§ 9. Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)What progress he has made on preparing a draft concordat with the Scottish Executive on the funding of the arts in Scotland. [83416]
§ The Minister for the Arts (Mr. Alan Howarth)My officials have been working closely with officials at the Scottish Office in drafting a concordat covering all my Department's areas of responsibility. Good progress has been made, and a final draft will be published shortly. The funding of the arts in Scotland will, however, be a responsibility of the Scottish Executive, and is not therefore an issue for the concordat, other than for joint and cross-border activities.
§ Mr. DalyellDo not the director of the National Gallery of Scotland and others expect some charity, given their rather immediate funding problems?
§ Mr. HowarthThat must be a matter for my ministerial friends in Scotland; but, as I have said, we will as soon as possible present a draft of the new concordat for consideration by all parties.