§ Mr. David EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate he has made of the ratio of public to private funding for the arts for the most recent available period.
§ Mr. MellorTotal Government funding for the Arts in the current year stands at £253 million. Annual business sponsorship of the arts, including corporate membership, was more than £57 million in 1990–91—the latest year for which firm figures are available. The arts also gains substantially from the patronage of businesses and individuals; from grants made by the Foundation for Sport and the Arts; and through the gift aid scheme.
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§ Mr. BrandrethTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proportion of his Department's spending on the arts goes to the professional arts and what proportion to the voluntary or amateur arts; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorPrecise figures are not available. The Arts Councils and, particularly, the regional arts boards support the amateur arts in a variety of ways, for example by making grants to festivals and other community events, and by meeting the costs of the involvement of professional artists with amateur groups.