Parliamentary Questions |
List of Parliamentary Questions
• Northern Ireland’s MPs Have Been Asking Questions Too:
Questions placed to date:
Northern Ireland MPs:
Iris Robinson (Strangford, Democratic Unionist) on 16 April, 2007 (Table Office reference 130702): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding he plans to provide for the arts in the Province in 2007-08; and how much funding was provided in each of the last five years. Source: Hansard
Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry, Democratic Unionist) on 16 April, 2007: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that per capita funding for the arts in Northern Ireland is at the same level as in the United Kingdom as a whole. (Written answer given by Maria Eagle: “The level of funding for the arts in future years will be considered as part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review. The outcome will not be known until later in the year.”) Source: Hansard
Mark Durkan (Foyle, Social Democratic and Labour Party): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children took part in the Creative Youth Partnerships programme; what plans are in place to resource the programme in the future; and if he will make a statement on the performance of the programme against the objectives his Department has set for it. (Written answer given by Maria Eagle on 16 April 2007: “From April 2004 to September 2006, 38,813 children and young people participated in Creative Youth Partnership programmes. The three-year pilot scheme was due to conclude at the end of March 2007, but funding has been secured to extend the pilot for a further year at existing levels of activity. DCAL will be bidding for funding for Creative Youth Partnerships in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review and the future of the programme will be dependent on the outcome of this. The programme has been evaluated by the Education and Training Inspectorate and the report on this will be published shortly. Early indications are that good progress has been made in meeting the overall objectives of the Creative Youth Partnerships initiative and that the Inspectorate recommends the continuation of the programme, as it enhances and supports the education of children and young people.”) Source: Hansard.
Lady Sylvia Hermon MP (North Down, Ulster Unionist) on 19 April, 2007: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the implications of the increase in the estimated cost of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for the allocation of funding to Lottery good causes in (a) North Down and (b) Northern Ireland. (Written answer given by Maria Eagle on 24 April 2007: The allocation and distribution of Lottery funds is a reserved matter with responsibility lying with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision on the Lottery will be subject to Affirmative Resolutions in both Houses.) Source: Hansard
Lady Hermon (North Down, Ulster Unionist) on 3 May, 2007: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding was allocated to the arts in Northern Ireland in each year since 1997; and what the percentage change was between each year. (Written answer on 3 May, 2007: Maria Eagle (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Northern Ireland Office): Funding provided for the arts in Northern Ireland in each year since 1999-2000 is shown in the following table, together with the percentage change between each year. Data for previous years are not readily available. The figures include both revenue funding and capital funding.
| Financial year | Total funding provided by Departments | Percentage change |
| 1999-00 | 8,461,181.46 | |
| 2000-01 | 8,245,611 | -2.54 |
| 2001-02 | 9,067,800 | 9.97 |
| 2002-03 | 11,078,537.13 | 22.17 |
| 2003-04 | 15,151,520.90 | 36.76 |
| 2004-05 | 14,277,212.91 | -5.77 |
| 2005-06 | 14,890,675.62 | 4.3 |
| 2006-07 | 15,348,890.08 | 3.1 |
Lady Hermon (North Down) on 3 May, 2007: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what value of Lottery funds she estimates will be diverted from good causes in Northern Ireland as a result of the increase in the estimated cost of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. [136027] Source: Hansard
Eddie McGrady MP (South Down, Social Democratic and Labour Party) on 25 May, 2007: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what effect the use of Lottery funding for the 2012 Olympic Games will have on funding of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
[139749] Source: Hansard
Other UK Constituencies:
Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead, Labour) on 19 April 2007: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much public funding was granted to theatres in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; whether there are proposals to increase funding for such theatres in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement. (Written answer given by Maria Eagle: Decisions on revenue funding to theatres for 2007-08 have already been made by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the total amount awarded is the same as the 2006-07 figure. The level of funding available to theatres in future years will depend on the outcome of the 2007 comprehensive spending review.) Source: Hansard
Stephen Hesford (Wirral West, Labour) on 2 May, 2007: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking through the spending review to improve provisions for the arts in Northern Ireland following the reduction in Lottery funding from 2009. [134813] (Written answer 2 May, 2007: Maria Eagle: Negotiations on the comprehensive spending review are at an early stage. The outcome will be known later this year. ) Source: Hansard
Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley, Conservative) on 1 May, 2007: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much the Arts Council of Northern Ireland received from the National Lottery in 2006; and how much it will receive in 2007 [135933]. Source: Hansard
Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley, Conservative) on 1 May, 2007: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports what the investment returns were for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland from National Lottery funding in August 2006. [135932]. Source: Hansard
A question related to the host nation benefits was placed by David Simpson (Upper Bann, Democratic Unionist): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has made within Government in the last 12 months about securing benefits to Northern Ireland from the 2012 Olympics. (Written answer given by Maria Eagle (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Northern Ireland Office 30 April, 2007: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) is the lead Northern Ireland Department to ensure Northern Ireland benefits from the potential opportunities that will arise from London hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. The DCAL Permanent Secretary chairs an Olympic NI Task Force, which consists of representatives from other Government Departments and organisations responsible for delivering the benefits. This Group has met on four occasions over the last 12 months. DCAL works in close partnership with the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), the lead Government Department and with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.) Source: Hansard
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon) on 15 May, 2007: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which categories of projects will be entitled to money from the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, UK Wide Cultural Festival. [137495] Source: Hansard
Lottery funding and the Olympics Private Members Debate
A Private Members debate “Impact on arts and heritage of the diversion of lottery funding to the 2012 London Olympic Games” has been tabled by Paul Holmes MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Art and Culture, and is scheduled for Westminster Hall, Wednesday 6 June, 2007 (2:30pm – 4.00pm).
House of Lords:
Lord Laird on 14 March, 2007 [HL2696] for answer on 28th March: Minister answering – Lord Davies of Oldham. To ask Her Majesty’s Government to indicate the level of public funding for each of the Arts Councils of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and how this equates per head of population? Source: Hansard
Lord Glentoran on 30th March [Reference: HL3142]: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to promote publicly-funded arts organisations from Northern Ireland at international events other than the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Source: Hansard
Lord Laird on 3 May, 2007: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 18 April (WA 56-7) concerning funding of the arts in Northern Ireland compared with the rest of the United Kingdom, whether, in the years since 2000, there has been a budget increase for arts funding in Northern Ireland in the Comprehensive Spending Review. [HL3399]. Source: Hansard
Lords debate Lottery funding for the Olympics:
On 17 May, Lord Baker of Dorking (Con) rose to call attention to the effect upon heritage and the arts of the transfer of Lottery funds to the London 2012 Olympic Games. The concerns and aspirations set out in a briefing to peers were echoed in the debate. Peers expressed their support for the arts sector and questions were asked about the terms of the transfer of the Lottery funds. Suggestions were made about future funding of the arts with a strong emphasis on the importance of a good settlement for the arts in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review. Source: Hansard
House of Commons debate arts funding and the Olympics (reported in Hansard):
On 6 June, 2007 Paul Holmes MP, (Chesterfield) (LD) secured an important debate on the controversial decision by government to meet part of the escalating costs of the London Olympic Games from a redirection of funds from lottery good causes. Paul Holmes MP made well-reasoned and meticulous points during a lengthy oration. He said (from the official report):
“Nearly two thirds of the latest costing is to come from the lottery, which must have a devastating effect on arts funding across the whole country. How can there be a cultural Olympiad from 2008 to 2012 when such huge sums of money are being diverted from grass-roots activity, especially given that arts groups … have already had to turn to lottery funding to make up for shortfalls in mainstream funding?”
“The huge diversion of lottery funding to the Olympics will undermine the cultural value of arts and heritage … it will also undermine the economic value of the tourist legacy that the Government promise will come in the wake of the Olympics.”
Effect on the Arts:
“As a result of the cuts, the Arts Council in England is already cutting its grants for the arts fund, by 30 per cent. ... It has also has set stricter caps on the amount of money that is awarded to projects.
Cultural Olympiad:
“The four-year cultural Olympiad in the run-up to the games should be a showcase…. The cultural Olympiad is a key to the whole project and it was central to the UK’s winning bid, but instead of funding the Olympiad at this critical time, funding is being drastically cut throughout the country.”
“Most of the money available for cultural events connected with the Olympics has already been assigned to the opening and closing ceremonies … it appears that the rest of the cultural Olympiad is to be paid for by participating organisations out of existing budgets, but existing budgets are being cut.
Double Whammy:
“The sector cannot afford the twin cuts, through the CSR—if that is what emerges—and through the diversion of lottery funding.
Mr. Holmes concluded by putting a number of challenges to government:
1. “The Government must now guarantee that this is the last time the lottery will be raided to pay for the Olympics.
2. “The Government should allocate money for the cultural Olympiad … that would enable arts organisations to take part in the festival and to do more than simply rebrand existing, underfunded activities.
3. “The arts and heritage should get a higher funding settlement in the comprehensive spending review, to compensate for the loss of lottery money.
4. “The Government should give a tighter guarantee that the lottery—especially lottery funding of the arts and heritage—will have first call on the profits from the sale of Olympic properties after 2012.
5. “The original principle of additionality in lottery spending should be strictly reinstated.
6. “Finally, Parliament as a whole, not a small Committee, should debate the resolution on the lottery
funds diversion.”
He described the Prime Minister’s arts legacy as being “in utter disarray” and accused the Government of having “no coherent policy on the arts.”
The Minister for Culture, David Lammy MP said that the debate had been a “good opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the arts, culture and heritage over the past few years” and spoke extensively about these. The Minister said that there would be a “net gain” to “tourism, heritage and the arts sector” but was unable to complete his speech due to time constraints.
The impact of the Lottery decision will be even greater in Northern Ireland where, under direct rule, grants to the arts have been at standstill for three consecutive years; where the level of per capita funding is but half that in Scotland and well below England and Wales; and, Northern Ireland is geographically remote from the main markets and therefore unlikely to benefit from the tourism revenues generated through overseas attending the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
