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Tower Opera
10. Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley): What plans his Department has to support the Tower Opera tour of England. [98976]
The Minister for the Arts (Mr. Alan Howarth): I am aware of the admirable work of Opera Box in providing opera to new audiences and of the enthusiastic response that there has been in Wales to Tower. As my hon. Friend knows, however, my Department does not provide direct support to artistic organisations. Funding for the arts in England is channelled through the Arts Council of England and regional arts boards. It is for them to take decisions on the funding of individual organisations.
Ann Clwyd: I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that answer. As a former member of the Arts Council of Great Britain, I find it extremely parochial of the Arts Council of England to turn down the application for a touring grant for the "Tower" opera, which tells the story of a highly successful workers' co-operative. Despite the best efforts of the Conservative party, which wanted to close the co-operative down because it said that it had no future, it is now a successful enterprise, making a profit year on year.
Is my hon. Friend aware that the application for a touring grant was turned down, apparently because the Arts Council of England said that there was no interest in the opera in England? That is despite the fact that 15 theatres in England had said that they wanted it to come to their theatres. To ensure that this cultural delight is not taken away from the people of England, I have booked the Hackney Empire to show the "Tower" opera on 1 March--St. David's day--and I am glad to invite all my friends and colleagues in the House to that event.
Mr. Howarth:
The whole House recognises my hon. Friend's passionate commitment both to the Tower colliery and to the "Tower" opera. She will be a doughty champion of the cause. May I offer her a ray of hope? Since the Arts Council conveyed its decision that it would not support the touring of the "Tower" opera in England, it has reconsidered its commitment to touring and proposed to increase its funding for touring. If my hon. Friend can demonstrate that 15 or more theatres in England would welcome the opportunity to stage this production and that the production has been received with critical acclaim in Wales, it may be worth her while to pursue another conversation with Mr. Peter Hewitt, chief executive of the Arts Council.
11. Mr. Ian Pearson (Dudley, South):
What action he is taking to ensure a fair regional spread of the proceeds from the national lottery. [98977]
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Chris Smith):
Following the National Lottery Act 1998 and my revised policy directions, distributors must now take into account the need to ensure that all parts of the country have access to funding and the scope for reducing economic and social deprivation. Working with the lottery distributors, we have commissioned research to establish what more can be done to help areas where the take-up of lottery funding has been low.
Mr. Pearson:
I thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. I welcome the pro-active approach of the National Lotteries Charities Board, working with me and others in my constituency, to encourage more applications from voluntary organisations. However, is my right hon. Friend aware that, to many people in the west midlands, it still appears that lottery funders think that interest in art and heritage stops at the end of the Northern line? Will he ensure that arts, culture and industrial heritage projects in the west midlands and other regions receive their fair share of lottery cash? Will he consider putting a moratorium on any new appointments to the lottery board of people who live in London and the home counties?
Mr. Smith:
I am ever anxious to ensure that membership of the boards of lottery distributors and, more importantly, the decisions that they take on the distribution of funds reflect properly the regions of this country, not just London. That is why, for example, the new directions that are in place insist that lottery distributors take account of the need to ensure a fairer geographical spread of lottery distribution. That is also
Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet):
Accepting that the fair regional spread of national lottery proceeds must depend on the number of applications coming from the various regions, is the Secretary of State prepared to discount lottery funds that go to national institutions in London, because outer London boroughs in particular feel that they may not be getting their fair spread of lottery funding?
Mr. Smith:
The hon. Gentleman is partly right, although the number of applications that are approved depends on the quality of applications as well as their number. He has a valid point in that the overall London figures can sometimes be distorted by the presence of national institutions in the very heart of London, and some parts of London may get disregarded unfairly as a result of that. A fairer geographical spread means exactly what it says, both for other parts of London and for the regions.
12. Mr. Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey):
How he will ensure that poorer communities in need of sports facilities will receive a larger share of allocations from the Lottery. [98978]
The Minister for Sport (Kate Hoey):
The Government are determined to ensure that a greater share of lottery money goes to sporting projects in areas of deprivation. Sport England's priority areas initiative provides extra funding to such areas, and sport action zones will provide extra help in focusing funding towards areas of particular need.
Mr. Wyatt:
I, too, welcome my hon. Friend to the Front Bench. It is a pleasure to see her there. Does she intend, in the sports strategy, to consider an audit for sports facilities--[Interruption.]
Mr. Hilton Dawson (Lancaster and Wyre):
I apologise, Madam Speaker.
Madam Speaker:
I should think so. Pagers should be switched off before hon. Members come into the Chamber.
Mr. Wyatt:
Will my hon. Friend consider, in her sports strategy, an audit of what facilities are currently available in communities? That audit should include not simply how many playing fields and swimming pools there are, but how many facilities are needed per adult. Areas where there is poverty, such as my community in Sheerness, have been told time and again that we should have more sports fields, but alas there are no fields to buy, so that is no good to us at all.
Kate Hoey:
My hon. Friend raises a valid point. It is absolutely clear that, before we can make significant decisions about where and how money should be spent, we need to know what base we are starting from. We are seriously considering some form of audit, helped by local authorities and others.
Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham):
Given the importance of providing the maximum number of sports fields to benefit poorer communities, how does the hon. Lady reconcile the statement by the Minister for School Standards on 7 June that the new opportunities fund would provide £125 million to facilitate bids by cash for the creation of new playing fields with the issue on 29 September of that fund's consultation document, which specifically stated that the purchase of land would not be a priority?
Kate Hoey:
As usual, the hon. Gentleman is right and wrong--although perhaps I am being unfair. The buying of playing fields certainly will be allowed under the new initiative, although it will not be the only measure, and it will not necessarily be any more of a priority than some of the other initiatives.
Ms Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent, North):
I very much welcome the steps that my hon. Friend has taken to make sure that money ends up where it is most needed. However, we still do not have a level playing field. In the west midlands, particularly in my constituency, playing fields have no adequate drainage and there are no proper facilities where people can play sport. We desperately need the support of a sports action zone. Will my hon. Friend consider the criteria carefully and think about those areas that do not have a level playing field?
Kate Hoey:
I would expect Sport England to consider precisely the kind of problem to which my hon. Friend has referred when deciding where sports action zones will be.
14. Mr. Owen Paterson (North Shropshire):
If he will make a statement on the progress of the millennium dome project. [98980]
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Chris Smith):
The team at the New Millennium Experience Company continue to make magnificent progress, finalising delivery of all aspects of the millennium experience at the dome. The dome is on course to be a centrepiece for the country's millennium celebrations, both on its opening night and throughout 2000. I pay tribute to the hard work and dedication of Bob Ayling, Jennie Page and all involved.
Mr. Paterson:
That statement contrasts with recent press reports that the dome may not be completed in its entirety by 31 December. If it is not, who will be held responsible and what will happen to them?
Mr. Smith:
The hon. Gentleman should not believe everything that he reads in the press. The dome will indeed be completed in its entirety, with all its zones, in time for the opening on 31 December.
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