HC Deb 28 July 1980 vol 989 cc1039-41
27. Mrs. Renee Short

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he last met members of the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

I last met the Director of ABSA and representatives of companies who subscribe to that association at the reception that I gave, with your gracious permission, Mr. Speaker, in your State Rooms on 16 July.

Mrs. Short

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the progress being made with ABSA? Is he aware that there are seven theatres dark in the West End at present and that a large number of small theatres up and down the country are urgently in need of help that the Arts Council cannot provide? Does he not think that ABSA will support only those projects that are likely to be profitable and that it will not support new or experimental work? How does this cut across the right hon. Gentleman's committee of honour that he recently set up?

Mr. St. John-Stevas

I know of the hon. Lady's interest in the theatre and I share her concern about the future of the London theatre, about the number of theatres that are dark, and about the position outside London. However, the activities of ABSA will undoubtedly be beneficial in this direction. ABSA does not sponsor projects directly, but since the Government gave a grant to ABSA of £25,000 to further its work, its membership has grown from 58 to 88 companies, and I think that the theatre will benefit.

Mr. Freud

Will the right hon. Gentleman use his eclectic contacts to provide harmless and inexpensive incentives, so that sponsors might at least be in line for the same honours and Royal garden parties, for keeping theatres open, that are currently accorded to people who have worked in theatres for 20, 30 or 40 years?

Mr. St. John-Stevas

The question of honours is not totally within my control. If services are given through sponsorship, it is legitimate for the hon. Member to suggest that they should be recognised in some way. I would welcome that.

Mr. Mellor

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he deserves the congratulations of all those who are concerned about the arts on the vigorous efforts he has been making to get further substantial private sponsorship for all manner of arts projects? Can he give the House any further information about the progress that he has made?

Mr. St. John-Stevas

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for those generous words. I am satisfied that the campaign to promote business sponsorship of the arts is making excellent progress. I am not in a position to give a statistical report on the matter but I am sure, from the evidence I have already received, that the campaign is successful. I emphasise that it is to supplement public support for the arts and not to replace it.

Mr. Faulds

Nevertheless, will the right hon. Gentleman admit that, despite all his earnest entreaties, the truer figure for business sponsorship, which he puts at £4 million to £5 million a year, is in reality less than £3 million, as established in detailed research at the London Business School? Will he, in all responsibility, set up an investigation to establish the actual figure for the money coming in from business sponsorship?

Mr. St. John-Stevas

The figure of £4 million to £5 million is not my figure; it is the ABSA figure. It has recently been called into question by research which shows that the sum is closer to £3 million. I am happy to respond to the hon. Gentleman's suggestion and will shortly be setting in hand research in this area, because it is important to know the precise amount. What is important now is not the amount of existing sponsorship but how to increase it. Whether the figure is £4 million or £3 million, I want to see it doubled this year.