§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they plan to make it a requirement that the cultural plans submitted by local authorities should make funding of theatres within their area a mandatory element of their budget provision. [HL3079]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe Government have no such plans. Local authorities are being strongly encouraged to develop local cultural strategies but we do not anticipate that there will be mandatory elements in relation to theatres.