§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimates she has made of the savings to be made by making changes proposed in "Working Together for the Arts"; what evidence she has received that the savings proposed in "Working Together for the Arts" are deliverable; and if she will make a statement. [23571]
§ Dr. Howells"Working Together for the Arts" set a savings target of £8–10 million. We will expect the Arts Council to achieve this. How it does so is an operational matter for the Arts Council.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria she has set for the Arts Council of England to meet to ensure her Department's continued support for the proposals ACE sets out in `Working Together for the Arts'; which of those criteria are being met; and if she will make a statement. [23569]
§ Dr. HowellsOur approval of the Arts Council's plans for the reorganisation of arts funding in England will be conditional upon it demonstrating to our satisfaction that it will indeed involve the delegation of more power and funding to the regions, and the delivery of savings, as promised. The Arts Council is still working on the details of the reorganisation, but a recent progress report confirms that it is addressing both issues.
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