§ 23. Mr. Channonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research facilities are available to the Arts Council in determining its policy.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Education and Science (Miss Jennie Lee)The Arts Council employs a statistician and is empowered to commission research from any source it wishes. In recent years it has carried out inquiries into housing the arts, the London orchestras, theatre for young people, opera and ballet, and the professional theatre. The material collected is helping to provide a basis for Arts Council policy.
§ Mr. ChannonAlthough the right hon. Lady's Answer is very welcome, is she not aware that there is a case for even more research facilities for the Arts Council to make sure that value for money is being obtained for the grants that go to the Arts Council, and that research goes on to make sure that value for money is obtained?
§ Miss LeeThe Arts Council is well aware of the need for that; it knows that research costs money and that it is necessary to be careful in case the instrument used costs more than the results achieved.