§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money the Arts Council contributed to the Royal Shakespeare Company, Sadlers Wells, the Covent Garden Opera Company, and the National Theatre in 1964; and how much of the Government grant he intends to earmark for these purposes in 1965 and 1966.
§ Mr. CroslandThe grants from the Arts Council in the years in question were as follows (the figures for 1965–66 are estimated):
1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 £ £ £ Royal Shakespeare Theatre: 47,000 88,000 93,000 Sadler's Wells: 400,000 425,000 520,000 Covent Garden: 815,000 1,055,000 1,025,000 National Theatre: 130,000 142,000 160,000
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will earmark an increased amount of the grant to the Arts Council for the Royal Shakespeare Company, in view of the fact that this Company is not only doing useful work in London but pays regular visits to the provinces.
§ Mr. CroslandNo specific sum is earmarked for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the question of an increase does not therefore arise.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will earmark an increased amount of the grant to the Arts Council for the Royal Shakespeare Company, in view of the fact that this Company is not only doing useful work in London but pays regular visits to the provinces.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the proportions of the Arts Council Grant which go to opera, ballet and drama respectively.
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§ Mr. CroslandIn 1964–65 Arts Council grants for opera, ballet and drama totalled about £2,320,000, of which nearly £650,000 went to drama. The balance of £1,670,000 includes £1,055,000 for Covent Garden. The Arts Council inform me that this cannot accurately be apportioned but it is estimated that total grants for opera and ballet respectively were about £1,160,000 and £510,000.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the Arts Council grant was spent on the London Opera Centre in 1964–65; and what is the estimate of expenditure for 1965–66.
§ Mr. CroslandIn 1964–65 the Arts Council grant to the London Opera Centre was £36,500 of which £6,500 was in respect of capital expenditure. The estimated corresponding figure for the year 1965–66 are £44,500 and £9,500 respectively.
Equivalent capital grants are also made to the Centre by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, which receives grant through the Arts Council.