§ 14. Mr. Bossomasked the Secretary to the Treasury on what basis the grant-in-aid to the Arts Council is decided.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe grant-in-aid of the Arts Council is based on detailed estimates of expenditure submitted annually to the Treasury, who decide what total sum can be made available for the activities undertaken by the Council under the terms of its charter.
§ Mr. BossomWould this include the award of abnormal prizes for rather unusual art competitions?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIt depends on what my hon. Friend would regard as abnormal whether or not an item of that sort would, in the first place, be included in the estimates and, in the second place, would be approved by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. SnowDisregarding the obvious attempt to make political capital out of artistic endeavour, may I ask the Financial Secretary whether his answer does not make nonsense of the statement which he has made in the House more than once that grants by the Treasury to the Arts Council are not conditional grants? Is it not a fact that a programme of expenditure of this type has to be approved by the Treasury first, and was not one special conditional grant made for the repair and re-habilitation of Covent Garden last year?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThese grants are not, as the hon. Member suggests, conditional. But it must obviously be the case that in deciding what is the appropriate sum to make available to this or any other body, one should be given in advance a general picture of expenditure which, if these funds are made available, that body would like to undertake. Any other approach to this matter would be completely irresponsible.
Miss WardMay I have an assurance that when conditional programmes are 355 presented to the Treasury the provinces' desire to obtain some money will be adequately safeguarded?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have already explained that they are not conditional programmes. The second part of my hon. Friend's question therefore does not arise.
Miss WardEven if my hon. Friend does rather twist my question, may I have an assurance that when the programme submitted by the Arts Council is scrutinised by the Treasury the position of the provinces will be adequately safeguarded? The money comes from the taxpayer in the provinces as well as from the taxpayer in London.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI shall not attempt even to repeat my hon. Friend's question lest she feels that I do so in a gyratory manner, but I can assure her that the sort of consideration which she has in mind is, of course, given proper weight.
Mr. JegerWill the Financial Secretary assure us that he will do all in his power to extend the work of the Arts Council and extend the grants that are made to them? Will he encourage them in the excellent work that they are doing in London and the provinces to encourage artists, musicians and the like, and also their efforts in the field of experimental work?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI accept what the hon. Gentleman says about the excellent work which this body is doing. In reply to the first part of his question, no doubt he will be reassured by the fact that the grant for 1953–54 is £785,000 as compared with £675,000 in 1952–53.
§ Mr. BossomCan my hon. Friend say whether, in relation to the competition which is now the subject of exhibits in the Tate Gallery, information was given to the Treasury before the grant was made last year?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI should like to have notice of that question, the relevance of which to the Question on the Order Paper I am inclined to doubt.
§ Mr. SnowIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of these replies and the apparent persistent intention of the Government to demand artistic scrutiny, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.