§ Mr. SedgemoreTo ask the Minister for the Arts if he will dismiss Mr. Peter Palumbo as chairman of the Arts Council as a result of the failure of the Arts Council to provide additional funding for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
§ Mr. SedgemoreTo ask the Minister for the Arts (1) if he will increase the Government's grant to the Arts Council, earmarking the increase as extra funding for the English National Opera;
(2) if he will increase the Government's grant to the Arts Council, earmarking the increase as extra funding for the English National Ballet.
§ Mr. Luce[holding answer 13 February 1990]: I have already announced that the Arts Council's grant will increase by 22 per cent. over the next three years, including a 12.5 per cent. increase in 1990–91. It is for the Arts Council to determine the allocation of this additional money to individual companies. The council's grants to English National Opera and English National Ballet for 1990–91 represent increases of 11 per cent. and 12 per cent. respectively. The council announced yesterday an additional £1.161 million to English National Opera and £1.120 million to English National Ballet from its reserves, in recognition of their special local circumstances.
§ Mr. SedgemoreTo ask the Minister for the Arts if he will increase the Government's grant to the Arts Council, earmarking the increase as extra funding for the Royal Shakespeare Company; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Luce[holding answer 13 February 1990]:I have already announced that the Arts Council's grant will increase by 22 per cent. over the next three years, including a 12.5 per cent. increase in 1990–91. This is an extremely generous settlement and underlines the Government's commitment to the arts. It is for the Arts Council to determine the allocation of this additional money to individual companies. I am advised that the council's grant to the Royal Shakespeare Company will increase next year by 11 per cent., bringing it to over £6 million.