.

The first was Music Education Reflections from the Curriculum Assessment Review presented by Sophie Lewis Association of British Orchestras Chair and Chief Executive , National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain. 

Sophie said that the music community were pleased that the EBAC had been abolished by the Government but were concerned that music was not clearly defined in the “creative” subjects. We needed a definition of a creative subject. Also the National Centre for Arts and Music Education was acknowledged but there was no further information about it and no pledges. She also said there was a lack of specialist music teachers and we needed greater clarity on music provision and teachers. 

The second speaker was Olga Fitzroy, Director of Campaigns and Engagement UK Music. A paper Ideal Solutions for Cultural Touring Issues was distributed but the key points were that the CARNET a passport for equipment which is required for every piece of equipment in order to tour in the EU. 

Cabotage refers to the practice of transporting freight between two places within the same country by foreign restricted trucks. Post Brexit, cabotage rules limits UK trucks to making 3 stops in the EU. this forces many tours to avoid using UK flagged trucks or reroute back to the UK after 3 stops. Our event haulage sector was once at the centre of the European industry. 

Some British companies are relocating to EU countries. A quick fix would be to change the narrow definition in Article 460 of the TCA to the Liberalised transport section of the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) which would make non commercial properties for theatrical musical film and sports and those intended for radio recordings or film and television production and transport of goods exempt from permit requirements. 

Olga also said it was difficult to negotiate 27 different VAT regimes and cultural exchange was important. 

The meeting resolved to raise the issue with Ministers.