HC Deb 01 February 1968 vol 757 cc1541-2
25. Mr. Channon

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals Her Majesty's Government now have to make in regard to the financing of the proposed new National Theatre.

38. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present position regarding the National Theatre; what progress has been made; and when building will begin.

The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Miss Jennie Lee)

The position of the Government remains unchanged, we are prepared to share the cost of the National Theatre equally with the Greater London Council, subject to a maximum contribution, related to costs at tender stage, of,£3¾ million. The Government propose to introduce a Bill in due course to remove the limit of £l million placed on their contribution by the National Theatre Act, 1949.

Mr. Channon

Is the right hon. Lady aware that her statement, coupled with the equally important and earlier G.L.C. statement. will be widely welcomed? Can she confirm that there will be very little expenditure in the next two years? Does she agree that the National Theatre will be potentially a great earner of foreign currency?

Miss Lee

I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman for those remarks. I hope that now there will be a combined operation to lose no further time. I hope that legislation will be introduced before the end of the year and although no money will be required for about 18 months, I hope that everyone concerned will be able to get ahead without further delay.

Mr. Jenkins

While it is very welcome to hear that the Government intend to introduce legislation to deal with the matter, it would give even greater pleasure if one could see some sign of one brick being placed on another. Can my right hon. Friend give an assurance that the actual building will quickly follow the legislation?

Miss Lee

I can assure my hon. Friend that I shall do everything in my power to ensure that and that I am most anxious after these long delays that we should get ahead. I hope that we are now reaching agreement with the G.L.C., which will mean that at last we shall begin to see the bricks.

Sir Harmar Nicholls

While this decision will be acceptable to many people who think of the possibility of Britain becoming the world powerhouse for entertainment and drama generally, will the right hon. Lady also bear in mind that it is essential that some help should be given to the commercial theatre through the remission of the Selective Employment Tax, or by initial allowances, or in some other way?

Miss Lee

The hon. Gentleman may know that the Arts Council has set up a distinguished committee which is investigating relations between the subsidised theatre and the commercial theatre.

Mr. W. Baxter

When my right hon. Friend is thinking about the National Theatre for England, will she remember that there is a claim for something similar for Scotland?

Miss Lee

I would not dream of intervening directly in Scottish affairs, but my hon. Friend must be aware that Scotland received a 40 per cent. increase in its arts grant last year and that this matter is entirely within Scottish discretion.

Mr. Batsford

I welcome the Government's decision. However, is the right hon. Lady aware that the Government's contribution is considerably less than that of the Greater London Council, because the G.L.C. is also providing the site on the South Bank?

Miss Lee

I reached a very tough package deal with the predecessors of the present G.L.C. when all these matters were settled. There was, quite properly, a little delay, because the new council wanted to look at all the figures carefully, but I hope that we shall be able to go ahead now on the basis of the agreement reached with the present council's predecessor.

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