§ 22. Mr. Channonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what schemes for housing the arts have been postponed or cancelled during the last year.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Miss Jennie Lee)By the end of 1967–68 the Arts Council will have entered into commitments to make building grants to a total of £1,250,000 and will have made actual grants to a total of £650,000. This means that the Council will have contributed or promised grants towards about 640 75 projects of varying size; the only one which to my knowledge has been postponed is a theatre in Taunton. None has been cancelled.
§ Mr. ChannonCan the right hon. Lady explain the statement in the Arts Council report on housing the arts, which has caused a little concern, that there was frequent postponement or cancellation of schemes? Will she see if there is anything she or her Department can do to help?
§ Miss LeeIf the hon. Gentleman draws my attention to any particular paragraph, I will go into it. But I want to make it quite clear that building using Arts Council grants is going ahead in many of the smaller schemes—74 out of 75. One has merely been postponed. When we are dealing with major schemes where the initiative lies with the local authorities, we look at them sympathetically. I have had no knowledge of any cutback so far.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsIs my right hon. Friend aware that a number of buildings which have been used for civil defence and other purposes are no longer required and can be put to more creative use? Will she ask her right hon. Friend to look sympathetically at any question of loan sanction for the use of such buildings for artistic purposes?
§ Miss LeeI am particularly anxious to encourage local authorities to use their initiative in using what property they have, and I am sure that a great deal can be done in many communities for quite modest sums of money.