HC Deb 05 March 1993 vol 220 cc351-2W
Sir David Steel

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was his Department's annual expenditure on the craft section of Scottish development agency and Highlands and Islands development board in the year before their abolition.

Mr. Lang

Expenditure by the Scottish Development Agency and the Highlands and Islands Development Board in 1990–91 was £377,000 and £569,000 respectively. These figures exclude any management and administration expenditure incurred by these bodies, and financial assistance to crafts made available by HIDB other than through Craftpoint, which cannot be separately identified.

Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what proposals he has for the administrative relationship between Made in Scotland and the Crafts Council and the Scottish Art Council;

(2) what will be the administrative base for decisions concerning the crafts within the Scottish Arts Council;

(3) what is to be the administrative relationship between the Crafts Council and the Scottish Arts Council in terms of (a) the establishment of priorities and (b) the allocation and distribution of grants to crafts people and craft operators.

Sir Hector Monro

[holding answer 3 March 1993]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland announced on 1 February 1993 (Official Report, column 37) his intention to establish new arrangements for the support of crafts in Scotland. The details of these arrangements are still under consideration and a further announcement will be made in due course.

Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the annual Scottish Office expenditure of the craft section of the Scottish Development Agency and the Highlands and Islands Development Board in the three years immediately prior to the winding up of both organisations.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 3 March 1993]: The expenditure by the Scottish Development Agency and the Highlands and Islands Development Board was as follows:

Scottish Development Agency
£000
1988–89 303
1989–90 315
1990–91 377

The figures exclude any management and administration expenditure incurred, which could not be identified without incurring disproportionate cost.

Highlands and Islands Development Board
£000
1988–89 230
1989–90 495
1990–91 569

The figures exclude any management and administration expenditure incurred by HIDB, and financial assistance to crafts made available through other than Craftpoint, which cannot be separately identified.

Dr. Godman

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the annual expenditure of the Scottish Office on Made in Scotland, Beauly, in each of the past three years; and what it will be for each of the next three years.

Mr. Stewart

[holding answer 3 March 1993 ]: Made in Scotland Ltd. was only established in 1991. The company has received no direct support from the Scottish Office; but was formed with assistance from Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise on the basis of the support it would provide for the marketing and promotion of the crafts industry in Scotland. The terms of the assistance are a matter between the company and the enterprise bodies.

Sir David Steel

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is to be the administrative relationship between the Crafts Council and the Scottish Arts Council in establishing priorities, deciding on allocation and dispersing grants to craftspeople and craft operations in Scotland;

(2) what will be the administrative base for craft discussions within the Scottish Arts Council;

(3) what is the administrative relationship between Made in Scotland and the Crafts Council/Scottish Arts Council administering the new money.

Mr. Lang

[holding answer 1 March 1993]: I announced on 1 February 1993, Official Report, column 37, my intention to establish "new arrangements" for the support of the crafts sector in Scotland. The details of these arrangements are still under consideration and I will make a further announcement in due course.