§ 6. Dame Irene Wardasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has sent to the letter of the hon. Member for Tynemouth relating to the Arts Council.
Mr. AmoryAs far as I know, I have answered all my hon. Friend's letters. If she has any particular point perhaps she will write to me or raise it with my hon. and learned Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, whom I understand she is seeing tomorrow.
§ Dame Irene WardWill my right hon. Friend agree that from my point of view his letters, when duly answered, have been most unsatisfactory? Can he explain to me—and this was the subject of my most recent letters—why a Government spokesman should give an entirely misleading account of the relationship between the Arts Council and the Carl Rosa? Does not he agree that that does not represent good government? I had always understood that Answers were straightforward and honourably given.
Mr. AmoryI am sorry about my letters to my hon. Friend. I must try to do better. However, I am sure that she would not wish that everything in those letters should be published in HANSARD.
§ Dame Irene WardI would love it.