HC Deb 02 November 1987 vol 121 cc573-6W
39. Ms. Primarolo

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to the proportion of orchestral players in orchestras receiving financial support from the Arts Council that are women.

Mr. Luce

The proportion varies widely between orchestras. The average is about 20 per cent.

40. Ms. Walley

asked the Minister for the Arts when he last met (a) the Woman's Playhouse trust, (b) the standing conference of woman theatre directors and administrators and (c) the Campaign for Real Equality in Equity to discuss the position of women in the theatre.

Mr. Luce

I have not met any of these organisations, but I support equality of opportunity in the arts.

41. Ms. Abbott

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has to the proportion of the total number of plays produced at theatres receiving financial support from the Arts Council that were by women writers, in each of the last five years.

Mr. Luce

This information is not held centrally. An alternative indicator is the premieres of new plays by women authors, as a percentage of all premiers:

Per cent.
1982–83 11.8
1983–84 11.0
1984–85 10.6
1985–86 14.0
1986–87 18.0

42. Mrs. Golding

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many members of the board of the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House are women.

Mr. Luce

Three, nine and one, respectively.

43. Ms. Short

asked the Minister for the Arts what steps he will take to help implement the Arts Council's equal opportunities policy statement in relation to the employment of women.

Mr. Luce

The council has my warm support in its policy of equal opportunities for women.

I have taken direct action by asking all those responsible for making submissions on appointments, or nominations for appointment, to the boards of arts bodies I sponsor to ensure that the names of suitable women are included in future short lists.

45. Mrs. Ann Taylor

asked the Minister for the Arts what steps he will take to help implement the recommendations of the Cork report, "Theatre is for All", that there should be equal opportunity for women in all aspects of theatre.

54. Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Minister for the Arts what steps he will take to help implement the recommendations of the Cork report, "Theatre is for All", that a higher priority should be given to women in new writing and project schemes.

Mr. Luce

I agree with the objectives of these recommendations, but action on them is a matter for the bodies concerned.

46. Miss Lestor

asked the Minister for the Arts how many members of the boards of (a) the Arts Council, (b) the Crafts Council and (c) the Museum and Galleries Commission are women.

Mr. Luce

Three women are members of the Arts Council, six women are members of the Crafts Council and there is one women commissioner in the Museums and Galleries Commission.

47. Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many chief librarians of public library authorities in England and Wales are women.

Mr. Luce

Since it is the responsibility of local authorities to appoint staff to their public libraries, no records are kept centrally.

48. Mrs. Fyfe

asked the Minister for the Arts how many women are on the Scottish Arts Council or the Scottish Film Council.

Mr. Luce

Three and four, respectively.

50. Ms. Harman

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many exhibitions by women artists have been mounted at the Hayward gallery in each of the last five years.

Mr. Luce

Exhibitions which included work of women artists in each of the last five years are as follows:

Number
1982 2
1983 2
1984
1985 2
1986 4

52. Mr. Chris Smith

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many women film directors received financial support from the British Film Institute in each of the last five years.

Mr. Luce

Between the period 1982–86 a total of 40 films were produced by the British Film Institute; women directors benefited from funding in each year, as follows:

Number
1982 2
1983 3
1984 1
1985 2
1986 1
9

53. Mr. Boyes

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to the number of women photographers who received financial support from the Arts Council or from regional arts associations in each of the last five years.

Mr. Luce

The information requested is as follows:

Number of women photographers receiving financial support
Arts Council Regional Arts Associations
1982–83 1 2
1983–84 1
1984–85 1
1985–86 2
1986–87 4 3

56. Miss Mowlam

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many building-based theatre companies have women artistic directors or general managers.

Mr. Luce

Five building-based theatre companies funded by the Arts Council or by regional arts associations have women artistic directors and 10 have women administrators.

57. Mrs. Clwyd

asked the Minister for the Arts how many women are on (a) the Welsh Arts Council, (b) the board of the National Museum of Wales and (c) the board of the Welsh National Opera Company.

Mr. Luce

Three women are members of the Welsh Arts Council, two women are on the board of the National Museum of Wales and one woman is on the board of the Welsh National Opera Company.

59. Ms. Quin

asked the Minister for the Arts how many directors of national museums are women.

Mr. Luce

Currently none, but Mrs. Esteve-Coll, director-designate of the Victoria and Albert museum will be taking up her post shortly.

60. Ms. Armstrong

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many women are either directors or deputy directors of regional arts associations.

Mr. Luce

There are no female directors of regional arts associations at present, but seven assistant directors, one deputy director and one head of administration are women.

61. Mr. Tom Clarke

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the number of women writers and producers who have been financially supported by the British Film Institute in the last five years.

Mr. Luce

During this period 21 women have produced or co-produced films for the British Film Institute and nine women writers have received funding.

62. Mrs. Wise

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many technicians are women in performing arts companies receiving financial support from the Arts Council and regional arts associations.

Mr. Luce

This information is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

63. Mrs. Beckett

asked the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many slides of work by women artists are on sale to the general public at the Tate gallery and the National gallery.

Mr. Luce

Twenty-one at the Tate gallery and four at the National gallery.

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