§ 26. Ms. EagleTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the impact of the current year's local government finance settlement on local authority arts provision.
§ Mr. BrookeMost local authorities are still in the process of determining their budgets for 1993–94, so an overall assessment of planned local authority provision for the arts cannot yet be made. Arts provision is discretionary and it is for authorities themselves to fix its level. They must, of course, work within overall expenditure constraints. I hope that they will, nonetheless, continue to recognise the very real benefits of spending in support of the arts.
28. Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to visit West Yorkshire to discuss the provision of art and recreation with the leaders of the local authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeI will be visiting Leeds and Sheffield shortly. I also visited Leeds last October. My Department assists in the provision of art and recreation facilities through its grants-in-aid to the Arts Council and to the Sports Council, and through its business sponsorship incentive schemes for sport and the arts; in addition, it assists in the provision of sports and active recreational facilities through credit approval cover to local authorities.