HL Deb 20 June 1980 vol 410 cc1318-21

11.22 a.m.

Lord VAIZEY

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 are aware of the Avon Education Authority's proposal to move the Bath Academy of Art from Corsham to Bath Technical College, and of the considered opinion of many distinguished artists that this proposal will substantially affect the arts for the worse.

The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION and SCIENCE (Baroness Young)

My Lords, we are aware that, because of the condition of some of the buildings, Avon Local Education Authority is considering the possibility of moving Bath Academy of Art from its present premises at Corsham to the Newton Park site of the Bath College of Higher Education. We understand that no decision is to be taken until consultations have been held with all interested parties. We are of course concerned to ensure that provision for the arts is not significantly affected, but it must be for local education authorities to determine the location and organisation of establishments of further education within their areas.

Lord VAIZEY

My Lords, while thanking the Minister for that most helpful reply, may I ask whether she is aware that the proposed move will actually increase costs and not reduce them because the Avon Education Authority cannot get out of the lease which it has signed at Corsham? Furthermore, is she aware that the high reputation of Corsham in the arts is something of great national concern?

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, I appreciate that the uniqueness of the ambience for the development of creative artists provided by the current premises of the Bath Academy of Art is very important. But, at a time of economic restraint, that factor must be weighed against those of the capital and running costs and the rational distribution of educational provision generally within an area.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, are the Government aware that the late Lord Methuen, who was not only a very respected Member of this House, but also a distinguished artist, arranged for the Bath Academy of Art to be located in his beautiful house, Corsham Court, and that the students have greatly benefited by those surroundings and the contents of the house? Will the Government do their utmost to make representations to the Avon Education Authority conveying to them the grave disquiet of many distinguished artists at the move that is contemplated?

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, I shall certainly draw the attention of the Avon Education Authority to the remarks made in your Lordships' House as regards this Question. My understanding is that the present Bath Academy of Art is situated on three sites. The Court, to which the noble Lord, Lord Strabolgi, made reference, is one site, and it is in a very good condition indeed. But there are two other sites, one of which, as I understand it, is in very poor physical condition, and adverse comments about the standards of accommodation have been made by the Council for National Academic Awards.

Baroness GAITSKELL

My Lords, with the greatest respect, surely the noble Baroness would agree that at this time we are more in need of technical colleges than art academies, especially small ones? I am entirely in favour of this move to make the Academy of Art into a technical college.

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, I think that I should make it clear that this is in no way a move to close the Academy of Art. The Government recognise its importance in the national life and there is no suggestion at all of closure. It is simply a question that the Avon Local Education Authority is still considering—no decisions have been made—whether or not, in view of the poor nature of some of the present accommodation, there should be a move to the Bath College of Higher Education, in Bath itself.

Lord FEVERSHAM

My Lords, while I recognise from the reply that has just been made that it is not intended to merge the Bath Academy of Art with a technical college, I should like to ask the Government—and I speak as someone who served on the initial governing body of Leeds Polytechnic when it was formed, into which the Leeds College of Art of long-standing and excellent repute was merged—whether they would not agree that the policy which has been followed over the past few years for merging art colleges and polytechnics has been, on the whole, detrimental to the quality of the teaching of art? While I recognise that that is not perhaps exactly what is intended as regards the Bath Academy, I should like to reiterate the points that have been made by other questioners with regard to special circumstances which clearly militate against moving the academy.

Baroness YOUNG

My Lords, I think that the whole question of the standard of the teaching of art is really quite wide of this Question, and I could not comment on it. If the noble Lord, Lord Feversham, would like to put down a Question on this subject I should be glad to try to answer it.

The present position is that the accommodation available at Bath College of Higher Education is, in itself, not adequate for the requirements of the students from the Academy of Art either in terms of total space or of specialist facilities, and some new additional building would be required there. As I have indicated, it is not a question of the closure of this Academy of Art; it is a question of developing it within the Bath College of Higher Education. But, as I have said, no decisions have yet been taken.

Lord VAIZEY

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that this exchange will be most helpful, and that we are particularly grateful to the Avon Authority for still having an open mind on this important question?