HL Deb 27 March 1969 vol 300 cc1363-4
THE EARL OF CROMARTIE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to prevent the sale for office development of the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow, one of the few well-equipped theatres in Scotland which would be extremely costly to replace.]

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, the Government have no power to prevent the sale of the theatre.

THE EARL OF CROMARTIE

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that very short and rather unsatisfactory Answer. May I ask whether the Minister would consider it worth while discussing this matter with the Arts Council? Would the Minister not agree that to destroy one of our few and best-equipped theatres in Scotland for so-called development—not, be it noted, for housing—is a retrograde step? Furthermore, would he not agree that such a decision could be economically short-sighted as to replace this theatre would be very expensive indeed?

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, I am quite certain that the noble Earl, Lord Cromartie, will not be surprised when I tell him that such discussions have taken place. The fact is that the Scottish Arts Council already make an annual grant to the Citizens' Theatre Company, which was £58,000 in the year 1967–68, and to the Scottish Opera, which was £78,000 in 1967–68. I am informed that both the Corporation and the Arts Council consider that the Alhambra Theatre is too large for regular use as a theatre under present conditions, and it was because of this that the Corporation decided not to acquire the theatre.

LORD TAYLOR OF GRYFE

My Lords, would the Minister agree that a problem of rather greater urgency is that of the replacement of the Glasgow Citizens' Theatre, which is now threatened by demolition in the area in which it operates?

LORD HUGHES

Yes, my Lords, but unfortunately the Alhambra Theatre does not offer a solution to that problem, because of its size. I do not know whether noble Lords are aware that the seating capacity of the Alhambra Theatre is 2,250, and while no doubt my noble friend Lord Taylor of Gryfe would be happy to think that the Citizens' Theatre could regularly fill a theatre of that size. I do not think he is quite such a complete optimist.

VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, has my noble friend received any great volume of requests from members of the Conservative Party for the Government to take powers to interfere in the purchase or sale of land?

LORD HUGHES

My Lords, no, but it seems to me that it is a perfectly suitable opportunity for private enterprise to operate.