§ 22. Dame Irene Wardasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that public money granted to the Royal Schools of Music, Drama and Art, and to the Ministry of Education in respect of State scholarships for education in the fine arts, is partially stultified by lack of employment in the field of the arts; and whether he will therefore appoint a committee to consider whether the grant in aid of the Arts Council is sufficient to ensure that the money spent at the time of training is productively utilised.
Mr. AmoryI am sure the Royal College has regard to employment opportunities when deciding how many students to admit. On the second part of my hon. Friend's Question, I think the Council itself is well constituted to make representations about the sufficiency of its grant, which is now nearly five times as large as in 1945–46.
§ Dame Irene WardIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Answer is hardly satisfactory and that there is an ever-depreciating number of opportunities for those who emerge from the Royal Schools of Music, Drama and Art and R.A.D.A.? Is not it very frustrating and inefficient that there is not some co-ordination between the Treasury and the Arts Council and those who make appointments in the arts?
Mr. AmoryAs my hon. Friend knows, the Treasury makes a grant to the Arts Council and the disposal of that 991 grant is entirely at the discretion and within the responsibilities of the Arts Council.
§ Dame Irene WardThat is no answer.