§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he has taken to increase young people's access to musical instrument tuition. [72110]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced last summer the creation of a new independent Youth Music Trust with £10m Arts Council Lottery funding a year, which will work to enable greater access to instrumental music making for young people. It will be operational in April. Taken together with the Standards Fund announced on 27 January by my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media544W and Sport, this provides a total minimum investment of £180m over three years for the improvement of music making opportunities.