HC Deb 24 February 1984 vol 54 c650W
Mr. Jim Callaghan

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what is the expenditure on the arts by the Governments of the United Kingdom, France, Japan, the United States of America, West Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Canada; and what this represents per head of population in each case.

Mr. Waldegrave

The information below has been provided by the Policy Studies Institute and the Arts Council. It relates to central or, where appropriate, federal Government expenditure only. The figures cover the performing arts, museums and galleries, the visual arts and literature. They take no account of differences in the cost of services provided, nor of the fact that public accounting practices in respect of such items as pension provision vary from country to country. The years for which figures are available vary, and the latest year is given in each case. Sterling conversions are at the average parities for the relevant year.

Per capita expenditure by central government
Country Year £
West Germany 1981 0.32
Sweden 1980–81 11.42
USA 1983 0.99
France 1982 8.12
United Kingdom 1982–83 3.64
Canada 1982–83 5.58

Comparable figures are not available for Italy, Japan or Spain.

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