§ Baroness Anelay of St. Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
(a) What progress is being made in negotiations to rescue Musicworks from bankruptcy; (b) who is taking part in those negotiations; and (c) whether the 170 students who should have started their Musicworks courses on 18 January have been offered alternative courses. [HL1306]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyNegotiations continue between the Musicworks Board and the Arts Council of England, the London Arts Board and the London Borough of Lambeth, who are Musicworks' core funders. I understand that they are focusing particularly on the potential for another arts organisation with18WA similar charitable objectives to acquire Musicworks' facilities. I understand also that courses have been reallocated as follows: children's workshops for keyboard and guitar are now being conducted at a local school; in-service training will take place in schools as planned; the Youth Music Theatre has moved to Oval House in Kennington; and the young offenders project for 16-25 year olds, together with sound engineering courses, have relocated to Community Music in Southwark. Only the drum and general band workshops have not been able to relocate, because of the specialist facilities required.