Theatre: Grants

Mr. Hunt
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many regularly-funded theatre-based producing companies in the regions will be supported by Arts Council England in 2008-09.

James Purnell
[holding answer 17 January 2008]: The Arts Council operates at arm’s length from the Government and decisions about which arts organisations to fund are entirely for them.

Arts Council England will make a full announcement at the beginning of February when final decisions have been taken.