§ Lord Bethellasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much money has been made available from the European Union Budget, in each of the past three years, for cultural projects in the London area; and whether they will give details of each individual project which has received funds. [HL4]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMuch of the EU expenditure which benefits culture is provided through programmes which are not specifically cultural, but which are supportive of wider economic or social policies. These include audiovisual, education, tourism, environment, research and development, and ERDF programmes. This expenditure is often used as matching funding for cultural projects supported through the National Lottery. Precise figures for the cultural elements of this expenditure are not available.
The EU competence to provide funding for specifically artistic and cultural initiatives was introduced by the Treaty on European Union 1993. Total direct spending across the EU on cultural activity came to some 19mecu (about £13 million) in 1995, 26mecu (£17.3 million) in 1996 and 25mecu (£17 million) in 1997. Direct comparison between the figures for these years cannot easily be made, as the programmes covered in them differed.
It is not possible to quantify London's precise benefit. This is because grants go to a "lead" partner in a project and the benefit will then be shared by cultural organisations based in several countries. In turn, the work of those organisations may be felt over a wide area. For example, the London-based music producer Serious received 50,000ecu (about £33,000) under the Kaleidoscope arts programme towards the cost of a music project in Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, London and four other UK cities.