§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to secure the future of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. [53748]
§ Mr. Chris Smith[holding answer 30 July 1998]: D'Oyly Carte is an independent company, responsible to its Board and backers for the operational decisions it takes. Public funding for the arts is channelled through the Arts Council of England who take decisions on the funding of individual arts organisations without the 709W involvement of Ministers. Ministers have, however, drawn to the attention of the Arts Council the representations made in Parliament on this issue.