§ 29. Mr. Wigleyasked the Minister for the Arts when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Welsh Arts Council to discuss the funding of the arts in Wales.
§ Mr. LuceMr. Mathew Pritchard has recently been appointed to be chairman of the Welsh Arts Council, and I hope to meet him as soon as a date can be arranged.
§ Mr. WigleyWhen the right hon. Gentleman meets Mr. Prichard, will he take up with him the position of the Welsh National Opera, which said last week that it could be £500,000 in debt by this time next year because the funding was not sufficient to cover inflation? Will the right 609 hon. Gentleman look at the recent reports of the Arts Council of Great Britain on the allocation of resources to opera to ascertain whether any of those resources could be directed towards the Welsh National Opera to alleviate the position?
§ Mr. LuceI am in no doubt that when I meet Mr. Prichard we shall discuss these and other matters. I should point out that the budget for the Welsh Arts Council for the coming financial year is being increased by 6.6 per cent. That is a positive contribution. I have already visited the Welsh Arts Council in Wales. It is doing an excellent job. Of course, I shall discuss the issue of the Welsh National Opera, which has a strong national as well as international reputation.
§ Mr. BestWill my right hon. Friend discuss with Mr. Prichard the funding of Opera Gogledd Cymru, which is a new venture to enable young people to train for a future operatic career, which will give the people of north Wales an opportunity to see superb opera?
§ Mr. LuceAs my hon. Friend has raised this matter with me, I shall, of course, mention it in my discussions. I must point out, however, that it is for the Welsh Arts Council to decide how to disburse the money. The important point is that I have increased the amount by 6.6 per cent. for the coming financial year.