Brassed-off Barnsley East and Mexborough MP Jeff Ennis condemned the Arts Council for ploughing 1,000 times more funding into opera than brass bands.

And his campaign for more cash scored a major victory when Arts Minister Margaret Hodge admitted the body could do more for brass bands.

Figures released last year revealed how the Arts Council spent £155.9 million on opera during the last five years.

In stark contrast, just £140,000 was spent on brass bands during the same period – in fact, funding was slashed by 31 per cent from £32,000 in 2005/06 to £22,000 in 2006/07.

Mr Ennis told the Commons that the Grimethorpe Colliery band – featured in the hit film Brassed Off – was refused funding from the Arts Council to cover travel expenses to attend last weekend's Kent Brass Festival because it applied too late.

He said: "That just underlines the situation – the very best brass band in the world cannot get funding to travel to Kent to entertain the people of Kent with music that is loved in the Kent coalfields."

He also told how he was forced to plead to Yorkshire's major companies for cash after the band ran into financial difficulties a few years ago. He managed to secure £15,000 from the bank HBOS and £5,000 from Asda.

But he added: "I should not have to be sending begging letters to big companies in Yorkshire for the best brass band in the world.

"The Arts Council has one third of a billion pounds a year to give out to musical companies, but Grimethorpe has not been given a penny of it."

It costs a brass band approximately £60,000 to provide a full set of instruments. Band uniforms can cost between £7,500 to £10,000 per set.

Mr Ennis said most brass bands receive between £150 and £200 for a performance – yet transport costs can vary between £175 and £750 per performance.

Arts minister Margaret Hodge said it was important that ministers maintained an "arm's length" from the Arts Council.

But in a clear signal to the organisation, she added: "I am convinced that the Arts Council could do more – that would be a decision for it to take – but both local authorities and regional authorities must also do their part in ensuring that this very important community activity is sustained."

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