Mr. Andy StewartTo ask the Minister for the Arts whether he can now respond to the Carnegie council's proposal for an independently managed trust fund for the adaptation of arts buildings to make them more accessible to disabled people.
§ Mr. LuceI have been impressed by the case made in the Attenborough report and by the Carnegie council for148W help towards improved access to arts venues for disabled people. I am therefore proposing to make a special contribution of £150,000 towards a fund for this purpose which is to be set up by the Carnegie (United Kingdom) trust. Carnegie has already announced that it is prepared to put in £250,000 subject to matching contributions from business and other sources. The details of the new arrangements will be announced by Carnegie in the new year. I very much welcome a proposal of this kind to improve access to the arts for disabled people.
I am also delighted to acknowledge the Carnegie council's support for the Museums and Galleries Commission towards the appointment of a disablement officer.