§ Mr. Ogdenasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations whether a decision has been taken on the question of an increase in the Government guarantee to the Commonwealth Arts Festival Society; and what further information he has on the events which are likely to take place during the Festival.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesHer Majesty's Government has now informed the Commonwealth Arts Festival Society that they will be prepared to seek Parliamentary approval for a further guarantee of up to £50,000 in addition to the guarantee against loss up to a maximum of £80,000 which has already been announced.
I am informed that the Commonwealth Arts Festival Society will publish a programme of events early next month. In the meantime, in view of the general interest in the Festival, I am including 17W in the record a list of the Commonwealth and Colonial countries which are likely to participate, details of the artistic con-
Countries Artistic Contributions Where to be Presented Australia … Sydney Symphony Orchestra London (Royal Festival Hall), Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool. Australian Ballet London (Royal Opera House), Glasgow, Liverpool. Canada … Toronto Symphony Orchestra London (Royal Festival Hall), Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool. Royal Winnipeg Ballet London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool. Les Feux Follets London. Theatre du Nouveau Monde London. Jamaica … Jamaican Dance Theatre London, Cardiff, Liverpool. Frats Quintet and Louise Bennett New Zealand … Christchurch Harmonic Choir London (Royal Festival Hall and Westminster Abbey), Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool. Nigeria … Nigerian Folk Opera London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool. Nigerian Drama Company London (Old Vic Theatre). Trinidad … Trinidad Dance Company London, Glasgow. India … Kathakali Dance Group London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool. Ravi Shankar plus supporting musicians. London (Royal Festival Hall), Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool. Bismillah plus supporting musicians. London (Commonwealth Institute), Liverpool. Ghana … Orchestra of Flutes and Drums London (Royal Festival Hall), Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool. Fiji … Band and Dancers of Fiji Military Forces. Liverpool.
GREAT DANCE GALA Pakistan … Khattak Dancers … London (Royal Albert Hall), Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool. Folk Dancers … Tanzania … Stilt Dancers … Uganda … Uganda Dance Company … Sierra Leone … S. Leone Dance Company … Hong Kong … Unicorn Dancers … Kenya … Embu Drummers … Malta … Dancers—Maltija … Ceylon … Kandyan Temple Dancers … Additional contributions are still under negotiations from the following: Rhodesia, Pakistan, Ceylon, India, East Africa, Nigeria, Jamaica, Canada, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica, British Guiana and Gibraltar.