HC Deb 24 July 1998 vol 316 cc699-700W
Mr. Alan Keen

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what conclusions he has reached as a result of his Department's Spending Review; and if he will make a statement. [52422]

Mr. Chris Smith

The outcome of our Spending Review has been a recognition of the importance of all my Department's activities, economically, culturally and socially, for the quality of people's lives. I have secured an extra £290 million over the next three years, an investment which will bring obligations and responsibilities. We will have a new contract with all our funded bodies which will demand improvements in efficiency, access and quality in return for investment in support of our new objectives. To help ensure that this happens, I will establish a tough new team to monitor and improve standards throughout all our sectors.

I have placed in the Library of the House copies of a consultation paper which I am issuing today, proposing a number of changes in the sectoral landscape for which my Department is responsible. This will create a more efficient structure for delivering public money in pursuit of clear objectives. I will make a further announcement in the Autumn on the outcome of the consultaion.

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