Achievements (Hansard, 27 November 1989)

§ Mr. Luce

The Government's achievements in the arts since 1979 have been both numerous and varied. Among the most important, I would listThe maintenance of central Government support for arts activities, and the introduction of measures to encourage greater self-reliance among arts institutions. The establishment of a three-year programme of funding for the arts. The introduction of corporate planning for the national museums and galleries and other non-departmental bodies, linked to the three-year funding programme. The national museums and galleries being given greater control over their affairs by the move to grant-in-aid funding, and by their being untied from the Property Services Agency. The major expansion schemes at some national museums and galleries, including the Clore gallery at the Tate, the new Tate gallery in Liverpool, and the re-development of the new Imperial War museum. The Government's support for the development strategies designed to give the regions a larger share of arts spending and facilities. The significant upsurge in, and continued success of, business sponsorship of the arts. The new marketing initiatives to encourage arts bodies to market themselves more professionally and to increase access to the arts. The creation of the national heritage memorial fund. The development of incentive funding schemes for the performing arts and for public libraries, designed to encourage subsidised bodies to become more self-reliant in their development and growth. The setting up and implementation of the pubic lending right scheme. The very substantial progress with the British Library's St. Pancras project which will bring together most of the library's London-based collections and reading rooms on a single site, and provide much-improved facilities.