§ 16. Mr. H. Brookeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial assistance from public funds has been granted or promised for the current year to the Covent Garden Opera Company, the Sadlers Wells Opera Company and the Carl Rosa Opera Company, respectively.
§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenter£240,000, £60,000 and £3,000 respectively.
§ Mr. BrookeIs my hon. Friend aware that the present policy of the Arts Council in granting practically nothing to the Carl Rosa Company, because it has lavished all its available funds on the other great opera companies, is forcing the Carl Rosa Company to give up its well known tours, and that there will be a great deal of criticism if the Carl Rosa Company is thus forced out of existence?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAs my hon. Friend may be aware, discussions between the Carl Rosa Opera Company and the Arts Council are taking place at the present time, and I do not think that it would be helpful if I were to comment.
§ Mr. WoodburnWould the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that all these things should not necessarily be centred in London, and that there should be some contribution made to companies in the outlying areas?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThere is a great deal of force in what the right hon. Gentleman has said, but he himself, I think, will recall that the allocations are, in general, made by the Arts Council and not direct by the Treasury.
§ Mr. NicholsonWhy do the Arts Council refuse to give any money to provincial repertory companies, which, in their own way, provide just as much cultural entertainment as that which is provided in London?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI should want notice of that question.
Mr. VaneWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that year after year protests are made about the large sums spent on subsidising operas in London and about how little is done for the provinces, and will he see whether that state of affairs cannot be brought to an end this year?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am sure that the Arts Council will pay attention to such views as may be expressed in this House.