HC Deb 02 December 1991 vol 200 cc15-6
31. Mr. Wigley

To ask the Minister for the Arts how many meetings he has had during the past 12 months with local government representatives from Wales regarding the activities of the Welsh Arts Council.

Mr. Renton

I visited Wales in May and again in October, when I met a great many people from the arts, including representatives of Welsh local authorities. I was warmly welcomed and found the visits stimulating and informative.

Mr. Wigley

I hope that the visit was productive as well. What progress has been made, in association with local authorities and the Welsh Arts Council, on the provision of the multi-purpose concert hall and opera house in Llandudno, to enable the Welsh National Opera to give performances in that town as it used to do? There are signs that things are moving in the right direction. Will the right hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that this valuable project is going ahead and that there is a date by which it will be open?

Mr. Renton

I thank the hon. Gentleman for what I think was his support. I was delighted that on 16 November the Western Mail quoted Tom Owen, the director of the Welsh Arts Council, as follows: The Welsh arts world is in its best conditions for years. I know that north Wales lacks a theatre large enough to stage full-scale opera. Work on proposals for a new building involving both public and private sectors is well advanced and I understand that a firm decision is likely to be taken by the end of the month. I very much hope that there will be a successful outcome.

Sir Anthony Meyer

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is a splendid new theatre in Rhyl, in which the Hallé orchestra gave an outstanding performance last week? Is he aware also that that is the result of sensible co-operation between the local authority, the Welsh Office, the Welsh Arts Council and the European reconstruction and development fund?

Mr. Renton

I support what my hon. Friend has just said. Successful arts funding—this is where the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Mr. Fisher) was so wrong—depends now on many different sources of funding. That is being shown in the instance to which my hon. Friend referred and it is being demonstrated in many other parts of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Alex Carlile

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the inconsistency between the increased funding of visual arts in Wales and elsewhere which he has achieved and the deliberate reduction by the Department of Education and Science and the Welsh Office of places in higher education for the study of fine art? Will the right hon. Gentleman encourage his colleagues in those two Departments to ensure that fine art places are not cut further?

Mr. Renton

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Welsh Office—who is sitting beside me—is dedicated to, and very knowledgeable about, the arts and I am sure that he listened to the hon. and learned Gentleman's comments with great care.