§ 23. Mr. Chapmanasked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what is the current estimated level of business sponsorship and private support for the arts as a proportion of Government funding; and how this has changed over the past five years.
§ Mr. WaldegraveIn the past five years business sponsorship has increased from 1 to 2 per cent. of total Government support for arts and libraries. No figures are available for the extent of private support.
§ Mr. ChapmanI appreciate that the amount as well as the proportion is important, but is my hon. Friend satisfied with that proportion? Will he assure the House that he is in constant touch with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure that the tax regime is as favourable as possible for business and private sponsorship of the arts? Is that not the way to improve that rather small percentage?
§ Mr. WaldegraveI agree with my hon. Friend that it is not enough, and I am sure that my noble Friend would also agree with that. Equally, the generous tax concessions, such as four-year covenants, that are available are not fully understood. The small percentage is in some ways misleading, because in some areas private sponsorship is much more important than the figures would lead one to believe.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Freud, to ask question 24.
§ Mr. SpeakerI have called question 24.