§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the difference in real terms between his Department's grant in aid allocations to the Arts Council of England in(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99. [25895]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe Government committed themselves, before the General Election, to keep to the spending plans of the previous administration in 1997–98 and 1998–99. The difference in the Arts Council of England's allocation in real terms between 1997–98 and 1998–99 is a decrease of 3.5 per cent, or £6.5 million in 1997–98 prices. These figures are derived from the cash allocations of £186.1 million in 1997–98 and £184.6 million in 1998–99, and a 2.8 per cent. increase in the GDP deflator.