HC Deb 06 February 1989 vol 146 cc541-2W
52. Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Minister for the Arts what plans he has to provide adequate funding to make the British Theatre Association library available for theatrical research.

63. Mr. Vaz

To ask the Minister for the Arts what plans he has to provide adequate funding to make the British Theatre Association library available for loans to repertory theatres.

56. Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Minister for the Arts what plans he has to provide adequate funding to make the British Theatre Association library available for academic research.

58. Mrs. Clwyd

To ask the Minister for the Arts what representations he has received on where the library of the British Theatre Association will be moved after closure.

Mr. Luce

I refer the hon Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms. Ruddock) earlier today.

54. Mr. Sedgemore

To ask the Minister for the Arts what has been the size of the British Theatre Association library's acquisition budget in each of the past five years.

Mr. Luce

I am advised by the BTA that its acquisition budget if the past five years has been as follows:

£
1983–84 3,337
1984–85 4,297
1985–86 3,961
1986–87 7,595
1987–88 8,641

55. Mr. Boyes

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the photographic collection of the British Theatre Association library.

Mr. Luce

I am advised by the BTA that it does not set out to maintain a comprehensive collection but does hold several thousand photographs covering west end productions and foreign productions, dating from the 1920s.

57. Mr. Allen

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many loans of texts were made by the British Theatre Association library in each of the past five years.

Mr. Luce

I am advised by the BTA that it lends both sets of texts and single texts; a set can he up to 12 volumes. The figures for the past five years are as follows:

Sets Singles Totals
1983–84 12,580 6,092 18,672
1984–85 9,040 5,889 16,929
1985–86 8,980 6,602 15,582
11986–87 8,310 4,998 13,308
1987–88 8,640 6,620 15,260
1 The library was closed for two months due to a change of premises.

61. Mr. Battle

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many first editions of theatrical texts are owned by the British Theatre Association library.

Mr. Luce

I am advised by the British Theatre Association that approximately two thirds of the stock (that is, close to 200,000 volumes) consists of first editions. This includes sets of plays (multiple copies of a single title) which are first editions.

62. Mr. Haynes

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has as to how many(a) individuals, (b) professional theatres and (c) others are members of the British Theatre Association library.

Mr. Luce

I am advised by the British Theatre Association that the total membership is 2,150, divided thus:

Per cent.
Individuals active in professional theatre 30
Other individuals 10
Professional bodies 11.5
Amateur theatre groups and educational institutions 48

The percentages are approximate.

The British Theatre Association estimates that the individuals and groups represent some 200,000 people.

64. Dr. Marek

To ask the Minister for the Arts when the collection of the British Theatre Association was last valued.

Mr. Luce

I am advised that the British Theatre Association has never valued the collection, in view of the prohibitive costs of such a valuation.