§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when the level of grant support for the Royal Opera House for the next financial year will be announced.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasThis is for the Royal Opera House itself to decide; the Arts Council is able to notify grants within a month of receiving advice of its Parliamentary grant in aid, but it is not its practice to make a public announcement of grants to individual clients.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce legislation to place the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden on a sound financial basis with an assured future support; and if he will ensure that such 130W legislation provides a minimum of £8 million additional funding.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasThe most appropriate basis on which to provide subsidy to the Royal Opera House from central Government funds is for it to continue to be a client of the Arts Council.