HC Deb 05 July 1956 vol 555 cc1540-1
59. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what subsidies are foreshadowed by grants to the Arts Council or otherwise in the year 1956–57 exclusively for ballet; and what companies will receive support.

Mr. H. Brooke

The Treasury make an annual grant to the Arts Council, and it is the responsibility of the Council, not of the Treasury, to allocate this grant among various activities.

Dame Irene Ward

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that he has given the figures in respect of opera? Will he also give the figures in respect of ballet? In view of the fact that taxpayers' money is being used to finance both opera and ballet, does he not think that it is time that we knew what Covent Garden is losing on opera and what it is gaining on ballet? Will he please take steps to have this matter ventilated and put right?

Mr. Brooke

The Arts Council publishes an annual report in which it gives all this information about its grants.

Dame Irene Ward

What about Sadler's Wells?

Mr. Brooke

Having established this system of making grants through the Arts Council, I do not think it would be right for the Treasury to seek to influence the way in which the Arts Council uses these block grants.