Northern Arts (Hansard, 13 February 1983)

§ 27. Mr. Dormand
asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what proposals the Minister for the Arts has for increasing the resources available to Northern Arts.

§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. William Waldegrave)
It is for the Arts Council to determine the allocation of its resources.

§ Mr. Dormand
Is the Minister aware that there has been a 5 per cent. increase in the allocation for Northern Arts, which is quite inadequate for the needs of the region? In view of the hammering that the Northern region takes from the economic policies of the Government, does the Minister agree that compensatory action in respect of the arts would be very helpful? As the Minister was willing to designate certain sums for opera, following the Priestley scrutiny, will he make representations for a similar exercise to be undertaken in the regions of the country, or at least for the three countries of Scotland, Wales and England?

§ Mr. Waldegrave
I shall, of course, report to my noble Friend what the hon. Member has said. My noble Friend is, indeed, meeting representatives of Northern Arts the day after tomorrow, having met them briefly last month, and he will undoubtedly be discussing these issues with them. I shall certainly pass on what the hon. Member has said.

Mr. Powley
While I note the claim of the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Dormand) for extra resources for Northern Arts, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he is satisfied with the distribution of grants that are available to the area of East Anglia—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The question is about Northern Arts.

Mr. Meadowcroft
Has the Minister not yet made an estimate of the needs of the various regional arts associations, including Northern Arts? If by some mischance the Government's legislation to abolish the metropolitan counties is enacted, will he come to the House with some specific proposals to give hope to people in these regions about sustaining the arts?

§ Mr. Waldegrave
My noble Friend has put two of the biggest arts organisations in the northern area, the Laing gallery and Opera North, on the discussion paper list for central support. The subject which he will be discussing with Northern Arts is whether there is any need to go further in central funding. The role of the arts associations in the regime, after abolition of the metropolitan counties, is currently under discussion.

§ Mr. Ryman
With respect to the Minister's answer on Northern Arts, may I ask him whether he will kindly refrain from shirking his responsibilities and saying, in effect, that the matter is entirely for the Arts Council? The funding of Northern Arts has been grossly neglected by the Government. Cannot the Government take an initiative to increase funding for Northern Arts?

§ Mr. Waldegrave
I strongly rebut the idea that direct Government intervention in the affairs of the Arts Council would be a matter of my noble Friend carrying out his 17 proper "responsibilities". It is a fundamental principle of our subsidisation of the arts that the Arts Council operates at arm's length from the Government.