HC Deb 23 November 1987 vol 123 cc18-20
73. Mr. Gregory

To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Arts Council and what matters were discussed.

The Minister for the Arts (Mr. Richard Luce)

I met the chairman on 16 November. We discussed the Arts Council's plans for the next three years, and other matters of mutual interest.

Mr. Gregory

Was the chairman of the Arts Council pleased with the quite remarkable increase of some 17 per cent, in funding for the next three years?

Mr. Luce

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. Since 1979 the council has seen an increase in real terms of 8 per cent. We are planning an increase in the next three years of just under 16 per cent., which gives it great scope to plan its budget in the long term and ensure that its clients move towards a greater degree of self-reliance, which is my overall objective.

Mr. Fisher

Will the Minister confirm that once all the sums in his settlement for earmarking have been deducted, the actual budget settlement for regional arts associations will be no better than level with the rate of inflation? Will he make that clear, and will he put that together with the cut in real terms that the regional arts associations took last year and recognise that what he has said today is nonsense?

Mr. Luce

Earlier on I thought that the hon. Gentleman was pleased with the outcome of the settlement. He must make up his mind. The amount of money that will be disbursed to the regional arts associations will be decided by the Arts Council before the beginning of the coming financial year. It is silly to isolate sums of money and say that they are not relevant, because incentive funding will -be relevant, not just for the work of the Arts Council, but for the work of the regional arts associations as well. It is my objective that small arts organisations should gain from the settlement as much as the bigger and medium-sized organisations.

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