To ask the Minister for the Arts what funds have been earmarked by his office to help regional arts organisations to promote and organise touring exhibitions of paintings and sculpture drawn from permanent collections.

Government support for the promotion of organised touring exhibitions is channelled through the travelling exhibitions unit of the Museums and Galleries Commission and the visual arts department of the Arts Council. The MGC travelling exhibitions unit and the Arts Council visual arts departments are expected to spend £210,000 in the current financial year.