§ Mr. Robert Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make funds available to complete the restoration of the Royal Albert Hall.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasI understand that the completion of the restoration of the Royal Albert Hall now requires about£300,000 in excess of the funds which the council has been able to raise. The Government are accordingly prepared, subject to the voting by Parliament of the necessary funds, to match pound for pound up to a total of£150,000 the sum raised from other sources to complete the restoration.
Because of the other demands upon finance for the arts, it is necessary to provide that the money should be raised within a specific period. The Government offer will therefore expire at the end of the financial year 1973–74.