Live Webchat with Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries (Monday 31 January, 1.15-2.15pm)

[HelenMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce that Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, will be joining us for a webchat this Monday lunchtime.

Ed's responsibilities range from libraries and art galleries to broadband access, internet and film.

Ed says said that, ever since he was appointed last May, it has been a priority for him to keep in direct contact with people who want to ask questions, raise issues or make comments and suggestions.

So, do feel free to ask away - either on the day or, if you can't join us then, by posting your question in advance here.

That's all folks. Thank you Ed for your efforts and to all for their honest input.

I too liked you on the wright stuff! If you still see matthew can you tell him not all of us on here hate him and his show

not sure what the point of these chats are, then, if the participants are basically to be dismissed as moaners.

Thanks for coming on.

I'm not a dyed-in-the-wool leftie either, but I am a bit disappointed that he did not answer my question.

He could palm off a lot of concern about libraries on local councils, but my question about museums refers to something which is directly funded by his department.

If museums get away with having free entrance, but charging for the best bits, then free entrance will have died .

"I think people don't come on a site like this to cheerlead or simply say how great things are - they come on to express their worries and concerns."

Actually, I came on here because I am passionate about the industries that you have responsibility to manage and lead effectively and to try and understand why you are systematically destroying one of the most important industries and sectors in the uk.

But nevermind Mr Vaizey, when universities and schools don't have the funding to teach Arts and Humanities, and all the talented workers have gone overseas and the libraries and museums have closed and there's no one with the skills to write about or document the Condem decay of culture and nowhere to store it for future generations, then perhaps we will all understand that learning in the now has no benefit for the future, so we may as well all be bankers.

Or indeed on arts and humanities education, nottirednow, and its imminent demise as a funded sector
I cannot be the only Mner who is busy making plans to send her dcs to university in mainland Europe if they want to study languages, classics, philosophy or music.
It's good that Ed came here but I too am dismayed at the facile nature of his responses given that there were several respondents here with sector knowledge and experience who were very willing to share their views with a member of the Government.

The 'Henley Review' isn't going to come with millions of pounds funding for Music Services across the country is it?

No Captain, but it will mean your child can do lovely duets on Classic FM with Hayley Westenra and/or Alfie Boe

Thank you for coming on Mr Vaizey. I mean it. But, as Lily says, please do some proper consultation with people who actually know something about these issues.

And thank you LilyBolero, Aitch and TondelayoSchwarzkopf. I wish you were running Newsnight.

MNHQ, thank you for letting Mr Vaizey air his carefully considered views on culture and the arts here. Marina must be well-chuffed...

While you're waiting for The Henley Report why not try reading his other publications?

Hayley Westenra biog

G4 Official Book

And what quals does he have to investigate music teaching?

Thank you Madam - The Thick of It is about right. Can't wait to see Tom Hollander play him.

all true, nottirednow, all true. thing is, i have seen him on telly before and was hoping for a bit of straight-talking... i bet he thinks he was firing on all cylinders because he gave us a bit of backchat but to my mind all he did was expose the fact that he had been talking to the wrong people and come up with some embarrassingly bad ideas.

straight talk would have been 'ah, right enough, 'search for a superstar schoolkid sponsored by Classic FM' is a bit cack, maybe we should think about getting choirs back on the go?'. if he needs to peg this country's cultural life to a television show he might as well opt for Glee rather than X-Factor.

tondy, that is HILARIOUS.

i am actually reeling at that.

MarinaResurgens- are you Marina? [thunk]

Hello!

Absolutely couldn't agree more,Crystylline. Ed Vaizey's views on music in schools are truly, truly shocking and depressing.The memory of the recent X Factor finale, which redefined tackiness, is only too raw.Classic FM's dumbing-down is not what music education should be about.

And how telling that Mr Vaizey could summon no supporters whatsoever today from the parent population of the country whose cultural interests he is supposed to represent.Quelle surprise.

I do not have a problem with Classic FM. I know that it is too fluffy for serious musicians, but it does improve access to classical music for people accustomed to 3 minute pop songs. I think that many people do not want to listen to a 45 minute symphony, and as long as R3 still exists, then there is a forum for those that do. There is a place for both R3 and Classic FM.

However, I do agree that the X-Factor style competition for children sounds horrific. I would not want my children going anywhere near such a contest. If the music industry are excited by this competition, then I am very wary.

I couln't quite believe 'with that attitude no one would give anything a go'

as a response to a valid point about the ludicrousness of an x factor for kids, as opposed to community music schemes for all.

With that attitude, no one will believe these ConDem ministers are anything but arrogant knobs

Yes Nancy, it is I hello there!

Ed will need to keep an eye on what goes on in local authorities as he has a statutory right to ensure that they provide an appropriate and free-at-point-of-delivery library service under the terms of the 1964 Public Libraries Act

and the MLA can't advise him on what to do for much longer as they are being wound up

Something I wish I'd picked up, is that it is utterly disingenuous to say it is 'of course all styles of music are welcome'.

The prize is to record a track with Gary Barlow. I don't think any of my Grade 8 pianists are going to be entering with their Rachmaninov, somehow...

Couldn't join for the webchat and I see my & SW11Bookworm's questions weren't answered directly (re Wandsworth consulting on closing one library, in the most deprived part of the borough).

However someone asked what Ed V will do when libraries close, his answer:

" I say when a decision is made by a council, I will seek advice from the MLA on whether they believe it breaches the Public Libraries Act. If they think it does then I can order an inquiry. If the inquiry concludes against the council, the council is required to fix the breach. "

So, our council spends £ on a consultation. local groups get together, massive protests, council will probably have to have a rethink (though they may not. may just plough on regardless) and so we have £ spent on a second consultation. then Ed and colleagues in his Dept go through the above procedure - more ££ being spent. Then the council will go ahead with closing a different library no doubt. What is the point of this charade? The net saving from the proposed closure of the one library in Wandsworth will be £75,000 pa. This is just silly. And I am far far from being some dyed in the wool leftie. But I can see when good money is being thrown after bad, erm ... in the name of saving money.

Hi Gloria, sorry you got lost in the thousands of posts that have gone up. Local libraries are fantastic for early years - speak to Havering who are pioneering signing up all babies at birth - they have quadrupled parent/toddler sessions in their libraries. And also, of course, for internet access. You do understand the powers that we have to intervene. Good to see you on here and thanks for your very positive comments.

This was a response to the Shdaow Minster for Culture,, now ai can read this in two ways, either he is patronising us all by saying that Gloria undertands but we don't, or he has the powers to intervene on the closures, if so then why can't he.

I did feel insulted by his reply. He sounded quite upset that we didn't like his x factor idea.

Well I missed the live chat but I've just read through his replies and I'm just appalled.
The swipe about Young Musician of the Year being anything like this dumbed-down X-Factor thingy is what has really got my goat.
To enter YM a student has to have already achieved grade 8 with distinction. They have already done the slog, performed many times before examiners and audiences and have become accustomed to criticism.
That is NOT the same as exposing some young hopeful to the horrors of X-Factor style judging.
I would also add that the students who work so hard to achieve that level of mastery in instrumental playing are mostly going to apply to the conservatoires from which govt.funding is being withdrawn.
Then of course there are the localised cuts to music services round the country and the threat to Music Centres where children rehearse and perform on a weekly basis.

I'm so angry! This man's flip answers didn't come close to addressing my concerns.