§ Dr. HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what were the costs of the investigations instigated by his Department into the alleged misuse of the BS1S for matching private and public funds for the support of the arts. [23014]
§ Mr. DorrellThe investigation was carried out by Mr. John Beastall, who is a Treasury civil servant. My Department is responsible for travel costs arising from his study. The cost of these is expected to amount to £320.
§ Dr. HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on investigations378W (a) instigated and (b) evaluated by his Department into the alleged misuse of the BSIS for matching private and public funds for the support of the arts. [23015]
§ Mr. DorrellMy Department has received the report which I announced on 27 February had been commissioned from Mr. John Beastall,Official Report, column 680. Once the findings have been evaluated, I shall make his report available to the House.
Mr. Beastall was asked in his review to take account of reports received by my Department from the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts and from the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority, S4C. He has also drawn on an examination of the relevant records and a series of interviews with staff of S4C and the companies and organisations involved in the applications, conducted, at S4C's request, by Grant Thornton, S4C's auditors.