§ Lord VAIZEY asked Her Majesty's GovernmentWhat are the total receipts of (a) theatres, (b) cinemas, (c) art galleries, (d) musical enterprises in recent years, and under what categories are they recorded in the National Income Blue Book.
§ Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGEEstimated expenditure on admissions to theatres, cinemas, art galleries and musical entertainments is included in the National Accounts within consumers' expenditure on entertainment and recreational services. Details for recent years are shown below:
Current prices, £million 1975 1976 1977 Admission to cinemas 78 81 89 Other admissions and recreational services 363 437 534 Source: Table 4.9 National Income and Expenditure 1966-76, incorporating revisions up to April 1978. Figures for 1977 are provisional.
The second item of the table covers admissions to theatres, concert halls, sporting events, dance halls, skating rinks, exhibitions and all other places of public amusement; hire of horses, pleasure boat; and other recreational services. Admissions to theatres, dances, concerts and art galleries are thought to account for roughly 40 per cent. of this item.
Other receipts from consumers by places of entertainment are included in principle in the National Accounts under the appropriate heading of consumers expenditure. For example, sales of refreshments appear under "catering", sales of confectionery under "food" and sales of programmes under "books, newspapers and magazines". I regret that it is not possible to identify separately the receipts from these sales by places of entertainment.