Business Sponsorship Incentive Scheme (Hansard, 12 May 1986)

§ 36. Mrs. Virginia Bottomley
asked the Minister for the Arts which art forms win most business sponsorship incentive scheme awards.

§ The Minister for the Arts (Mr. Richard Luce)
The awards are widely spread, but music has received 33 per cent. of the awards, the theatre 21 per cent. and festivals 11 per cent.

§ Mrs. Bottomley
Although I welcome the fact that music and the theatre have taken advantage of the BSIS, does my right hon. Friend agree that more could be done to encourage local festivals to use this successful scheme, which brings money into the arts through sponsorship?

§ Mr. Luce
I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. There is enormous scope for sponsoring local festivals, which rank third in terms of the level of support. For example, the Glasgow Festival now has sponsorship. The more that my hon. Friend and others can do to encourage sponsorship, the better.

§ Mr. Freud
Will the restoration of Hampton Court palace be eligible under the BSIS?

§ Mr. Luce
That is principally a responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, but it does not qualify.