Arts Council Budget

HC Deb 20 December 1982 vol 34 c668

30. Mr. Jessel

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the Arts Council budget is spent in Greater London.

Mr. Channon

Excluding the grants to the London-based national companies and the running costs of the galleries operated direct by the Arts Council, the proportion of the council's budget spent on the arts in London was 8.5 per cent. of the total in 1981–82.

Mr. Jessel

Will my right hon. Friend remind the Arts Council, when it is administering the increase, with which we are all delighted following his announcement, always to remember that London is a major magnet for tourists visiting Britain from overseas and that anything that is spent in this area helps the national economy?

Mr. Channon

Yes, I agree with that. However, I must remind my hon. Friend, as others have, that the national companies themselves provide an enormous attraction to tourists and lead to a considerable amount of expenditure in London. I think that there will be general support in the House for the continuance of the work of the national institutions.