§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will consider a special increase in the Arts Council's grant in view of the council's intention to foster amateur activities in the arts;
(2) by how much she intends to increase the grant to the Arts Council, in view of the current economic situation.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasThe size of the Arts Council's grant for 1974–75, which will be included in estimates presented to Parliament in due course, is being considered in the light of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement on savings in public expenditure in 1974–75. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that I am not proposing any reduction of the Arts Council's recurrent grant compared with that for 1973–75. It will be for the Arts Council, as an autonomous body, to decide on the detailed allocation of its recurrent grant for the year, once it has been notified to it.