§ Jim KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she intends to take to ensure that the Portable Antiquities Scheme is continued and that her Department will provide long term financial support for the scheme. [73146]
§ Dr. HowellsIn March this year, my right hon. and noble Friend, the Minister of State for the Arts, announced at the Standing Conference on Portable Antiquities that DCMS would be funding the Scheme's pilot posts for the following financial year, and promised that the longer term funding of the Scheme would be considered in the light of the outcome of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Spending Review.
My right hon. Friend's Review has delivered additional resources for DCMS, over the three year period of the review, which will provide real-term growth at an average of 3.5 per cent. a year. Decisions on the allocation of these additional resources will be taken over the coming months