§ 2.48 p.m.
§ Viscount Falklandasked Her Majesty's Government:
How they will maintain the principle of decentralisation of arts development and funding within the proposal to unite the 10 existing regional arts boards into a new Arts Council of England.
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, the Secretary of State is looking forward to receiving further details from the Arts Council of England about its proposed merger with the regional arts boards. He has, however, made it clear that his approval of the changes will be conditional on the Arts Council being able to demonstrate that the proposals will indeed deliver a genuinely simpler funding mechanism, lower administration costs and enhanced decentralisation.
§ Viscount FalklandMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. However, he has not quite answered my question about the principle of decentralisation. Whatever the merits of the Arts Council's prospectus for these sweeping and radical changes, it seems that little consultation took place with the local arts boards, which are to disappear under the plan. Did consultation take place with the noble Lord's department any more than it did with local arts boards? Does the matter not give rise to concern?
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy Lords, consultation is taking place now; this is a consultation document. There was a feeling, I understand, among some regional 6 arts boards and others that they had received less than adequate notice of what was being proposed by the Arts Council of England. However, the fact that the Arts Council is taking consultation seriously is evidenced by the extension of the consultation period from the end of April to the end of June. The Secretary of State was indeed consulted before the announcement was made, and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions was informed.