§ 20. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received regarding Government support for brass bands; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SproatI have received a number of letters about brass bands. As I made clear in my reply to my hon. Friend on 3 February at columns 844–45, I see brass bands as an extremely important part of our artistic and cultural heritage.
§ Mr. GreenwayHas my hon. Friend ever heard "The Flight of the Bumble Bee" or other similarly exciting tunes played by brass bands or other bands? Does he agree that brass bands and other bands are not confined to the north of England and that they are valuable in the opportunity that they offer to the public to attend concerts and to players to play in concerts? Will he do all that he can for brass bands?
§ Mr. SproatYes, I certainly will. I have not heard "The Flight of the Bumble Bee" played by a brass band, but I look forward to it. My hon. Friend makes the extremely important point that we should not allow what we consider to be the cultural and artistic part of our heritage to be too narrow or rarefied, as occasionally happens in certain artistic circles.