§ Mr. Milneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will hold an inquiry into the method of allocating grants by the Arts Council to ballet companies in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.
§ Miss Jennie LeeThe allocation of grants is a matter entirely for the Arts Council. The Council has set up a Committee to inquire into the future need for opera and ballet in this country. This Committee is expected to report before the end of the year.
§ Mr. Milneasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the grants paid to ballet companies in Great Britain during 1965, 1966 and 1967.
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§ Miss Jennie LeeThe following grants were paid:
1964–5 1965–6 1966–7 £ £ £ Ballet Rambert 37,000 Nil Nil Two Ballets Trust* Nil 67,000 97,500 Western Theatre Ballet 13,000 20,500 30,000 Ballet Minerva 1,270 3,988 14,000 Harlequin Ballet 1,200 2,475 1,875 Ballet for All Nil 1,000 15,500 Balletmakers Ltd. Nil 750 Nil City Ballet Society 150 Nil Nil Ballet tours arranged by the Scottish Arts Council 1,848 1,596 2,181 * Ballet Rambert and London's Festival Ballet are associated in this company. The grants paid to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden for Opera and Ballet in the same period were as follows:
1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 £1,055,000 £1,026,500 £1,095,000