HC Deb 10 March 1994 vol 239 c311W
Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what was the remit of the Arts Council's cultural diversity unit; what were its objectives; and how such objectives will now be served;

(2) what was the remit of the Arts Council's disability unit; what were its objectives; and how those objectives will now be served.

Mr. Brooke

The Arts Council decided at its meeting in May 1993 to wind up in due course its strategic policy units covering cultural diversity, arts and disability and women in the arts, and to pass its continuing responsibilities to all relevant departments of the council.

I understand that the decision to integrate the work of the units with the art form departments reflects the fact that the units have largely succeeded in their aims of changing attitudes and awareness among funded bodies, and bringing about changes in the council's own practices.

The council will continue to take very seriously its commitment to these strategic policies in fulfilling its charter object to increase the accessibility of the arts to the public throughout the country.