HC Deb 26 March 1984 vol 57 cc18-20
29. Mr. Chapman

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts if the Minister for the Arts is satisfied with the Government incentives available to encourage individuals and companies to support the arts.

Mr. Waldegrave

Substantial incentives, in the form of tax reliefs, already exist, but my noble Friend is always looking for new ways of encouraging a higher level of business sponsorship and private support for the arts.

Mr. Chapman

Is my hon. Friend aware that business sponsorship for the arts has increased and that last year it was about £13.5 million? Does he accept that that is only at about an eighth of the level of Government funding via the Arts Council? If my hon. Friend thinks that the tax incentives are sufficient, will he and his colleagues try to encourage a greater take-up by companies and individuals?

Mr. Waldegrave

I accept what my hon. Friend says. My noble Friend the Minister for the Arts tries to do what he can. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has taken various measures to cut income and capital tax rates. We believe in the freedom of individuals to do valuable things with their money, including sponsorship of the arts. I hope that people will respond.

Mr. Flannery

Is the Under-Secretary aware that, in addition to the report by the Select Committee, this week the Committee is considering an urgent report as a result of the hundreds of representations from the arts world? Is the Minister aware that his complacent attitude to money is worrying the whole arts world? His attitude is that all the worries are unfounded and that everything will go well.

Mr. Waldegrave

I do not accept that. All will be well only in so far as intelligent and sensible decisions are taken. Obviously, any change in the status quo is worrying for those who depend upon it. It is not impossible to see the arts through a period of transition if the right decisions are taken.

Mr. Cormack

If my hon. Friend is really looking for new ideas, will he draw the Minister's attention to the Select Committee report to which reference has already been made? Is he aware that plenty of excellent new ideas are endorsed unanimously by the members of that Select Committee but that the Government's reply is far short of perfection?

Mr. Waldegrave

I am aware that the Government's response did not go as far as my hon. Friend would have liked. However, I have no doubt that many of the recommendations will remain on the table for discussion in the years ahead.

Mr. Dalyell

How do the Government see the financial future of the Royal Court theatre?

Mr. Waldegrave

The funding of the Royal Court theatre by the Arts Council must be a matter for the council. If Ministers are to answer from the Dispatch Box for the arm's length funding of the council, the principle of arts funding is at an end.

Mr. Buchan

If the present proposals are proceeded with and the Royal Court theatre loses its national subsidy and the Tory borough of Kensington and Chelsea ceases to fund it, the national theatre of the alternative, the new, the potential, may be condemned. Surely the Minister will at least comment upon that.

Mr. Waldegrave

It would be wrong of me to answer directly for the decisions of the Arts Council. It would be even sillier of me to answer for direct decisions of the royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea.