asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Government's grant of £15 million to the national heritage fund is to be deducted from the total grant to the arts.

I have been asked to reply.No. The provision for the national heritage fund and for the reimbursement of Inland Revenue for property accepted in satisfaction of tax will be split between the office of arts and libraries and the Department of the Environment. Part of the provision is being transferred from a public expenditure programme administered by the Treasury and part is an addition to total public expenditure.