§ 30. Mr. G. M, Thomsonasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will arrangedaily opening to the public of the grounds of the Royal Observatory at Herstnionceux Castle, Sussex.
§ Mr. HayThe Observatory grounds are open to the public on Monday, Wed- 1330 nesday and Thursday afternoons from April to October. I regret that opening the grounds to the public at the weekends is not practicable, as additional staff would have to be engaged to safeguard the building and equipment contained therein.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the Civil Lord aware that these are very beautiful grounds and that immense credit is due to those who lay them out and maintain them? Since they cost large sums of public money, ought not the public to be allowed the same sort of regular access to them as they enjoy to other Ministry of Works buildings?
§ Mr. HayI am aware that these grounds are of very great beauty indeed. It is a question of balance. We think that on the present evidence there is plenty of opportunity for the public to visit them, but to open them at weekends, as is suggested, would undoubtedly increase the expense substantially, because of the additional staff which we should have to employ.
§ 31. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he will state for the most recent convenient 12-month period the number of visitors to the Royal Observatory at Herstmonceux Castle, Sussex, the revenue received from visitors, and the cost of the upkeep of the castle grounds.
§ Mr. HayIn 1962 there were 5,276 visitors and the revenue received from them was £542. The gross cost of upkeep of the estate and grounds was £6,400, and the net cost, after taking account of revenue from other sources, £4,323.
§ Mr. ThomsonDo not these figures underline my case? Would it not help the Exchequer a little if there were regular daily openings?
§ Mr. HayOn the contrary, the expense might rise considerably if we had to employ a substantial number of staff at weekends.