It was meant to be a serious question about a serious problem. I'm sure Kim Howells reply was meant as a throwaway joke, and he didn't expect the result (actually he's a good bloke!), but if it helps to raise the issue in the popular press, then great.

No argument with the last bit but if you have to ask the same (good) question again, it will be interesting to see if the same attempt at a joke will be made if you use a different example. Say three traditional musicians from a culture other than the English folk tradition.

It is strange how the English in particular can find merit in everyone else's culture and tradition but find their own fit only for lame attempts at humour, even culture ministers doing this at a point in time when its whole future is seriously under threat.