LONDON, UK.- The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee criticized cuts in arts funding, they said, "a real terms cut in funding for the arts is a mistake". According to the committee, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has no justification to freeze funding to the Arts Council England.

The committee stated, "The government needs to re-evaluate its allocation of resources to the arts taking a long-term view, to ensure that real terms cuts are avoided where no compelling arguments or evidence are presented for their necessity. In our view no such arguments have been made. The government should reconsider and find the £34m needed to keep the Arts Council funding in line with inflation."

Labour MP Mr Bryant stated, "The thing that is most irritating is the fact that what you see is not what you get. There's a blatant rip-off going on and it should be put to an end."