HC Deb 28 March 1980 vol 981 c693W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what specific approaches he has made to the banks and the oil companies, in view of their high profit levels, to take over the funding of the five orchestras which the BBC intends to disband to save £500,000, in pursuance of his policy of commercial sponsorship for the arts.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

I am in contact with various companies, including banks, as part of my efforts to encourage business sponsorship of the arts generally, but the matter of the BBC orchestras is of course one for the corporation.