HL Deb 03 December 1970 vol 313 cc645-7

3.20 p.m.

THE PAYMASTER GENERAL (VISCOUNT ECCLES)

My Lords, with permission, I would like to make a Statement on Ministerial responsibility for the crafts. The crafts have long been recognised as an assembly of activities which fall between the fine arts and industry. Hitherto the industrial aspect has been held to be the more important and the crafts have been the responsibility of the Board of Trade. Presidents of the Board of Trade, notably Sir Stafford Cripps, have taken a personal interest in the artist-craftsmen, but the present Government consider that the time has come to recognise the individual skills of these men and women by transferring responsibilities in relation to their activities to the Minister responsible for the Arts. I welcome this change and will try to be of service to the wide variety of artist-craftsmen whose work I admire very much. Regarding the crafts in Scotland and Wales respectively, I shall be in close touch with my right honourable friends the two Secretaries of State, who will continue to coordinate the activities of Scottish and Welsh organisations concerned with enabling craftsmen to earn a living by the practice of their craft.

LORD STRABOLGI

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Viscount, Lord Eccles, for making that Statement. I welcome it, particularly as the distinction between the arts and the crafts has always been rather blurred and artificial, and this brings them closer together. Indeed I think it is true to say that the crafts of one age often become the arts of the following age—and eagerly sought after arts as well. I am sure also that the Government's Statement is a tribute to our many fine artist-craftsmen. I believe that this is the first Statement of this kind that the noble Viscount has made since he became a Minister. May I ask him to note that we hope that future Statements will be equally progressive and non-controversial.

I have two specific questions to ask the noble Viscount. First, will the promotional and information services of the Board of Trade, now part of the Department of Trade and Industry, still be at the disposal of the craft industries? Secondly, may I have an assurance that this rationalisation will not result in the closing down of any art schools, particularly some of the smaller ones?

LORD BYERS

My Lords, we on these Benches should also like to welcome this Statement. It sounds a sensible decision. May I ask the Minister just one question? Will this decision affect the arrangements for training and for the encouragement of people to join the craft industries, or will those go on exactly as they are at the present time?

VISCOUNT ECCLES

My Lords, I thank both noble Lords for their kind reception of this Statement. We shall of course have to look at the whole question of training and courses, but I have not yet really had time to study this matter. I think I can say that we shall go on helping the crafts, but we do need a new structure. One of the difficulties has been that in this important area there have been a number of different voices, and we have to look at this matter very carefully. It may take two or three months before I am able to tell the House through what structure we shall help the crafts; and of course I hope that any future Statements I may make may be equally helpful.

LORD SORENSEN

My Lords, may I ask the noble Viscount to what extent this will financially benefit craft teachers as opposed to other teachers?

VISCOUNT ECCLES

My Lords, I cannot tell the noble Lord that at present, because obviously my responsibilities are rather to the product and the marketing of the work of the craftsmen. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education remains, quite properly, in charge of further education, and I shall have to work more closely with her to see that the training matches up with what we are doing in the artist craftsman's own sphere.