§ 31. Mr. CranTo ask the Minister for the Arts what progress is being made in the restructuring of the regional arts funding bodies.
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§ Mr. MellorI announced on 24 September broad principles for regional funding arrangements which are currently being examined by a review team established by the Arts Council, and led by Timothy Marsh.
§ 32. Mr. MorleyTo ask the Minister for the Arts how he will ensure a wide representation of local authorities on regional arts boards.
§ 34. Ms. AbbottTo ask the Minister for the Arts what plans he has to involve local authorities in the structure of arts administration.
§ 39. Mr. MealeTo ask the Minister for the Arts how he intends to involve local authorities in regional arts boards.
§ Mr. MellorUnder the broad principles that I have announced, one third of the membership of regional arts boards will be reserved for local authority nominees.
§ 38. Ms. ArmstrongTo ask the Minister for the Arts by what process he plans to appoint the chair of the Northern arts board.
§ 40. Mrs. GoldingTo ask the Minister for the Arts by what process he intends to choose the chair of the West Midlands regional arts board.
§ 44. Mr. WareingTo ask the Minister for the Arts what consultation he will require the Arts Council to undertake before the appointment of local authority representatives on regional arts boards.
§ Mr. MellorI am awaiting advice on these matters from the review team set up by the Arts Council to examine ways of implementing the broad principles for further strengthening regional funding arrangements that I announced on 24 September.
§ 43. Mr. HaynesTo ask the Minister for the Arts what consultations he had with regional arts associations and host authorities before announcing his plans to revise the structure of regional arts boards.
§ Mr. MellorI met the chairmen of the regional arts associations and representatives of the main local authority associations shortly after my announcement was made. I have set aside two months for consultation with all the interested parties.