§ 3. Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of overall funding provision for (a) the arts, (b) sport and (c) heritage. [21894]
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe areas for which I am responsible benefit hugely from a rich tapestry of funding. 5 The partnership between public money—in the form of central and local government support—the lottery and private money, through sponsorship, provides well over £3 billion for arts, sport and our heritage. That partnership supports all our sectors on a scale never enjoyed before.
§ Mr. ArnoldMay I welcome my right hon. Friend's announcement this morning on the establishment of talent funds financed by the national lottery? It is extremely important that we provide good funding for youngsters talented in the arts and, in particular, in sports, because that funding will further strengthen Britain's performance in the great international competitions.
§ Mrs. BottomleyThe announcement made this morning to the effect that we are now able to extend the remit of the Arts Council and the Sports Council using national lottery money to invest in talent is, I think, widely welcomed. We want to promote participation to encourage youngsters to get involved in the arts and in sport and we want to go for gold by training our excellent athletes of the future.
§ Mr. SkinnerIs the Secretary of State aware that we have always accepted that, for Britain to advance, it is important to help those who need assistance yet, every day in Parliament, a Tory Minister stands at the Dispatch Box and says, "Leave it to market forces and the talent will come up from the bottom—don't give them any money," but now that the Government have their sticky fingers on the lottery, they are saying, "Subsidise and intervene because market forces do not work for sport"?
§ Mrs. BottomleyAnyone who had any doubt about new Labour need only listen to the hon. Gentleman's comments. In the past year, the national lottery has made 5,500 awards, which are leading to regeneration, promoting opportunity and developing social cohesion whether in the arts, sports, heritage or the environment. They are very much a force for good. They are a success, and I well understand that the Labour party cannot abide success.
§ Mr. FabricantDoes my right hon. Friend realise how much my constituent, Mr. Spencer Duval of Lichfield, the national steeplechase champion, will welcome the news about talent funds? Will she confirm that he is just the sort of person to receive money from the talent fund? Will she wish him luck as he hopes to represent this country in the Olympic games? Will she also wish his father, Mr. Derrick Duval, luck—he is my election agent for the next general election?
§ Mrs. BottomleyI cannot say that lottery money will be available for the father but, as part of the next stage, I shall certainly pass on the concern that steeplechasers should be able to benefit from lottery money. The Sports Council has done a remarkable job. It has put money into around 40 sports and made 1,492 awards in just over a year. The move towards supporting talent, coaching and promoting international participants in sporting activity is one which the Sports Council sought and is proceeding with. I shall pass on my hon. Friend's comments about his constituent.
Dr. John CunninghamI welcome today's statement by the Secretary of State that she intends to introduce 6 talent funds. She is right to say that her announcement will be widely welcomed. We certainly welcome it because she is implementing Labour policy—[Interruption.] I put the idea to her in the Chamber in a debate on 25 October last year, and I am pleased that she has taken it up. May I also welcome the associated announcement on the arts and historic buildings, which will also be welcomed? As it is now the case that individuals receive not only lottery cash but revenue funding, is not it important, from the point of view of access, fairness and probity, that any decisions are properly monitored and checked? What arrangements is the Secretary of State putting in place to ensure that the money is effectively and properly spent?
§ Mrs. BottomleyI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his comments. I shall not spend too long on ownership of the concept of talent funds, which will result in great benefits to many youngsters and others. In addition, the support announced for touring means that all parts of the country can benefit from some of the artistic excellence which is otherwise confined to the great city centres.
The right hon. Gentleman is right to ask about monitoring. My Department has in hand a rigorous programme for monitoring the various distributing bodies, which have to lay annual reports before Parliament. The sums involved are substantial and the money must be used for their proper purpose.