§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about the possible cancellation of the Easter exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens, following upon the prohibition of certain projects planned to take place there.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasI understand that the Arts Council has decided not to proceed with an exhibition in the Royal Park outside the Serpentine Gallery though it had permission to do so provided it was confined to the East Lawn. The inside of the gallery is used mainly for exhibitions of works by contemporary artists, and is occupied without charge by the Arts Council of Great Britain under an agreement with the Department of the Environment which includes provisions intended to preserve the amenities of the Royal parks around the gallery. These are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my noble Friend concurs with the views he has reached in this matter.