§ 29. Mr. CranTo ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received regarding the creation of an arts link between Yorkshire and Humberside.
§ Mr. LuceI have received a small number of submissions from individuals and organisations about such a link.
§ Mr. CranArising from the Wilding report, is my right hon. Friend aware that there is considerable opposition in my neck of the woods to any suggestion of a merger of Humberside and Lincolnshire Arts with the Eastern arts association and that the majority opinion would seem to be that, if there is to be a merger, it should be with the Yorkshire arts association? Will he take that opinion fully into account when he decides these matters?
§ Mr. LuceI assure my hon. Friend that I shall do so. I have met a delegation from the Yorkshire arts association and am due to meet one from Lincolnshire and. Humberside Arts this week.
§ Mr. HefferWhen the Minister has met the delegation from the Yorkshire arts association, will he be prepared to agree with the letter that I sent to him and state that he will see hon. Members—especially Labour Members from Merseyside, but any other hon. Member, too—plus the Merseyside arts committee, to discuss the whole question of the merger between Merseyside Arts and North-West Arts? There is a strong feeling in Merseyside that there should not be a merger because we have a cultural background of our own. We agree with much of the Wilding report, but believe that a merger is not the answer to our problem.
§ Mr. LuceIf the hon. Gentleman or any other hon. Member wishes to express his or her views to me, I am prepared to hear them, just as I have heard the views of many other hon. Members. The report has to be seen as a whole, and I am glad that the hon. Gentleman said that he accepts or supports many of its recommendations. The report contains 80 recommendations and the objective is to achieve a system of accountability and management of the arts that will serve the arts as we move towards the turn of the century.