§ 62. Mr. Jesselasked the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on funding for the Arts Council consequent upon the abolition of the Greater London Council and the metropolitan counties.
§ Mr. LuceI refer the hon. Member to my reply on 17 November 1986 to my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson). I was very pleased to be able to tell the House that I could make £24 million available to the Arts Council for the post-abolition funding in 1987–88, an increase of £3 million on planned expenditure. The Arts Council, the regional arts associations concerned and the successor authorities were able to conclude arrangements for 1986–87 which effectively safeguarded the many excellent arts bodies in the metropolitan counties, and I am confident that they will be able to do so again.
§ 63. Mr. Tony Banksasked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Arts Council to discuss funding of the arts.