§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has had from industrial and commercial organisations to his request for greater patronage of the arts; and if he will list recent patrons.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsThe CBI is giving consideration to possible methods of stimulating increased patronage of the arts but I am not in a position yet to give details. The matter is a complex one and cannot be rushed if worthwhile results are to be achieved.
My Department does not collect a comprehensive list of recent or past patrons for the reasons given in my answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas) on 8th April—[Vol. 889, c. 384–5]—but public acknowledgment of such patronage is one of the matters I am discussing.