§ 61. Captain CAZALETasked the Postmaster-General when the arrangement between the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Post Office with regard to the subsidy to opera will be laid before the House?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHIt is probable that the Supplementary Agreement between the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Post Office will deal with other matters besides the opera grant, and I am not yet in a position to say when it will be concluded.
§ Captain CAZALETWill it be before Christmas?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHOh, no.
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSAre the Government going to subsidise anything else?
§ Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI presume that no money will be paid until Parliament has approved of the expenditure?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHParliament will have an opportunity of discussing the matter.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELWhat form will the subsidy take?
§ Commander O. LOCKER-LAMPSONCan we be guaranteed an opportunity far discussion before any money is paid?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITH inidicated assent.
§ Commander LOCKER LAMPSONDoes that mean yes or no?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHYes.
§ 62. Captain CAZALETasked the Postmaster-General whether any other organisations are concerned in the arrangement between the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Post Office 1793 for the production of opera in this country by the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate (1930); and what contribution the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate is making towards the fund for producing these operas?
§ 63 and 64. Captain P. MACDONALDasked the Postmaster-General (1) whether, when the payment of a subsidy to grand opera was agreed upon, he was aware of a pre-existing arrangement between the Imperial League of Opera and the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate which provides an annual income of £70,000 a year for the production of grand opera;
(2) to whom the proposed subsidy for grand opera will actually be paid; and whether the payment will be contingent upon sufficient guarantees being forthcoming from other sources to ensure satisfactory production of at least a minimum number of operas?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe production of opera will be in the hands of the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate (1930) Limited, to whom grants totalling £30,000 a year will be paid. Of this sum, £25,000 will be provided by the British Broadcasting Corporation (£7,500 a year out of their normal income and £17,500 a year by means of a special addition to that income) and £5,000 a year will be provided by private subscribers. In addition, as I informed the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight on the 27th ultimo, the new syndicate has been in close consultation for some time with the Imperial League of Opera with a view to co-operation, but I am not aware that arrangements have yet been concluded. Approximately 200 performances a year will be given.
§ Captain CAZALETMay I ask whether the £5,000 raised by private subscription is the sole contribution which the Covent Garden Syndicate is making towards the fund for producing opera?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHYes, Sir.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINWill the Postmaster-General say where the additional £17,500 comes from? Is that public money?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHAs has been explained by the Chancellor of the Exchequer it will be paid through a fund from the Treasury by an addition to the sum they pay to the British Broadcasting Company.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThat is £17,500 in addition to what they already pay?
§ Mr. OSWALD LEWISIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this syndicate, to which it is proposed to hand this large sum of money, is registered at Somerset House as having the total capital of £100?
§ Commander SOUTHBYCan the Postmaster-General say whether he was consulted before this decision to subsidise grand opera was taken?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHI have in my position full responsibility.
§ Mr. BROCKWAYIn view of this subsidy, may I ask whether any minimum standards have been required from the company for all classes of workers who are employed?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHAll these details will be answered in due course.
§ Commander O. LOCKER-LAMPSONMay I ask—
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt appears there is going to be an opportunity for discussing this question.
§ 65. Major ROSSasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are at present all-British opera companies operating throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and whether he will have regard to the effect upon their position of the proposed subsidy to the League of Grand Opera?
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHThe subsidy proposed is to a new opera company, not to the League of Grand Opera, as the question suggests. I do not consider that the new arrangements are likely to have any harmful effect upon the position of other opera companies.
§ Major ROSSDoes not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that the performance of subsidised opera in the provinces will have a disastrous effect upon such all-British opera companies as have been in the habit of giving provincial performances?