§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what schemes and programmes are available to support and encourage the development of artists and musicians in the regions, with particular reference to the Teeside area. [17800]
§ Mr. Caborn[holding answer 23 November 2001]: Funding for the Arts is a matter for the Arts Council of England and the Regional Arts Boards. As a result of last year's spending review, however, the Arts Council's grant-in-aid budget will increase by over £100 million, from £233 million in 2000–01 to £338 million in 2003–04. Northern Arts, which includes the Teesside area, will see its budget for supporting the arts increase by £1.4 million, or nearly 11 per cent., over the same period.
§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the support provided by her Department for the arts in the regions. [17799]
§ Mr. Caborn[holding answer 23 November 2001]: My Department issues grant-in-aid to the Arts Council of England, the main funding body for the arts in England, which is in turn committed to delegating increasing 630W amounts of that funding to the regions. Grant-in-aid to the Arts Council itself is worth £253 million this year, of which £107 million is going directly to the regions. Grant-in-aid is set to increase to £338 million, of which £143 million will go directly to the regions, by 2000–04.