BURNLEY MP Peter Pike has made a renewed appeal for extra cash for the borough council to support the town's Mechanics theatre and arts centre.
He tackled Arts Minister Estelle Morris on the issue during Culture Questions in the Commons.
The veteran Labour back bencher asked her: "Do you recognise that Burnley Council, given its small non-unitary budget, finds it very difficult to maintain the Mechanics theatre and arts centre?"
Ms Morris replied:"Local authorities of different sizes face budget pressures and have to make important decisions.
"Sometimes the levers are there to spend the money on certain services, which may not include the arts, theatres or culture.
"That is something that, over time, the government will address because it is clear that creativity, culture and theatres are central to local communities."
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