ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA SUBSIDIES

Early day motion 1205, tabled 6 December 2005 by Rob Marris (Labour). Signed by 15 members.

That this House is shocked at reports that the English National Opera (ENO) has received £150 million of state subsidy in the last 10 years, continues to receive £16 million a year of taxpayers' money, has recently spent £40 million on refurbishment of its London Coliseum building, which is now falling apart, has had two Government rescue packages in the last eight years totalling £19.2 million and yet is still in crisis, with small audiences meaning that box-office takings are little more than 25 per cent. of its annual expenditure; notes that the ENO is based in London, as is the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden; and so calls on the Government and the Arts Council to cease forthwith all subsidies of the extravagant and failed ENO, and instead spend the money on other arts organisations around the country.

Signatures by party: Labour 12, Conservative 1, Liberal Democrat 1, Respect 1.