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Written Question
Arts: Expenditure
Friday 4th November 2016

Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the level of arts spending per head in each of the regions of England has been in each of the last five years.

Answered by Matt Hancock

Funding decisions are a matter for the Arts Council England. The Government has been clear that the right balance of funding between London and the regions continues to require attention as part of our commitment to build a country that works for everyone. It is important that regardless of location, everyone should be able to access great arts and culture. Arts Council England continue to work on this and recently announced that the proportion of the national portfolio budget spent outside London will increase from 2018.

Spending in individual regions fluctuates from year to year and is heavily affected by individual large scale capital funding projects. However as the attached table shows, 2015-16 saw the largest proportion of spending outside London than in any of the previous 10 years – including five years of a Labour government.


Written Question
Mobile Phones
Tuesday 8th July 2014

Asked by: Tom Blenkinsop (Labour - Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland)

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to introduce proposals for regulations or guidance to reduce the cost of the use of British mobile telephones roaming outside of the EU.

Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot

The provider must send you an alert when you reach 80% and then 100% of the agreed data roaming limit. Operators must stop charging for data at the 100% point, unless you agree to continue to use data.

Ofcom provides advice on using telephones abroad, including in countries outside the European Union. See:

http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2013/03/check-your-phone-before-you-roam/ and

http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/2013/07/using-your-smartphone-or-tablet-abroad/

This includes the advice to talk to your UK provider before you travel - it may offer special packages for your destination.