Arts Council of England

Mr. Watson
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 13 January, Official Report, column 1039W, on Arts Council England: finance, whether the methodology used to calculate the annual efficiency savings Arts Council England expects to make as part of its reorganisation process was approved by Ministers.

Margaret Hodge
Arts Council England contribute to the Department's value for money (VFM) programme, reported to Parliament in the DCMS autumn performance report and annual report. The methodology for the Government VFM programme is agreed by the Treasury and subject to review by the National Audit Office.

Arts Council England continually seek and deliver additional efficiency savings which are reported to the Department on a regular basis.

Mr. Watson
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 13 January, Official Report, column 1038W, on Arts Council England, what recent representations he has received on the restructuring of Arts Council England since 1993.

Margaret Hodge
Ministers and officials meet regularly with Arts Council England and other stakeholders. Issues such as organisational restructuring are often discussed in these meetings