§ 54. Mr. JesselTo ask the Minister for the Arts what assessment he has made of the contribution the arts can make to the redevelopment of the inner cities.
§ Mr. LuceI have been impressed with the contribution that many arts projects have made in inner city areas which I have visited. Three recent conferences in Glasgow, Halifax and at Leeds castle in Kent have brought out the importance of the arts in increasing the overall attractiveness of an area, which in turn encourages new economic development. I will continue to encourage local business support for such projects in all possible ways.