§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the spending by regional arts boards was, per capita of population served, in each of the past 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [35158]
§ Dr. HowellsThe table collated by the Arts Council of England provides the figures requested by the hon. Member.
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All RABs SA SEA SWA WMA YA 1995–96 Direct arts spend 3,434,829 2,527,027 3,999,425 5,498,493 6,600,651 Mid-95 Population 4,722,800 4,057,800 3,893,600 5,306,500 5,029,400 1995–96 Spend per head (£) 0.73 0.62 1.03 1.04 1.31 1996–97 Direct arts spend 3,409,478 2,548,760 3,918,246 5,305,054 6,543,122 Mid-96 Population 4,755,000 4,076,800 3,904,700 5,316,600 5,035,400 1996–97 Spend per head (£) 0.72 0.63 1.00 1.00 1.30 1997–98 Direct arts spend 3,351,454 2,599,726 4,161,363 5,599,932 6,541,524 Mid-97 Population 4,793,900 4,110,600 3,930,400 5,320,800 5,037,000 1997–98 Spend per head (£) 0.70 0.63 1.06 1.05 1.30 1998–99 Direct arts spend 3,865,165 2,628,456 4,018,475 5,723,581 6,706,437 Mid-98 Population 4,822,800 4,134,100 3,948,300 5,332,200 5,042,900 1998–99 Spend per head (£) 0.80 0.64 1.02 1.07 1.33 1999–2000 Direct arts spend 4,372,224 2,923,597 4,339,348 6,664,429 7,349,451 Mid-99 Population 4,855,200 4,180,100 3,977,500 5,335,600 5,047,000 1999–2000 Spend per head (£) 0.90 0.70 1.09 1.25 1.46 2000–01 Direct arts spend 8,811,035 4,869,210 7,105,493 11,589,981 10,546,268 Mid-2000 Population 4,876,500 4,201,000 4,012,400 5,334,800 5,057,700 2000–01 Spend per head (£) 1.81 1.16 1.77 2.17 2.09 2001–02 Direct arts spend 10,374,000 5,737,846 8,559,355 12,844,798 11,762,000 Mid-2000 Population 4,876,500 4,201,000 4,012,400 5,334,800 5,057,700 2001–02 Spend per head (£) 2.13 1.37 2.13 2.41 2.33 Notes:
(1) RAB arts spend figures are taken from RAB audited accounts, with the exception of 2001–02 figures which are taken from RAB business plans for that year.
(2) Population figures are calculated from figures provided by National Statistics. Mid-2000 figures are the latest available.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the funding of regional arts and cultural services. [35157]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Arts Council of England carries out funding of regional arts organisations at arm's-length from the Government through the regional arts boards.
Regional arts boards are currently independent charitable organisations, and grants to them from the Arts Council are subject to conditions set by the council. The council made operating grants of £97.6 million to the regional arts boards during the financial year 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the savings which would be achieved under the revised proposals from the Arts Council of England regarding funding of arts in the regions. [35159]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Arts Council of England has set a target of £8 million to £10 million in savings from administration to put back into the arts. We have made it clear to the Arts Council of England that this target must be met. It is preparing a timetable for the restructuring which will generate those savings once the transfer to a single organisation has been completed.