Regional Cultural Consortiums

HL Deb 06 December 2001 vol 629 cc159-60WA

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's review of the regional cultural consortiums has been brought forward from the middle of 2002; what are the terms of reference for the review; and what is the date by which it will be completed. [HL1716]

Baroness Blackstone

The Government have decided to bring foward the review of the regional cultural consortiums so that their future can be considered in the context of current discussions about regional governance and the preparation of the White Paper on regional governance.

The terms of reference for the review are:

to review the regional cultural consortiums, taking account of their achievements to date, and the wider framework being developed on regional governance, and to make recommendations to the Secretary of State before the White Paper on regional governance is finalised;

to consider the success of the Consortiums in meeting their aims to date; how they are viewed by key players in the regions; the nature and impact of any changes that have taken place in the regions since the consortiums were established; the implications of one or more regions having some form of elected regional government in due course;

and in the light of this information, to explore how to move forward from what has already been achieved, including changing the remit and/or aims of the consortiums, modifying their status, membership, method of appointment, sponsorship and funding, and merging or replacing them with some other organisation;

and to make recommendations on the way forward to the Secretray of State.

We expect the review to be completed in January 2002.