§ Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Minister of Education who are the members of the Arts Council; what salaries are paid; and what is the period of appointment.
§ Miss WilkinsonThe members of the Arts Council are:
The Lord Keynes, C.B. (Chairman), Sir Lewis Casson, Sir Kenneth Clark, K.C.B., Lord Esher, Dr. B. Ifor Evans, Mrs. Barbara Ayrton Gould, M.P.. Lord Harlech, G.C.M.G., Mrs. Thelma Cazalet Keir, Mr. John Maud. C.B.E., Dr. O. H. Mavor, Mr. W. E. Williams, C.B.E., Dr. R. Vaughan Williams, O.M.
No salaries are paid, and there is at present no period of appointment for councillors.
§ Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Minister of Education to what extent she accepts responsibility for the policy of the Arts Council
§ Miss WilkinsonI am responsible for seeing that the funds provided by Parliament are used for the purposes for which they have been granted and that the money is properly accounted for. On 1st April next, this responsibility passes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer who has, nevertheless, said that he will consult the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself over appointments to the Council and over major questions of policy. The detailed application of the funds for the purposes for which they have been granted is a matter within the discretion of the Council itself.
§ Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Minister of Education what is the annual expenditure of the Arts Council; and to what extent contributions are made to its expenses from central Government funds.
§ Miss WilkinsonThe Council's budget for the current year, 1945–46, amounts to £244,085. The Exchequer has contributed £235,000 by way of a grant in aid on the Vote of the Ministry of Education. Provision has been taken in the Civil Estimates for the year 1946–47 for a grant in aid of £320,000 (Civil Estimates, 1946, Class IV, Vote 10).