Arts Council Grant

HC Deb 15 December 1986 vol 107 cc771-2

44. Mr. Meadowcroft

asked the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received on the Arts Council grant for the forthcoming year.

Mr. Luce

I have received a number of representations. The basic grant has been increased by 3.5 per cent. together with an increase of £3 million in the sum to compensate for abolition of the Greater London council and metropolitan county councils. In addition, I look to development in the arts through an increasing emphasis on plural funding.

Mr. Meadowcroft

Is the Minister aware that there is concern among some of the major companies, such as Opera North, that if the Arts Council grant increase is limited to the 3.5 per cent. that has been announced, and if it is spread equally over the country, it will take no account of the problems that are faced in raising business sponsorship in different parts of the country? It is not in our nature to whinge, but is it not possible for the Minister to consider assisting such things as Outreach to new possible operagoers and to ethnic minorities separately rather than having it lumped in with the general Arts Council grant?

Mr. Luce

I have great admiration for the work of Opera North. Its budget is a matter for the Arts Council to settle, but the increase of 3.5 per cent. is broadly in line with expected inflation for next year. That is in line with the undertaking that we would keep up our support for the arts. It is a matter of partnership and not just central Government funding. Local authorities and the private sector should play a prominent role as well.

Sir David Price

Will my right hon. Friend take into account the fact that it is absolutely essential to retain the strategy of "Glory of the Garden" in Arts Council funding—that the provinces get more of a fair share than they have hitherto? It is not enough to go on supporting the prima donna companies in London without giving adequate support to the many provincial companies which have been underfunded.

Mr. Luce

I am happy to agree with my hon. Friend. It fits in with the strategy that arts should be available to people in all parts of the country, not just in cities and other selected parts. I therefore strongly support the Art Council's policy, which is to support "Glory of the Garden".

Mr. Tony Banks

Is the Minster aware that he is generally regarded in the arts world as one who has completely betrayed the arts by his total failure to fight the arts corner in terms of public expenditure and that what he has asked the Arts Council to do next year is to administer a real cut in the money from the Government?

Mr. Luce

The hon. Gentleman, with the hon. Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Buchan), said last year that the whole of the arts world was coming to an end and that a whole lot of institutions would close down. In view of that, I am not prepared to take any judgment from him. If he regards an increase of 5.5 per cent. in the overall arts budget, which is in line with the increase in public expenditure, as a failure, he had better think again.