§ 21. Mr. Blackburnasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps have been taken to form a central register of possible sponsors of the arts.
§ Mr. ChannonI shall do all that I can to bring business sponsors and the arts together, but I do not believe that a register, centrally organised by the Government, would he beneficial. I should be pleased to have my hon. Friends' views on how arts sponsorship may be encouraged.
§ Mr. BlackburnOn reflection, does my right hon. Friend agree that sponsorship of the arts is not only vital, but has an important role in the arts? Will he consider issuing a statement when the present proposals for sponsorship have completed their first 12 months?
§ Mr. ChannonI should be delighted to answer my hon. Friend if he would care to table a question at the end of the month, which will be a year after the Government's encouragement of business sponsorship. The figures are increasing continually and have probably now reached over £5 million. That is encouraging.
§ Mr. Christopher PriceDoes the Minister agree that private sponsorship of the arts would go ahead more easily if the chaotic and uncertain tax position under our law were cleared up? When will he respond to the Select Committee's recent report on that issue?
§ Mr. ChannonI do not believe that the tax situation or the report of the Select Committee have anything to do with the level of business sponsorship. Most businesses tell me that, under the advertising rules agreed with the Inland Revenue, that is not a problem that concerns them. I am in continual touch with my right hon. Friends about the Select Committee report and I hope to be able to reply before too long.