§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the sums of money from all sources which he is making available directly from his Department or in conjunction with others to the Welsh National Opera in the present financial year; what were the comparable figures in 1989–90; and if he will list the projected figures for 1991–92 and subsequent years insofar as firm or tentative projections have been made;
(2) what discussions have taken place between Welsh Office Ministers, or officials and the Welsh National Opera on finances; what differences have arisen over the financial contribution of Government to the Welsh National Opera; and what differences still remain;
(3) if he will make a full statement on financial arrangements for the Welsh National Opera in the present financial year and in 1991 and future financial years.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsThe Welsh National Opera company is funded jointly by the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Welsh Arts Council, which is itself a committee of the Arts Council of Great Britain and is funded by them. The Arts Council of Great Britain is funded by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts about the financial position of the Welsh National Opera company.
We have received representations both from representatives of the Welsh National Opera company direct and from others on its behalf about the implications of the Arts Council of Great Britain's decision not to give the company a grant from the enhancement fund in 1991–92. We are informed that further discussions are planned between the company and the Arts Council of Great Britain. We welcome this and hope for a satisfactory outcome.