§ 10. Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the Arts Council grant to the City of Birmingham symphony orchestra for each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrookeI apologise for the detail contained in my answer. That is due entirely to the way in which the question was phrased. The information requested is as follows: in 1989–90, £928,400; in 1990–91, £983,800; in 1991–92, £1,062,500; in 1992–93, £1,126,250 and in 1993–94, £1,149,000. Decisions on allocation of grants are a matter for the Arts Council.
§ Dr. JonesDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree that the City of Birmingham symphony orchestra is an internationally renowned national asset? It plays to packed audiences even though its concert ticket prices are the highest in the land. Will the right hon. Gentleman act to remove the threat to the orchestra's high standards posed by the standstill and real-terms cut in its Arts Council grant? Given that the Department has an increased budget, why does not the right hon. Gentleman pass on an increase to the Arts Council, so that the orchestra's grant can be maintained and increased in line with reasonable costs?
§ Mr. BrookeI join the hon. Lady in paying tribute to the City of Birmingham symphony orchestra. My Department did not, in terms of indicative funding, have an increase in funding for the coming year, save that arising from the bringing forward of certain expenditure on the British library that will not be incurred in the following year. The decisions are essentially for the Arts Council. It is not for me to intervene with the Arts Council to change its decisions.
§ Mr. FisherI join the Minister in paying tribute to the CBSO, but will he join me in praising Birmingham city council for its very good support for the orchestra, which, as my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Dr. Jones) said, has an international reputation? Does the Minister not understand that it is an absurdity, and wrong, that in these difficult times Birmingham city council can increase the grant to the CBSO—and has offered to do so—but that is not matched by the Arts Council? If he is serious about wanting a partnership between the Arts Council and local authorities, when local authorities come up with the goods why does not he persuade the Arts Council to do so? Should he not be putting his mind to that matter if he is to be taken seriously in terms of supporting the CBSO? If he does not, there is a real danger that Mr. Simon Rattle will leave the orchestra, which would be a loss to the whole country.
§ Mr. BrookeI join the hon. Gentleman in paying tribute to Birmingham city council and to its support for the orchestra. The considerable regenerative effects that the arts can have has been demonstrated elsewhere in the kingdom. The hon. Gentleman must not ask me to take 9 decisions for the Arts Council. He knows perfectly well what he would say if I took one that he did not like. The arm's-length principle remains extremely important.