HC Deb 25 March 1985 vol 76 cc17-8
27. Mr. Dormand

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what proposals the Minister for the Arts has to increase resources available to Northern Arts.

Mr. Waldegrave

It is for the Arts Council, not for my right hon. and noble Friend, to determine the allocation of central resources to a regional arts association.

Mr. Dormand

Surely the Minister has some responsibility in this matter. It is no good shuffling it off like that. Is he aware that in real terms, and possibly even in cash terms, the money available for Northern Arts will be reduced during each of the next three years? As the northern region receives so little in other ways from the Government, and as the position will become worse because of the new regional policy, is there not the strongest possible case for increasing grants to Northern Arts? The Minister knows that there is a demand. He knows the response to the annual visit of the Royal Shakespeare Company to Newcastle upon Tyne, where the seats are sold out weeks beforehand.

Mr. Waldegrave

The hon. Gentleman should wait a little. What has been announced so far is only the base funding for Northern Arts. Further grants will be announced later this week, and they may contain some good news for him.

Mr. Buchan

Is not the real problem that, apart from what the Minister for the Arts may decide about the Arts Council, the cutting, capping and abolition of local authorities will dramatically lower the amount of money available? Indeed, according to Luke Rittner of the Arts Council, the £34 million that has been earmarked to replace the funding provided by the metropolitan councils is £8 million short of what will be needed. Is not the problem that of cuts centrally, during the next three years and at the same time a reduction in the resources available to local authorities to try to resolve the problem, even in such a fine area for the arts as the northern region?

Mr. Waldegrave

Considering the resources available to local authorities as a whole, I believe that they could provide the additional funding if they wanted to do so. It is inconceivable that any figure announced by the Government would be deemed satisfactory by the Opposition. It would always be alleged to be to little.