§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what expenditure was made by his Department on(a) the arts and (b) design in the last financial year.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardDiscretion to make small-scale purchases of items of art is devolved to local managers and some initiatives for the commissioning of larger-scale murals for public waiting areas have taken place. The extent of expenditure and sponsorship in this and other areas of the arts is not normally separately identified, but our Newcastle central office carried out a special exercise and expenditure last year amounted to £4,359.