Touring

HC Deb 05 March 1990 vol 168 cc478-9W

84. Mr. Conway

To ask the Minister for the Arts how he intends to encourage further touring both inside and outside the United Kingdom.

Mr. Luce

Many performing companies already tour extensively throughout Britain, quite apart from the touring provided for by the Arts Council's annual touring budget, which will be £8.2 million in 1990–91. In addition to this, I have given the Arts Council an extra £5.5 million over the three-year period from 1988–89 to 1990–91 to provide approximately 60 weeks extra touring in each year. Overseas touring is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, through the British Council.