§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will obtain and publish the total amount of money made available through the Arts Council in Wales to provide loans to help in the work of craftsmen in Wales in 1975; and what was the corresponding figure for 1974, together with the number of craftsmen who benefited from it.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsThe Crafts Advisory Committee offers grants to craftsmen for workshop training, setting up new craftsmen and encouraging specialised projects such as the mounting of exhibitions. In addition, there is a small loan fund to help established craftsmen enlarge their workshops. No loans have been made available through the Welsh Arts484W Council. They are administered directly by the CAC.
Five new craftsmen in Wales received grants in 1974–75 totalling £3,614. In addition, funds were made available by the CAC through the Welsh Arts Council, totalling £14,553, in 1974–75 for eight special projects including exhibitions, two bursaries, 10 commissions and five purchases of craftsmen's products.
There is no information yet on the allocation of funds by the CAC for 1975–76.