§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which local education authorities have sought from her Department improved funding for students of dance and drama in the past two years. [10349]
905W
§ Mr. ForthThe Department is in frequent contact with local authorities to discuss a wide range of issues. It is not possible to identify from the Department's records every instance in which the issue of funding for dance and drama students may have arisen during the course of those discussions. However, my right hon. Friend has within the past two years received letters from Lancashire and Sutton local authorities proposing that a wider range of dance and drama courses should be designated for mandatory awards.