Major increase in investment in arts, culture and sport

Chancellor Gordon Brown today announced a major boost for sport, arts, and culture.

In his announcement of Government spending plans for the next three financial years, the Chancellor provided the Department of Culture, Media and Sport with an additional £105 million in 2001-02, £155 million in 2002-03 and £225 million in 2003-04 above the current year. This represents an average annual real terms rise of 4.3 per cent per year between 2000-01 and 2003-04.

Welcoming the announcement, Culture Secretary Chris Smith said:

"Today's settlement is very good news indeed for everyone who cares about sport, arts, and culture. Such a significant spending boost will give sporting and cultural organisations the resources they need to nurture and reward talent and excellence, and places a new emphasis on realising the potential of the arts, culture, sport and heritage to enrich the lives of young people, especially in our schools."

Notes for editors

1. Further details of how the additional funding will be distributed will be announced by the DCMS shortly.
2. The figures below include the recent addition of £15m in 2000-01 and £60m in
3. 2001-02 from the Capital Modernisation Fund for "Space for Sport and Arts". This will be matched with £75m from the Lottery.

£ million	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04
DCMS Total*	1015	1120	1170	1240
of which: Resource Budget	941	998	1100	1160
Capital Budget	74	122	70	80
* Departmental Expenditure Limit

4. For more details, please contact the DCMS press office on 020 7211 6273/ 6266/ 6274/ 6276/ 6145/ 6269. Out of hours telephone pager: 01399 751153. Public Enquiries 020 7211 6200.

External links

Department Culture, Media and Sport