§ Mr. Ripponasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for the future of the Theatre museum in the old flower market, Covent Garden; what was the 390W planned date for the exchange of a lease between the Government and the Greater London council; why this has been postponed; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI have been asked to reply.
The signing of the lease agreement with the GLC and of the building contract for the Theatre museum was postponed in the light of the Government's announcement of the 1983–84 cash limit reductions. These necessitated a review of the whole arts programme in order to assess how the required contribution could be made. It remains the Government's policy to go ahead with the project as planned and my noble Friend the Minister for the Arts is now examining all ways of achieving this as soon as possible. While the review is taking place, however, it would be prudent to assume that a start cannot be made until the beginning of the financial year 1984–85.