§ 67. Mr. Wyattasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the present number of trustees of the British Museum; how often do they meet; what is a quorum; and what was the average attendance at meetings during 1949.
§ Mr. JayThe present number of trustees is 50. The General Board meets twice a year at the British Museum (Bloomsbury) and twice a year at the British Museum (South Kensington). At its meeting in May it elects a Standing Committee of 20 members which conducts the business of both museums, and which in 1949 met 13 times. Sub-committees meet from time to time. The quorum for the General Board is seven, and for the Standing Committee three. Average attendance at meetings of the Standing Committee during 1949 was about eight.
§ Mr. WyattWould my hon. Friend represent to the trustees of the British Museum that, in view of the grave concern over the mismanagement of the Museum, they should either meet more often and come more regularly to the meetings or resign their posts and allow them to be filled by people who would take their jobs more seriously?