HC Deb 18 January 1982 vol 16 cc16-7
19. Mr. Dormand

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to provide additional funding to arts in the Northern region.

Mr. Channon

Central Government support for the arts is provided mainly through the Arts Council. Council grants to the regional arts associations, including Northern Arts, have been increased for the forthcoming year in recognition of their special needs.

Mr. Dormand

Is the Minister aware that, because of inflation, the increase that the Northern region has received from the Arts Council means that the North is running to stand still? I do not wish to reduce its share, but why will Scotland receive £10,200,000 while the Northern region, with three-fifths of Scotland's population, will receive only £1,500,000? Does the right hon. Gentleman accept that there is great enthusiasm for the arts in the Northern region? Will he appoint someone from the North to serve on the Arts Council—a national body—to demonstrate that he has a desire to help, particularly as no one from the Northern region has ever served on the Arts Council?

Mr. Channon

The hon. Gentleman makes a persuasive case on the latter point. With regard to his first point, the Scottish Arts Council grant is based on a formula basis that was laid down a long time ago. Regional arts and all the associations are receiving a grant that is well above the rate of inflation and is higher than that received by most other clients of the Arts Council. I am surprised by what the hon. Gentleman says. I have checked the facts carefully. Northern Arts received an increase of over 10 per cent. to 12 percent.

Mr. Freud

When the Minister is looking at disparities in regional grants, will he look at the Eastern region, which, by common consent, has done worse than anywhere else? Does he accept that seniority of establishment is a worse criterion than needs?

Mr. Channon

I accept that point. I am especially concerned about the Eastern Arts Association. I wrote to the hon. Gentleman yesterday assuring him that the concern that he felt over travel subsidies in the area was ill founded.

Mr. Murphy

Does my right hon. Friend agree that, despite the criticisms from the Opposition Benches, the overall level of Government funding for the arts and heritage is a matter for congratulation?

Mr. Channon

I am grateful to my hon. Friend. That generally seems to be the view outside the House.

Mr. Foster

Does the Minister agree that trying to attract industry and commerce to a region of flourishing artistic and cultural life is important? Will he congratulate Northern Arts on its efforts in that direction, but take note of the fact that, irrespective of the moneys granted by the Government, the squeeze that the Government are placing on local authorities is making it difficult for the money to be maintained, let alone increased?

Mr. Channon

I visited Northern Arts some months ago. I congratulate it on what it does in the Northern region. I recognise that there is considerable enthusiasm for the arts in that region and elsewhere. As I said earlier, Northern Arts is receiving a grant that is well above the rate of inflation. That is not true of many bodies in the country at present.