§ 20. Mr. St. John-Stevasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now take action to implement the proposals in the Goodman Re port on London orchestras.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of Stale for Education and Science (Miss Jennie Lee)The Arts Council and the Greater London Council have now set up the London Orchestral Concert Board to carry out the functions recommended by the Goodman Committee. They will jointly be making available to the Board such funds as are required for the subsidising of concerts approved by the Board and for the payment of annual grants to the four orchestras. The initial grant to each of the orchestras will be £30,000 a year.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasI thank the hon. Lady for that most encouraging reply. Is she aware that music lovers throughout Britain, including my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition and my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Handsworth (Sir E. Boyle), will be most grateful to her for this? Will she allow me to say that it is clear now that her beauty is matched only by her generosity?
§ Miss LeeWe have a crude saying in Scotland—"The proof of the pudding is the eating of it"—and the beauty of these proposals rests with the entire Government. It is not a matter of individual caprice.