§ Mr. Patrick ThompsonTo ask the Minister for the Arts what funding he proposes to make available for the European arts festival to mark the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Community in the second half of 1992; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonWe will be making £6 million available for the European arts festival over the two financial years 1991–92 and 1992–93.
Parliamentary approval for this new service in the current financial year will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the Office of Arts and Libraries vote—class XII, vote 2. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £100,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.