§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the extent to which local authorities in Scotland avail themselves of the statutory powers to apply a fixed proportion of rates for supporting the arts, giving details over the last three years.
§ Mr. McElhonePrior to local government reorganisation, expenditure by local authorities under Section 132 of the Local Government Act 1948 on public entertainments, including artistic activities, was restricted to the product of 2½ new pence in the pound of rates. This section was replaced by Section 91 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 and there is now no statutory limitation on local authorities' expenditure on the arts. Information on authorities' expenditure under Section 132 of the 1948 Act and Section 91 of the 1973 Act is not available centrally.