Olympic Games 2012
Culture Media and Sport
Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department is aware of claims that professional musicians have been asked to perform for free at the Olympic village during the London 2012 Olympics; and what assessment it has made of whether any oral request would breach the Principles of Co-operation agreement the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has made with the TUC; and whether it has had any discussions with LOCOG about this matter.
Hugh Robertson (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport; Faversham and Mid Kent, Conservative)
We have made no assessment or had any discussions with LOCOG on this matter, for which they are completely responsible. As well as agreeing to a set of Principles of Co-operation with the Trade Union Congress, LOCOG has a long-standing understanding with the Musicians' Union that it would not pay volunteers (such as volunteer cast performers or amateur musicians) or headline acts, but that all other professional musicians would be paid.