§ 65. Mr. ButlerTo 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. LuceThe 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. CarringtonTo 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. LuceOver 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.
74WThe 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.