§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish a table showing the amount of(a) capital and (b) recurring grants paid to the Paisley Arts Centre in Education, the youth theatre group based in Paisley, by the Scottish Arts Council in each year since 1988; what percentage of its outturn expenditure was covered by Scottish Arts Council grants in each year during the same period; what moneys PACE received from other sources in his Department during the same period; and if he will make a statement;
(2) when he next plans to meet representatives of the Scottish Arts Council to discuss the youth theatre movement in Scotland; if he intends to raise the funding of the Paisley Arts centre in Education, the Paisley-based youth theatre group; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what changes in the criteria governing the allocation of grants by the Scottish Arts Council might have affected awards to the Paisley Arts centre in Education, the Paisley-based youth theatre group; whether he was consulted about any changes to these criteria; and if he will make a statement;
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Average Standard Local Authority Rents £ per dwelling per week Authorities 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 Berwickshire 12.75 13.77 14.40 15.34 16.86 17.95 19.05 21.05 22.50 23.60 24.76 Ettrick and Lauderdale 13.22 13.14 13.14 13.88 14.59 15.55 16.48 18.83 20.23 21.09 22.77 Roxburgh 13.43 14.72 16.38 16.87 18.08 19.79 20.72 23.96 26.18 27.62 28.77 Tweeddale 11.28 11.34 12.69 13.14 14.27 14.07 15.50 17.83 19.56 22.44 23.25 Clackmannan 11.21 11.66 12.86 14.34 16.24 18.89 21.17 22.94 24.79 25.23 26.15 Falkirk 10.68 11.61 12.54 13.89 15.25 17.04 18.97 19.80 21.27 22.90 23.80 Stirling 9.29 11.55 13.62 15.07 16.09 18.46 20.67 23.19 25.30 29.14 29.26 Annandale and Eskdale 12.91 13.85 15.22 16.49 18.10 19.35 21.96 24.18 26.00 28.10 28.66 Nithsdale 10.50 11.48 13.13 13.86 15.45 16.96 18.75 21.14 23.21 25.66 25.72 Stewartry 13.96 14.09 15.45 16.45 18.06 19.51 20.75 24.53 26.89 28.40 28.39 Wigtown 14.17 15.79 16.69 16.70 17.57 18.42 18.90 23.48 27.07 29.34 29.77 Dunfermline 12.16 12.15 13.46 14.70 16.65 17.94 19.50 21.54 22.90 24.91 25.95 Kirkcaldy 11.60 12.60 13.85 15.32 17.02 18.67 20.62 22.38 24.48 26.22 26.69 North East Fife 12.69 13.82 15.87 17.07 18.16 20.79 21.09 23.34 23.52 24.50 25.00 Aberdeen 8.89 11.21 12.55 14.69 15.97 17.92 19.49 20.81 20.61 21.55 22.58 (4) if he will make a statement on the value and importance of the youth theatre movement in Scotland, with particular reference to the Paisley-based Paisley Arts centre in Education theatre group.
§ Sir Hector MonroThe relationship between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and the Scottish Arts Council is governed by the arm's-length principle. It is for the Scottish Arts Council to determine its artistic policy and strategy and to decide, in line with its artistic judgment, which individual arts bodies should benefit from the council's funds. Questions relating to the funding of arts organisations should be addressed to the council. My right hon. Friend attaches importance to the youth theatre movement in Scotland and will give support amounting to £62,920 in 1994–95 under section 23 of the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985 to the Scottish Youth Theatre, which is a national organisation operating on a Scotland-wide basis, the activities of which are broadly educational.
No Scottish Office grant has been paid to PACE. My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet the Scottish Arts Council to discuss the youth theatre movement.