§ The Earl of Swintonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What conclusion they have reached on the provision of support to mining museums.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Strathclyde)Agreement has been reached that transitional funding of £900,000 over three years should be made available to the Yorkshire Mining Museum, the Scottish Mining Museum and the Big Pit Mining Museum in South Wales to replace the help-in-kind currently provided by British Coal. Additional provision for these payments, amounting to £100,000 a year for each museum for a period of three years, will be made available to the Department of National Heritage, the Scottish Office and the Welsh Office as appropriate.