When the Classical Music Subsidy was taken from the income of pop musicians to increase the income earned by the classical music section, it appeared to be a most enlightened and significant action, as long as the composers in the light music section agreed. We are assured that this is no longer the case, so it would be incorrect for the PRS to continue to subsidy classical music from that source. As William Walton's widow, without an independent income and relying on William's income to live and most importantly to run the William Walton Trust in the UK and the WW Fondazione in Italy—both Trust and Fondazione are actively engaged at present in educational programmes in schools, in masterclasses, and in organising concerts to encourage young talented musicians—the curtailing of these activities is inevitable if the PRS does not continue to supplement William's income from other sources. I understand that there is a huge income from music that is not attributable to an individual composer. The education of the young is one of the most vital responsibilities of society today, and I have found that musical education is generally relegated to the last place in people's awareness. William's Trust is doing its best for the young and will continue to do so as long as we have an income.

May 1999