§ Mr. Moneyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the light of the Arts Council's decision to refuse any contribution to the Albert Hall centenary appeal whilst making a constructional grant to the Round House, she will make a statement with regard to Government policy on housing the arts.
§ Mrs. ThatcherThe Arts Council is empowered to offer capital grants towards the provision of new buildings for the arts or the improvement of existing buildings up to an annual limit approved by the 11W Government. The Council is given complete discretion to decide which projects should be supported. It has a large number of outstanding applications and has reluctantly concluded that it cannot offer a further contribution to the Royal Albert Hall beyond the grant of £5,000 already made for improving acoustics.