§ 23. Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he is taking to promote business sponsorship of the arts.
§ Mr. BrookeThe Government seek to promote a partnership approach to arts funding by developing a network of sources of support, nationally and locally. Over the last 20 years, business sponsorship has made an increasingly important contribution to our expanding arts economy. In 1976–77 business support amounted to about £500,000. By 1992–93 that figure had increased to at least £57.7 million.
The Government's own business sponsorship incentive scheme—BSIS—has done much to encourage this welcome trend. Since its inception in 1984, the scheme has attracted £69.2 million in new money to the arts. In recognition of the importance of business sponsorship and of the success of the BSIS I shall increase the scheme's budget for next year by £300,000 to a record £4.8 million. This will enable a new ABSA office to be established to serve the midlands. I will also be modifying the scheme for business sponsors in Wales to allow Welsh arts organisations to make more effective use of it.