§ Q2. Mr. Carterasked the Prime Minister what recent appointments he has made to the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Earl of Rosse has been reappointed as Chairman, and Dame Mary Smieton appointed as a member.
§ Mr. CarterI thank the Prime Minister for his reply. Will he tell the House what consultations he had with the Standing Commission before the Government announced their intention to impose entrance charges on museums and galleries and, if such consultations took place, what was the opinion of the Standing Commission?
§ The Prime MinisterThat is quite a different question from the appointments which have been made to the Standing Commission. As the Standing Commission has indicated, no consultations were held, because of the general nature of the arrangement which was being announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his statement. It was not possible to carry on individual consultations with the Standing Commission without revealing to it the general nature of the changes in financial policy which were being made.
§ Rear-Admiral Morgan-GilesWill the Prime Minister discuss with the Commission a special case, namely, the preservation of H.M.S. "Belfast" as a museum ship?
§ The Prime MinisterI am quite prepared to arrange for such discussions to be held with the appropriate museum.