§ 25. Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps is he taking to promote sponsorship of the arts in the regions.
§ Mr. ChannonI continue to take every suitable opportunity to promote business sponsorship of the arts throughout the country and I have plans to visit a number of areas later this year. I have also had the pleasure of attending a number of regional events sponsored by businesses, which indicate their growing interest in this subject.
§ Mr. BrownI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. I listened carefully when he said that he would be visiting a number of areas. I ask him to visit Humberside, which has been especially successful in persuading businesses to sponsor the arts. Does he accept that business sponsorship is a way of raising much money for the arts without recourse to the taxpayer?
§ Mr. ChannonYes, I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. It is encouraging that the figures reveal an enormous increase, which I believe is still occurring. I shall be visiting Lincolnshire and Humberside in May. I shall be delighted to discuss the programme with my hon. Friend.