§ 32. Dr. GodmanTo ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Scottish Arts Council to discuss the provision of financial assistance to theatres and art galleries in the 1990s; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonI met the chairman of the Scottish Arts Council on Thursday last week. We discussed a range of 17 issues and he told me how pleased he was about the allocation of £22.1 million in total for the council next year. That is an increase of 13.8 per cent. on last year.
§ Dr. GodmanMay I, too, express my pleasure at that increase? However, can the Minister explain the contradiction between his introduction to a manual on percentage schemes for the arts published by the Scottish Arts Council last Friday, in which he encouraged public agency support for the arts, and his Department's decision to cancel such a percentage scheme for the new British Library? Will the Minister look again at that decision, because it could have important and disturbing implications for crafts in Scotland? I urge the right hon. Gentleman to change that decision.
§ Mr. RentonI have seen, for example, public art on display in Dundee and I share the hon. Gentleman's view of how important it is in the regeneration of some parts of inner cities. As to the hon. Gentleman's point about the British Library, I said that, at this stage in the library's long building programme. I was unable to commit part of the funds that are available to it for the purchase of new works of art. However, I have encouraged the library to go out and seek, for example, sponsorship for new works of art. Alternatively, it will be able to use and to display many of the splendid items in its own collection. When the building programme is further advanced, perhaps we will be able to look again at that question.