§ 50. Mr. Robert Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a grant of funds towards the establishment of a National Youth Theatre Centre; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Denis HowellMy right hon. Friend already makes grants towards the headquarters expenditure of the National Youth Theatre. The grant for 1965–66 will be £5,500—an increase of £1,000 compared with 1964–65. I understand that the Gulbenkian Foundation has also offered a grant of £3,000 for each of the next three years. In the matter of assistance towards a National Youth Theatre Centre, I would prefer to await the report of a Committee of the Arts Council which I understand is considering the question of young people's theatre.