To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the annual per capita expenditure was on arts funding in the Province in each of the last five years. (130702)

The annual per capita expenditure on arts funding Northern Ireland in each of the last five years is shown in the following table. These figures are based on Exchequer allocations to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that per capita funding for the arts in Northern Ireland is at the same level as in the United Kingdom as a whole. (131132)

The level of funding for the arts in future years will be considered as part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review. The outcome will not be known until later in the year.