§ 47. Mr. WareingTo ask the Minister for the Arts if he will call for an urgent report from the Arts Council on the funds allocated to Merseyside Arts.
§ Mr. WareingI am sure that all who are engaged in the arts in Merseyside will be saddened by that answer. I hope that the Minister will review it. Is he aware that. over the next three years there will be an estimated reduction of 7½ per cent. in the income that Merseyside Arts receives from 15 the Arts Council? Taking into account the slashing of local government grants from central Government, which makes it difficult for local government to make up the difference, and the abolition of the community programme, which affects many people in the arts on Merseyside, Merseyside Arts will be in for real touble. Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that, in an area of declining resources, his answer will come as a blow?
§ Mr. LuceMerseyside Arts will receive £1,100,000 worth of resources from the Arts Council. It is for the Arts Council to decide how it distributes its resources between the various regional organisations. Merseyside Arts is fourth highest per capita in terms of the amount of resources that it receives. The hon. Gentleman, who is interested in these things in Liverpool, will realise that additional resources are earmarked through the Arts Council to help all the regions of this country. They include incentive funding and extra help for touring. I hope that the Merseyside area will benefit from that.
§ Mr. RathboneIn the context of the arts on Merseyside, will the Minister take this opportunity to welcome the opening of the Tate of the North in Liverpool, which is a magnificent extension of the Tate's activities, which are already well established in London?
§ Mr. LuceI warmly respond to what my hon. Friend has said. This is a good example of how, by spreading our national activities outside London, we bring advantage to many parts of the country. The Tate of the North, and the vast range of other arts facilities in Liverpool and Merseyside, show the enormous scope that exists for the authorities in Liverpool to exploit this opportunity and attract more tourists, thereby earning more money for the arts organisations.
§ Mr. SpeakerI call Question No. 51.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursWhat about Question No. 48, Mr. Speaker?
§ Mr. SpeakerI saw the hon. Gentleman in his place, but I had notification that he had withdrawn this question. I believe that that was the Minister's impression, too.
§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursI do not know what your Office was told, Mr. Speaker, but I have not withdrawn it.
§ Mr. SpeakerIf that is so, perhaps the Minister would agree to answer Question No. 48