§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department in achieving the Government's policy programme since he answered a similar question from the hon. Member for Melton on 2 June 1980.
§ Mr. Mark CarlisleGood progress continues to be made in implementing the Government's policies for education. I shall write to my hon. Friend with a full reply shortly.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the results of his Department in achieving the Government's policy programme in so far as it affects the arts since the former Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster answered a similar question by the hon. Member for Melton on 19 June 1980.
§ Mr. ChannonThe Office of Arts and Libraries, for whose work I have had independent responsibility within the Department of Education and Science since the beginning of the year, has continued to carry out the day-to-day administrative work for the arts and to be responsible for special tasks and developments which include the following:
Select Committee on Education, Science and the Arts
(1) Submission of evidence to the Committee in connection with three reports—on the British Library, on Information Services and the Interim Report on Works of Art—and preparation of material for the two replies so far given by the Government (see items (10) and (11) below) and for the reply on Export of Works of Art which is now in preparation.
National Heritage
(2) Preparation (with the Department of the Environment and the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices) of guide-lines for the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
(3) Preparation (in consultation as above) of revised guidelines for the Reviewing Committee on Export of Works of Art on the interpretation of pre-eminence.
(4) Continuing concern for acquisitions by private treaty or in lieu of tax of major objects and pictures which form part of the national heritage; and operation of the statutory provision for the control of export of such works of art.
(5) Provision of indemnities for loans of pictures and objects and for exhibitions in London and all the regions; the value of the cover provided and planned for forthcoming exhibitions now exceeds £100m.
Museums
(6) Transfer of responsibility and making of financial and other provisions to secure the continued operation of the Victoria and Albert Museum's Slide Lending Service by the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries.
(7) Authorisation and announcement of the Science Museum's plans for setting up of a national photographic museum in Bradford.
(8) Inauguration by the Prime Minister of the newly refurbished East Wing and of a new restaurant at the National Gallery.
(9) Support for a scheme at the Victoria and Albert Museum for a privately financed long-term exhibition of industrial design.
372WLibraries
(10) Announcement by the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Arts of a start on the first phase of a new building for the British Library.
(11) Acceptance of responsibility for general Government policy and action on information services.
(12) Arrangements for the first meeting (in April) of representatives of the three UK Library Advisory Councils.
Theatre and Opera
(13) Announcement of a grant of £½m to the Development Fund of the English National Opera.
(14) Financial support for a research project into London theatre audiences.
Public Lending Right
(15) Continued preparation as required under the Act of 1979 of a scheme which is shortly to be made available for consultation.
(16) Selection of a Registrar of Public Lending Right.
Financial
(17) Provision of grants to ensure the continued support by central Government for the arts at broadly the existing level.
(18) Continued encouragement of private sponsorship, now estimated to provide support for the arts at more than £5m a year.
International
(19) Participation in discussions on cultural co-operation in the Council of Europe leading to the Conference of European Ministers in Luxembourg in April.
The successful continuation of the work of the Office of Arts and Libraries has been achieved with a staff which, by comparison with last year, now numbers 36, but with one addition to cover further financial responsibilities taken over from the finance branch of the DES.