§ 34. Mr. Jegerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the financial assistance he will give to provincial theatres.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydYes, Sir. Subject to the approval of Parliament, I propose to make provision in next year's grant-in-aid to the Arts Council for an additional sum of £150,000 to provide further Government assistance to provincial theatres.
§ Mr. JegerWhile expressing what I know will be general appreciation of that action, may I ask the Chancellor whether he is prepared to consider sympathetically applications from local authorities who want to acquire theatres which are perhaps threatened by site developers?
§ Mr. LloydI will consider that suggestion. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will communicate with me about it.
§ Mr. GaitskellWill the Arts Council be completely free to allocate this money as it thinks fit?
§ Mr. LloydSpeaking without notice, I think it is. I think it is within the discretion of the Arts Council, we having decided on the amount, to deal with its application.