§ 46. Ms. Ruddockasked the Minister for the Arts when he last met the Arts Council to discuss the future development of the Arts Council's work in education.
§ Ms. RuddockDoes the Minister agree that, to build on the excellent arts education in schools, students must be in a position to go on to arts colleges and dance and drama schools? My constituents are currently being denied places in such institutions, despite having appropriate skills and educational standards, because the Government refuse to make such grants mandatory and students cannot afford the fees. Will the Minister, as a matter of urgency, meet the Secretary of State for Education and Science to ensure that the Government invest in that vital area of arts education?
§ Mr. LuceI am in fairly continual touch with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and 699 Science. Of course, the matter is principally one for him. I take the view that the introduction of the GCSE examination is an important basis upon which arts, in the museums and heritage world and in the performing arts, should be drawn in more closely with teachers' work. It is a fact that the Arts Council gives about £320,000 within its education unit to try to get teachers and pupils more interested in arts and heritage. That is the right contribution to make.