§ 2.45 p.m.
§ Lord MAELORMy 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, in the light of the grant made to the Welsh National Eisteddfod, and in view of the tremendous increase in cost, they will consider making a grant to the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
§ The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord ELWYN-JONES)My Lords, while Her Majesty's Government admire the achievements and standing of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and welcome the financial aid given to it through the Welsh Arts Council, I am sorry that no grant can be given from Government sources additional to this. The assistance given to the Council of the Eisteddfod Cenedlaethol, which translated is the National Eisteddfod, was an exceptional and once-for-all measure to enable it to keep a roof over its head.
§ Lord MAELORMy Lords, is my noble and learned friend aware that, although I have the highest regard for him, I cannot thank him for that most disappointing reply? I am aware, of course, that he speaks from a brief and not from his heart, but I must ask him whether he is aware that two days before the Summer Recess the Secretary of State for Wales, John Morris, deceived me and this House by declaring, through my noble friend Lord Goronwy-Roberts, that he was "unable" and "not empowered" to make a grant to any institution of this kind? Two weeks later he appeared on the platform at the National Eisteddfod and amid applause, which he greatly enjoyed, he stated that he was making a grant of £50,000. May I ask my noble and learned friend whether we are to suffer the present Administration in the Welsh Office for the next four years? If so, I say God help Wales or, in Welsh, Dum a helpo Cymru!
§ The LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I am sorry to disappoint my noble friend, and even sorrier that he 918 has seen fit to accuse our noble friend of deception. What my noble friend Lord Goronwy-Roberts indicated was that, in principle, it is better that cultural and artistic ventures should be helped through the agency of the Arts Council rather than directly by the Government. Indeed, in this coming year the Arts Council will make available £8,500 as a subsidy for the Llangollen Eisteddfod if it is required—as was done last year. The position in regard to the National Eisteddfod Pavilion is that it needed replacement. The Government's contribution was £50,000. The funds of the Eisteddfod itself amounted to well over £130,000. That is the explanation and I hope that it has now satisfied my noble friend—although I doubt it.
§ Lord LLOYD of KILGERRANMy Lords, unsatisfactory though the Answer is to this Question, may I presume to congratulate the noble and learned Lord in that it is the first time I have heard him answer a Question concerning Welsh affairs in your Lordships' House? May I ask the noble and learned Lord whether he is aware that the Llangollen Festival, concentrating largely as it does on singing and acting, is admired a great deal more than some aspects of the National Eisteddfod and that many American visitors come over to Llangollen to hear this music? Would not he agree that £8,500 is a pittance, considered in the light of a contribution towards the carrying on of the Festival?
§ The LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I should be a very poor spokesman indeed for Wales if I intervened in the matter of deciding the order of priorities or of excellence between the two Eistedd-fodau. I will not be drawn into that. The high quality and delight afforded by this great international festival, which also includes the art of dancing, is well known throughout the world. It will flourish; local authorities are contributing as are other bodies. I should like to appeal to them to continue, if not to increase, their own contributions.
§ Lord MAYBRAY-KINGMy Lords, as one who was a Day President of the Llangollen Musical Festival, some two years ago, may I ask the noble and learned Lord the Lord Chancellor whether he is aware that the fact that this little town stages a truly international cultural music 919 festival is one of the wonders of the world, and that any practical help he can give to it is well worth while?
§ The LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I entirely agree with the noble Lord that this has been a remarkable achievement for the little town of Llangollen, with its population of only about 3,000 people. The Answer I have given in no way reflects lack of enthusiastic admiration for what is done, but is inspired by the bitter economic circumstances of the day. May, I, however, make one correction to an answer which I gave earlier, which I fear will give no comfort to the noble Lord, Lord Maelor. The sum which the Welsh Arts Council are proposing to make available is £8,250, and not, alas, £8,500 as I earlier indicated.