HC Deb 30 October 1989 vol 159 cc73-4W
65. Mr. Butler

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the progress of the business sponsorship incentive scheme in the north-west.

Mr. Luce

The business sponsorship incentive scheme continues to be highly successful. In the north-west over £1 million of new money has been brought to the arts since the scheme's inception in 1984. Forty-eight arts organisations have won awards and 51 first-time and 20 existing sponsors have supported the arts.

66. Mr. Carrington

To ask the Minister for the Arts how much has been raised by the Government's business sponsorship incentive scheme in the last two years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Luce

Over the last two years the business sponsorship incentive scheme has raised £13.34 million new money for the arts. Nearly £9 million has come from new sponsorship and over £4.3 million in awards has been added by the Government.

The demand for awards under the scheme has been such that I have increased the budget by an extra £250,000 to £3.25 million this year.