MP's question on song and dance

12.00.00am GMT Thu 29th Nov 2007

What is the Government doing to promote England's traditional folk dance and song?

That is the question which Colchester MP Bob Russell will be putting in the House of Commons this afternoon (Monday) in what is likely to be the last day of the current Parliamentary Session.

The town's MP has drawn a question for today's Oral Questions to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

This is not the first time that Liberal Democrat Mr Russell has pursued his concerns that too little is being done to promote England's traditional folk dance and song.

He previously challenged the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, pointing out that Arts Council England was spending more money on Contemporary Latin American Art than on England's traditional folk culture. He has also asked Parliamentary Written Questions.

This morning Mr Russell said: "Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have devolved governments where the promotion of their national culture is taken seriously and successfully - but, here in England, our traditional folk culture is in serious decline.

"Hopefully my question will once again highlight the need for Government action for England. Arts Council England have shown themselves to be totally useless when it comes to our nation's folk culture."