§ Mr. Moneyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what steps he proposes to take to attract greater general interest in the arts;
(2) what steps he proposes to take to stimulate greater participation in the arts at an individual level.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsFirst, by providing for the greatest growth in Government support which the present economic situation permits; second, to encourage the Arts Council in its policy of providing increased resources to the arts in the regions; third, to examine in particular art forms, such as the film, which can reach very large numbers of the public through existing channels of distribution; fourth, to take steps to make the facilities and the Government's provision of them more widely known. It will be necessary to do these things and others without damaging the standards of support for the arts in major centres.
§ Mr. Moneyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy towards introducing central Government grants to match local government expenditure on the arts pound by pound.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsThe proportion of resources for particular artistic activities from central Government, local government, private sponsors and the general public must be worked out in each case, depending on all the circumstances, but in many cases central Government grants exceed local government expenditure.
§ Mr. Moneyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what steps he proposes to take to stimulate greater local government participation in the arts;
(2) what steps he intends to take to encourage local authorities to take a greater share in financing the arts.
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§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsI am sure that local authorities will recognise the undesirability of an excessive preponderance of central Government support for the arts, particularly outside London, and that they will want to take advantage of their enhanced powers under the Local Government Act 1972.