HC Deb 14 December 1987 vol 124 cc376-7W
82. Mr. Carrington

To ask the Minister for the Arts how he intends to encourage subsidised arts bodies to become more self-reliant in their development and growth.

Mr. Luce

I have included substantial sums for incentive funding in the arts budget for next year and the two succeeding years. I intend this money to be used to help arts bodies improve their financial viability, and especially their trading activities. The Arts Council is conducting consultations on its schemes for incentive funding, and parallel developments are in train with other bodies funded by my Department.

I have also substantially increased the budget for the successful business sponsorship incentive scheme, and am considering further measures to stimulate arts marketing.