§ 83. Mr. ButlerTo ask the Minister for the Arts what progress has been made with the business sponsorship incentive scheme in the north-west; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. LuceI am delighted that the business sponsorship incentive scheme has brought over £1 million of new money to the arts in the north-west since it began in 1984. (Fifty arts organisations have won awards and 54 first-time and 20 existing sponsors have supported the arts.)
85. Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Minister for the Arts whether he intends to change the rules and funding of the business sponsorship incentive scheme.
§ Mr. LuceI recently announced changes in the rules of the business sponsorship incentive scheme to enable it to focus on companies considering arts sponsorship for the first time. Under the new rules, which will operate from 1 April 1990, first-time sponsors will continue to be matched pound for pound. However, existing sponsors will be matched in the ratio of £1 for every £4 of additional sponsorship and businesses which have sponsored the arts for more than three years will no longer be eligible. The increased budget for the scheme of £3.5 million will be divided into six bi-monthly budgets in order to spread these resources more evenly throughout the year. Arts organisations will continue to be eligible for two awards each financial year up to the maximum of £25,000.