§ Mr. Robert BanksTo ask the Minister for the Arts what is the proportion of public funds(a) given and (b) loaned to galleries and museums in England and Wales during each year since 1983.
§ Mr. LuceThe expenditure plans of the Office of Arts and Libraries are published every January in the public expenditure White Paper. The principal channels of funding to museums and galleries are:
- (i) as grants or grants-in-aid to the national museums and galleries and other directly funded museums in England;
- (ii) as grant-in-aid to the Museums and Galleries Commission which then makes grants to the English area museum councils and to non-national museums and galleries throughout the United Kingdom; and
- (iii) as rate support grant to English local authorities.
No loans are made from the arts and libraries expenditure programme.