§ 20. Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the amount of money being allocated to the arts in the current year; and what it was in 1979.
§ Mr. BrookeFor the current year the Government's grant in aid to the Arts Council of Great Britain is £221.2 million. For 1979–80 it was £63.125 million in cash terms or £153.1 million at today's prices. This represents a 44.5 per cent. increase in real terms.
Local authorities also contribute significantly to the arts. Although no reliable figures are yet available best estimates suggest that they contribute well over £200 million a year.
In addition, the arts receive funding from the private sector. For 1990–91, the latest year for which firm figures are available, annual business sponsorship reached £44.5 million to which can be added £12.5 million in corporate membership. My own business sponsorship incentive scheme has raised over £48 million for the arts since its inception in October 1984.