§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Minister for the Arts (1) what has been the change in the core grant paid to the Arts Council in each year between 1979–80 and 1987–88 (a) using the average earnings index and (b) using the retail price index;
(2) what are the reasons for using the gross domestic product deflator in calculating the year-on-year grant charge made in respect of the Arts Council grant; and how the gross domestic product deflator is calculated;
(3) what has been the total grant by his Department to the Arts Council between 1979–80 and 1987–88.