62. Major BARNESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the English National Gallery is the only national gallery in Europe or North America that charges the public for admission four days per week, he will consider increasing the grant from the State to make up any deficit and so enable the trustees to revert to the four free days in the week?
Lieut.-Commander YOUNGThe hon. and gallant Member's statement as to the galleries of Europe and North America is, I am informed, incorrect. The receipts accruing from the recent increase in the number of paying days at the National Gallery from two to four days a week are earmarked for the purchase fund. I fear that, in present financial circumstances, it is out of the question for the Exchequer to increase its contribution of £5,000 per annum to that fund, in addition to bearing the increased cost of running the gallery. To revert to two paying days a week would, therefore, diminish the money available for purchasing new pictures. As regards the concluding words of the question, there are now three free days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays.