asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total amount spent on the arts by local government in each year since 1968; what percentage of total public expenditure on the arts this represents in each year; and what percentage of total government expenditure this represents in each year.
There is no record available for each year of total local government expenditure over the whole range of arts activities. However, a special survey conducted by the Arts Council of Great Britain in respect of the year 1972–73 and of the local authorities prior to reorganisation concluded that expenditure on the arts, including local museums and galleries but excluding local authorities own overheads, by local authorities in England only, totalled approximately between £14·7 million and £15·5 million. This represents about 50 per cent. of the central Government expenditure carried on the Arts Vote for England, Wales and Scotland and approximately 0·14 per cent. of the total local government expenditure in England and Wales in that year.