HC Deb 17 March 1964 vol 691 cc1175-7
26. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will designate part of the increased Treasury allocation to Covent Garden to the Philharmonia Orchestra, in view of its musical significance.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

No, Sir. It is for the Arts Council to decide what grant should be given to the Philharmonia Orchestra, which has not, I am informed, asked it for any increased assistance.

Dame Irene Ward

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Treasury, the taxpayer, subsidises the maintenance of the Royal colleges of music, that we pay large grants out of the taxpayer's pocket for students, but that in the long run there is not sufficient money to cover the end-product? Is it not rather absurd to spend large sums encouraging people in the arts if in the end there is no outlet for what they have been trained to do? Would not a Royal Commission to find out where we stand in all these matters be satisfactory now to all people at present working in the arts and to the people of the country who are interested in the future of the arts?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As my hon. Friend is aware, Government expenditure on support for the arts has risen very substantially in the last few years. This particular orchestra, whose departure everyone would deeply regret, is, of course, the property of a private citizen who, in the announcement he made about the difficulties of maintaining it, referred to the difficulty in maintaining standards and the contraction of work for gramophone recordings. He did not refer to the inadequacy or otherwise of the grant which is already received by the orchestra from the Arts Council.

Mr. K. Robinson

I should not support any encroachment on the grant to Covent Garden, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the disappearance of this orchestra would be a very serious blow to the prestige of British music which it has done so much to enhance? Will he at least have discussions with the Arts Council and, if necessary, provide some funds to enable the orchestra to be saved and to be placed on a sound financial footing?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have said—I was glad to hear the hon. Gentleman echo it—that I should very much regret, as I am sure the House would regret, the closing of this very fine orchestra. But, as I explained earlier, the reasons for its closure given by its proprietor do not relate to the adequacy or otherwise of the subsidy which it receives. I am sure that the Arts Council will keep in touch with the position, but I cannot go beyond that.