§ 50. Mr. LEWISasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider the advisability of keeping the National Gallery open until 8 p.m. every week-day and, in order to defray the extra cost so incurred, of making a small charge for admittance on three days in the week during the normal hours of opening only?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. W. S. Morrison)The National Gallery could not be kept open until 8 p.m. every week-day without an 1003 increase of the Exhibition Rooms staff which would amount to at least 50 per cent. even if a shift system—in regard to which there are difficulties—were to be introduced. An admission charge during the normal hours of opening on three days a week, instead of two days as at present, would not be likely to increase the receipts by more than about £550 a year, and, as was stated in the answer given to my hon. Friend on 27th April, I think it would be undesirable to reduce the number of free days.