Christopher BarrettThe Conservative MP for Gosport, Dame Caroline Dinenage has been elected unopposed as chair of the Culture Media and Sports Committee.
In May, the Committee backed calls for a levy on arena and stadium tickets, and a cut in VAT on tickets, in order to support grassroots music venues.
“To stem the overwhelming ongoing tide of closures, we urgently need a levy on arena and stadium concert tickets to fund financial support for the sector, alongside a VAT cut to help get more shows into venues,” said Dinenage at the time.
Previously made up of 11 MPs including Labour’s Giles Watling, Alex Sobel and Dr Rupa Huq alongside Conservatives Steve Brine, Jane Stevenson and Damian Green, Dineage will take up the position as chair of the cross-party committee when the remaining members have been appointed by the House.
Dinenage said, “I’m delighted to be re-elected to chair the Culture, Media and Sport Committee and entrusted to build on our achievements in the last parliament. These sectors are our global economic super-power, they have remarkable abilities to drive regeneration and bring communities together.
“I will continue to work cross-party to ensure the government doesn’t take them for granted and they continue to fire on all cylinders.”
LIVE CEO Jon Collins said he welcomed her re-appointment as chair: “She brought energy and expertise to the inquiries handled by the CMS Committee last term and there is unfinished business on grassroots music for which the continuity she brings will be particularly useful. We look forward to working with her in the months and years ahead.”
Dinenage was Minister of State for Digital and Culture in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from February 2020 to September 2021.