§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Lord Privy Seal on what occasions British ballet companies went on tours abroad, under the auspices of the British Council, during the last five years; and to what extent the cost of each tour was paid by the Council.
§ Mr. HeathIncluding two tours planned to take place shortly, the British Council has been concerned in the past five years with four tours by the Royal Ballet to eight countries; five by the Festival Ballet to thirteen countries; three by Ballet Rambert to six countries; and one by Western Theatre Ballet to one country.
Some of the costs are defrayed by the companies' takings overseas; the British Council may offer simply a guarantee against loss, or may support a section only of a tour abroad. Two of the tours paid for themselves, and accounts for four others are not yet closed. The total cost of the remainder to the British Council was £72,690.
These figures include tours to Commonwealth countries and Colonial Territories.