§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Minister for the Arts how he intends to improve access to arts venues for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceMy aim is for the arts to be accessible to everyone. In December 1988 I gave £150,000 to the Carnegie Trust's Adapt Fund for the improvement of facilities for disabled people in arts venues. I acknowledge the important role which my hon. Friend is playing as chairman of this fund.
Both the Museums and Galleries Commission and the Arts Council employ a disability officer. The Arts Council recently published an arts and disability action plan to produce practical measures to increase disabled people's involvement in the arts, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.