HC Deb 11 July 1994 vol 246 cc470-1W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the impact upon the arts and heritage in the United Kingdom of article 128 of the Maastricht treaty.

Mr. Brooke

Article 128 of the Maastricht Treaty gives the Community a role in support of member states' own action in specified areas of culture without enabling it to interfere in national cultural affairs. I am awaiting Commission proposals on what incentive measures should be provided under the new article. These will also suggest how the Community may take cultural aspects into account in its action under other aspects of the treaty