§ Mr. Altonasked the Minister for the Arts if he will make a further statement on the effect of metropolitan authorities' abolition on grants available to theatres and concert halls.
§ Mr. LuceI was able to give the Arts Council £25 million as the central Government contribution to post-abolition funding. I believe that the council is the most suitable organisation to allocate this money. However, responsibility for funding has to be shared with successor authorities, which are being relieved of substantial precepts. Negotiations are proceeding about the specific funding of certain theatres and concert halls, and I am hopeful that those negotiations will enable the building in question to remain open.