§ 37. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Minister for the Arts how many arts festivals have been held in each of the last four years ended on 30 June.
§ Mr. LuceThis information is not held centrally, but the publication "Arts Festivals in Britain and Ireland" estimates that in 1985 there were 265 festivals in Great Britain with a professional input. This rose to 274 in 1986, rising again to 412 in 1987 and there was a further increase to 490 in 1988. This year it is estimated that there will be around 600 arts festivals.