§ Mr. HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the level of public funding for the arts per head of population(a) in the south-west region, and (b) in the rest of Britain. [3179]
§ Mr. Sproat[holding answer 18 November 1996]Central Government funding for the arts in Britain, provided through the three arts councils, the Crafts Council and the Government's pairing scheme, amounts to £234 million in 1996–97. Additionally, local authorities spend a similar amount on the arts each year. From these sources the estimate of current level of public funding per capita on the arts in the south-west region is approximately £5.86, compared with an overall average £8.24 for England, Scotland and Wales. In addition, it is anticipated that the arts' share of lottery awards in England, Scotland and Wales will be in the region of £300 million this year, or £5.29 a head. There are also other sources of arts funding generated through Government expenditure: either directly, such as through the BBC—an estimated £300 per annum—or indirectly, such as through European spending programmes. Each of these elements of funding benefits the south-west alongside other areas of Britain.