§ 16. Mr. Dribergasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has now reviewed the proposal for a National Theatre on the South Bank; if, while encouraging all concerned with this project to proceed with it as rapidly as possible, he will endeavour also to secure the preservation of the Sadler's Wells Theatre in Rosebery Avenue as a popular-price theatre serving important parts of north and central London: and if he will make a statement.
§ 27. Mr. Jegerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest proposals he has received from the Joint Council of the National Theatre: and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeI am not yet ready to make a statement on this matter.
§ Mr. DribergCould the right hon. Gentleman say roughly when he will be ready to make a statement? Will he bear in mind that it is a bit unfair to make the major project, which is widely supported, conditional on the destruction of this much-loved theatre in north London?
§ Mr. BrookeAs the hon. Member knows, there are problems about Sadler's Wells. I hope it will be possible to make a definite statement within the next few weeks.
§ Mr. JegerWill the right hon. Gentleman remind the members of the Joint Council of the National Theatre that they should not let their individual jealousies and prejudices for one body or another interfere with the main project, which is the building of a National Theatre?
§ Mr. BrookeI hope there will be no jealousies in this matter or, if there are, that they will not prevail. The Government are anxious to reach a right conclusion on this and hope to make a statement before very long.