To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) UK Government and (b) EU funding has been made available to support Liverpool’s Capital of Culture festival. (142763)

DCMS and Arts council have committed £10 million over the period 2005-09 to support Liverpool’s Capital of Culture. In addition Liverpool received a grant of £1,200,000 from the Urban Cultural programme; and the North West Development Agency has approved £2 million.

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has approved £10 million funding and in addition provided Phase 1—£946,000 ERDF pre 2008 approval and Phase 2—£2.63 million ERDF post approval.