To ask the Minister for the Arts how much of the Arts Council grant in England and Wales in 1989–90 was actually paid to artists, writers, musicians and those in the performing arts; and how much was absorbed by administration.

The total of the Arts Council's grant in aid spent in England and Wales in 1989–90 was £139,745,000. Just under £14·4 million was spent by the Arts Council of Great Britain, the Welsh Arts Council and the 12 English regional arts associations on operational services. The functions of these bodies extend well beyond grant administration and include arts promotion and marketing, other professional advice and support to client organisations, and development and planning work.