LONDON, UK.- In response to Arts Council England's announcement of its funding allocations for 2005/06-2007/08, Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State, said, "I welcome today's allocations announcement by ACE. While some have inevitably received less than they would have liked, the fact remains that the amount of money available to arts organisations in 2006/07 and 2007/08 will rise significantly above inflation, and that on top of a 12 per cent increase in funding in 2005/06.

I realise that this would not have been possible without a great deal of hard work by Arts Council England, whom I thank for their efforts in achieving this outcome." [17 March 2005]

The other Home Countries - Funding for the arts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Scottish Arts Council, the Arts Council of Wales and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland respectively.