§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make it a condition of grant to the Arts Council that the provinces are not denied visits from the Royal Ballet, Sadler's Wells, the National Theatre Company, and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company, in view of the request by the National Council for Civic Theatres for more visits outside London, with particular reference to Yorkshire.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeNo. The Arts Council fully accepts the continuing need for touring, especially of opera and ballet. It has recently arranged over 50 weeks80W of touring by opera, ballet and drama Companies in addition to the 20 weeks of touring each being undertaken by the Royal Ballet and Sadlers Wells Opera.
The Council hopes to expand its touring programme in 1971 and to include other national companies.