§ Mr. Channonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the increase in costs attributable to selective employment tax on the performing arts.
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§ Miss Jennie LeeOrganisations concerned with the performing arts which receive central government grants through the Arts Council and the British Film Institute are with very few exceptions registered as charities, and are therefore able to obtain a refund of selective employment tax. The information on which to base an overall estimate, including unsubsidised theatres etc., is not at present available.
§ Mr. Channonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the general increase in costs of the performing arts since October, 1964.
§ Miss Jennie LeeThe activities involved are too various and the factors too complex to enable any reliable estimate to be given. Arts Council grants for music and drama (including opera and ballet) in 1968–69 totalled £6 million compared with £2.374 million in 1963–64. Of the increase of £3.626 million, £1.423 million can be firmly attributed to new objects of subsidy. It is not possible to isolate the proportion of the balance of £2.203 million which relates to cost increases, as opposed to expansion of activities and improvement of standards.