§ 58. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that this last Sunday the British Museum was not. opened b the public because there was some fog in the afternoon; who decides whether the Museum shall be opened or not; how often in the last few years the Museum has not been opened on Sunday for that reason; and whether arrangements can me made in future for the proper lighting of the Museum on Sundays so that the public need not have to suffer from occasional exclusion?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe answers to the first three parts of the question are as follows: It is the fact that the Museum was not opened on the afternoon of Sunday, December 12th, on account of 2932 fog. The decision to close in such circumstances rests with the resident keeper on duty. The Museum has been closed on account of fog five times in the course of the six years that have elapsed since the resumption of Sunday opening. As regards the fourth part of the question, I am not prepared, in order to meet such rare contingencies, to incur the considerable increase of expense which would be involved by the employment of additional Sunday labour.
§ Mr. TREVELYANMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the fog was not very serious on Sunday afternoon, and that large numbers of the public must have gone there expecting admission?
§ Mr. McNEILLIt is a question of degree—of comparison. I do not know how thick the fog was.
§ Mr. TREVELYANMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman knows what the additional cost would be of carrying out the suggestion in the question?
§ Mr. McNEILLOf course, the right hon. Gentleman must see that it would be necessary to have the extra staff there invariably. You cannot get them at a moment's notice by telephone; you must have them there all the time. It would mean something like doubling the present staff.