asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the money spent on the arts in England and Wales per head of population; and what is the revenue received from the arts through the application of value added tax.

Expenditure in England and Wales in 1978–79 on museums, libraries and the arts by central and local government is estimated to have been very approximately of the order of £7 per head of the population. Comparable figures for expenditure by private consumers are not available.The VAT charged on admissions and sales by registered persons involved in music, dance, drama, art, sculpture and literature in 1978–79 was £83 million.