Written question asked by Dan Jarvis (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 April 2012, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 April 2012. It was answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot (Conservative) on Monday, 30 April 2012 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Arts: Attendance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of public sector redundancies on attendance figures for the arts in the (a) North East, (b) West Midlands and (c) North West Region.

Answer: This Department has made no such assessment. Engagement in the arts at present is measured by the Department's Taking Part survey. This shows that since the survey began there has been a significant increase in people who have engaged in the arts "once or more in the last year", from 71.5% in 2006-07 to 75.3% in 2011, in the North West. The percentage of people who have engaged in the arts "once or more in the last year" in the North East and West Midlands has not changed significantly over this time.The full data by region is available on the Department's website, under 'Arts' in the 'Area-level variables' tab:"http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8938.aspx"

Secondary information