HC Deb 26 March 1990 vol 170 cc15-6
67. Mr. Amess

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he has any plans to visit the Towngate theatre in Basildon.

Mr. Luce

I have no present plans to do so. I last visited the Towngate theatre in April 1988.

Mr. Amess

If my right hon. Friend were again to visit the Towngate theatre he would be shocked to learn of its serious financial circumstances due to the gross irresponsibility of the local Labour council, which has given an additional £600,000 to the theatre to prevent it from going into liquidation? Does he recognise the anger of my constituents who want to support a viable theatre but who do not regard its financing to that degree as being in any way helpful to Basildon's community charge of £478?

Mr. Luce

I hear what my hon. Friend says. It was he who welcomed my visit to the theatre when I saw the wide range of facilities that it had to offer. My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The arts world must live within its means. It is for the local authority to decide how much it should give to arts organisations, but at the end of the day it is accountable to the charge payers. It must account for the money that it spends on the arts and other activities.

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