§ 27. Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action her Department is taking to support regional theatres(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) in London. [17011]
§ Tessa JowellTheatre funding is a matter for the Arts Council of England and the Regional Arts Boards. The Arts Council has already announced significant additional 41W funding for theatre in England from 2002–03 which will see the budget for theatre rise from its current level of £45 million to £70 million by the end of the current planning cycle (2003–04). The theatre budget for London will increase from £8,620,514 in 2000–01 to £14,574,655 in 2003–04, or by 69 per cent.
§ Mr. LevittTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department is giving to regional theatres in the east midlands. [20994]
§ Mr. CabornFunding for theatre remains a matter for the Arts Council of England and the Regional Arts Boards. In March this year, the Arts Council announced a significant increase in funding for theatre in 2002–03 and 2003–04, including a 62 per cent. increase for subsidised theatre throughout the east midlands by the end of the period.