§ 19. Mrs. EllmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to support the creative arts in Liverpool. [46331]
§ Mr. Chris SmithCentral Government funding for the arts is channelled through the Arts Council and the Regional Arts Boards. Liverpool received 27 per cent. of North West Arts funds for 1997/98, some £2.5 million. Organisations based in Liverpool also received around £1.5 million directly from the Arts Council for this period. The city has received £16.2 million in Lottery awards to the arts to date.