DMCS officials have acknowledged that the plug may have to be pulled on some live events which have already been announced for this summer if a government-backed insurance scheme is not offered soon.
But the department told MPs yesterday it could not update them on whether such a scheme may be possible, after being warned some events are reaching a “point of no return” on deciding whether to go ahead this year.
At a Public Accounts Committee hearing yesterday, Sarah Olney MP (Lib Dem) warned culture officials that many live events this summer are “unable to get insurance”, with Covid-related risks meaning “the insurance products are simply not available on the market at any price”.