§ 42. Mr. Snowasked the Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the fact that complimentary tickets are issued for Covent Garden under the auspices of the Royal Opera House General Administration in connection with first night performances of the Royal Ballet, and that for the financial year 1960–61 a sum of £503,737 was provided out of Government funds for all purposes, if he will make it a condition of future grants to the Arts Council that the amount of grant for the Royal Opera House should take into account the extent to which public money is being used for the issue of such free tickets.
§ Sir E. BoyleNo. It is I understand necessary and customary in the theatre world for a number of complimentary tickets for first nights to be issued to the Press and others associated with the 123W performance. The Arts Council assure me that in their opinion the numbers issued are effectively scrutinised by Covent Garden and are kept to a reasonable minimum.
§ 43. Mr. Snowasked the Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the fact that during the period 1st April, 1960, up to the end of the winter season in Great Britain 1961, 183 performances of the Royal Ballet were performed overseas and 160 in the United Kingdom, whether he will make it a condition of future grants to the Arts Council that Government assistance to the company should be assessed on the basis of the number of performances to be given in this country.
§ Sir E. BoyleNo. I would prefer to leave the question of the amount of overseas touring done by Covent Garden to them and to the Arts Council. I should add that the hon. Member's facts are wrong. The figure of 160 is for United Kingdom provincial tours only. When London performances are taken into account the number of performances in the United Kingdom becomes 272.