Further savings announced
Savings of around 拢73 million have been made as part of our contribution to reducing the fiscal deficit
鈥淲e are facing an unprecedented financial situation in this country, and it is essential that we act now to reduce the country鈥檚 debt,鈥� said , Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport.
鈥淲e have examined a number of schemes to determine whether they remain a Government priority, value for money, and affordable in the current economic climate.聽
鈥淭his has involved some incredibly difficult decisions, but the cultural and sporting worlds, like everyone else, urgently need the country鈥檚 finances to be returned to a sustainable position.鈥�
Projects for which funding is being cancelled include:
A number of .
Free Swimming Programme
which shows that this scheme has not delivered value for money, so funding will end this summer.
鈥淭his is not a decision that gives me any pleasure,鈥� said , Minister for Sport and Olympics.聽鈥滺owever, the research shows that the great majority of free swimmers were swimming already, and would have paid to swim anyway. With a crippling deficit to tackle and tough decisions to take, this has become a luxury we can no longer afford.鈥�
Cancelling this programme will save 拢5 million, as part of a total saving of 拢40 million from the Free Swimming Programme funding across Government.
Stonehenge Visitor Centre
鈥淚 recognise the disappointment that everyone in the heritage community feels at today鈥檚 announcement,鈥� said , Minister for Tourism and Heritage.聽鈥滲ut I hope that they, and others, will understand why this has come about - the costs and benefits of this project had to be considered in the light of the current financial picture. We all have to accept trade-offs, but even though we can鈥檛 afford to fund the project today, it remains a priority for the future.鈥�
Cancelling this project will save 拢17 million.
BFI Film Centre
鈥淚t is obviously disappointing that the severe financial problems facing Britain mean that the Government can鈥檛 contribute at present to the BFI Film Centre,鈥� said , Minister for the Creative Industries. 鈥淎lthough we are unable to commit to some large scale capital investment projects while tackling this unprecedented deficit, I want to make sure that we are supporting the film industry, and that we make sure every pound of public money we spend gives the maximum benefit.
The Government is still funding the building of a new film store to safeguard the National Film Archive and, although the BFI鈥檚 digital access project is not affordable at the present time, is looking for the BFI to examine alternative methods of support and delivery.
Cancelling this project will save 拢45 million.
Other cuts
Other projects being cancelled and the amount they will save are:
- Libraries modernisation work - 拢2 million (per annum)
- Find Your Talent - c 拢2 million
- A Night Less Ordinary - c 拢0.1m
- BFI archive digital access sub-project - 拢2.5 million
More detail
The contains much more detail about the individual programmes and the reasons for the cuts.