HC Deb 16 March 1998 vol 308 cc463-4W
17. Mr. Bayley

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the contribution of music to the UK economy. [32914]

Mr. Chris Smith

Music makes an enormous contribution to the UK economy: the value added is over £2.5 billion, the surplus on overseas trade is over £500 million, and there are over 115,000 people employed full-time in the music business.