HC Deb 21 November 1966 vol 736 cc236-7W
Mr. Barnett

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the amount of grants to encourage the arts which have been made in each of the last five years to local organisations in Heywood, Royton, Crompton, Milnrow, Wardle, Littleborough and Whitworth; and if he will supply the same information for the North-West, for other regions and for the country as a whole.

Miss Jennie Lee

Government support for the encouragement of the arts is channelled largely through the Arts Council of Great Britain who are free, within the terms of their Charter, to allocate the funds placed at their disposal as they decide.

No grants during the last five years have been made to, or requested by, local organisations in Heywood, Royton, Crompton, Milnrow, Wardle, Little-borough or Whitworth.

The Arts Council do not collect information about their grants on a regional basis, save where, in a particular case, a Regional Arts Association exists. There has hitherto been no such Association in the North-West.

Grants in the country as a whole during the past five years have been as follows:—

England Scotland Wales
£ £ £
1961–62 1,745,000 123,267 78,345
1962–63 2,190,000 144,666 108,290
1963–64 2,730,000 174,600 140,432
1964–65 3,205,000 202,789 155,575
1965–66 3,910,000 270,390 209,922

Detailed information about grants and guarantees given by the Arts Council to individual organisations and groups is contained in the Annual Report published by the Council.