Baroness Vickersasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make a statement on the level of funding for Visiting Arts.
§ Lord BelsteadMy right honourable friend the Minister for the Arts is pleased to report a substantial increase in the direct funding of the Visiting Arts organisation in the present financial year. The overall budget of the Visiting Arts organisation in 1986–87 1159WA will be trebled compared with 1985–86 to enable it to develop the already valuable work that it performs in facilitating visits by overseas artists and performers. The contributions will include an Arts Council grant of £210,000, in partial replacement of previous direct GLC funding; an additional contribution of £50,000, to be increased by £25,000 if further matching funding is obtained, by my right honourable and learned friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; and a contribution from me of £50,000.