HC Deb 14 April 1960 vol 621 cc1452-3
10. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that at a performance of a play sponsored by the Arts Council at Theatre Workshop, Stratford, on 23rd March, a Communist publication was displayed for sale in the refreshment room; and if he will make it a condition of his grant to the Council that its sponsorship be withdrawn from all productions in conjunction with which Communist publications are displayed for sale.

Sir E. Boyle

I am not prepared to instruct the Arts Council to exercise political discrimination in the allocation of its grant. I have, however, made inquiries into the incident in question. The publication "Music and Life" was offered for sale without any authority from the management of "Theatre Workshop", who took appropriate action as soon as the matter was brought to its notice.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

While thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to bear in mind that this theatre has rather a Communist reputation—[HON. MEMBERS: "Nonsense."]— and would he instruct the Secretary-General of the Arts Council to keep a careful watch on the theatre's activities in future?

Sir E. Boyle

Theatre Workshop has, in fact, done some good work, and I can assure my hon. Friend that I am quite satisfied that, in this particular case, as soon as the matter was brought to its notice, it took all the action that could have been expected of it from any part of the House. I would add: do not let us be too much influenced by the tittle tattle that appears in the daily Press, particularly in some sections of it.

Mr. Jay

Surely, Communist publications are perfectly legal in this country— this is not South Africa—and unless there is some rule against any political propaganda in this organisation, is it not just as reasonable to have Communist publications as it would be to have Tory publications?

Sir E. Boyle

I think it is a matter of degree. There are occasions when the most liberal and tolerant of citizens could feel that some Communist publication was not altogether in place. I think that on this occasion the management of Theatre Workshop took the obviously right course.