§ Mr. Freudasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) on what dates the Arts Council grants in aid were announced in each of the past three years; and when she intends to announce the date for the 1978–79 grants; and if she will seek to give advance notice of the dates in future years;
(2) what has been the effect on the many dependent organisations of failure to give adequate advance information of giants in aid to the Arts Council.
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§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsIn accordance with normal practice, the grants in aid for 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78 were announced when the Supply Estimates were presented to Parliament. It is also normal practice to give the Council some advance indication to enable it to plan the allocation of its resources among its clients, and I am following this practice. I do not deal direct with the Council's clients.