HL Deb 02 May 1978 vol 391 cc169-70WA
Lord VAIZEY

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the expenditure of (a) the Ministry of the Arts, (b) the Arts Council, (c) the Department of the Environment, (d) the University Grants Committee, (e) the Scotthh Office, (f) the Welsh Office, (g) the Northern Irish Office, and (h) local authorities on (1) music, (2) dance and drama, (3) the visual arts (including museums), and (4) the provision of books for the public (principally through libraries and library services) in 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77.

Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGE

It is not possible to analyse the expenditure of all these bodies in this way Arts Council expenditure on music, dance, drama and the visual arts is shown in the following table as is central Government and local authority expenditure on the National Theatre, opera in Scotland and museums and libraries No separate figures are available for the substantial additional sums which local authorities and universities spend on support for the arts and art education and on university museums open to the public.

£ million at 1977 Survey Prices Financial Years
1974–75 1975–76 1976–77
Great Britain:
Arts Council of Great Britain
Music and Dance 15.6 16.7 16.7
Drama 10.7 13.0 13.3
Visual Arts 2.1 2.6 2.5
Department of Education and Science South Bank Theatre Board 3.0 2.8 2.0
G.L.C.
South Bank Theatre Board 1.5 0.4
Scottish Office Grants for Opera 0.2 0.8 0.4
National Museums and Galleries 30.0 33.0 36.0
Local Museums and Galleries 30.0 30.0 28.0
Libraries 212.0 210.0 210.0
Northern Ireland:
Northern Ireland Arts Council Music 0.4 0.4 0.4
Dance and Drama 0.2 0.2 0.2
Visual Arts 0.05 0.05 0.1
National and Local Museums 1.1 1.2 1.4
Libraries 2.0 2.3 2.5

House adjourned at twenty-seven minutes before eleven o'clock.