§ 58. Sir J. Edenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the amount of public money that has been given in each of the last five years through the British Council to provincial symphony orchestras for tours abroad; how this compares with the allocation of funds for this purpose by the British Council to London symphony orchestras; and what plans he has to improve the relative position of provincial symphony orchestras.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign Affairs (Mr. Walter Padley)In the past five years, the British Council paid £22,225 to one provincial symphony orchestra in the financial year 1961–62 in connection with an overseas tour. In the same period the Council paid £113,383 to London symphony orchestras in support of tours to foreign countries. None of these payments were subsidies to the orchestras concerned but arose from guarantees against loss. Requests for assistance by all symphony orchestras are considered in the light of what will best promote British interests overseas at a given time.
§ Sir J. EdenWill the hon. Gentleman always bear in mind the claims of provincial symphony orchestras to get as much support as possible for their tours abroad? Is he aware that recently the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra was arranging a tour of Europe, including Eastern Germany, and had very little financial support for the venture? Will he give such claims as sympathetic a hearing as he can?
§ Mr. PadleyIt is not the function of the British Council to subsidise orchestras in this country, nor has it power to make such grants. It can assist overseas tours in appropriate cases by giving a guarantee against actual loss. In all appropriate cases approval of the advisory committee is sought. The chairman of that committee is Lord Harewood.
§ Mr. SnowWill my hon. Friend be careful about the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra because not so very 1002 long ago the conductor refused to play Russian music on the ground that it supported the Communists?