HC Deb 02 February 1981 vol 998 cc17-8
23. Mr. Adley

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has visited any of Great Britain's preserved railways; and if, as part of his evaluation of the importance of industrial archaeology, he will do so.

Mr. Channon

Not as yet, since my responsibility is mainly for railway items in museums, but I want to visit the National Railway museum in York before too long.

Industrial archaeology in England is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

Mr. Adley

I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer, and congratulate him on his appointment. Does he accept that whilst painting, sculpture and the theatre are fashionable, hundreds of thousands of people take a deep interest in and obtain considerable satisfaction from not only the National Railway museum—to which I happily pay tribute—but from the railway preservation movement? Whenever my right hon. Friend speaks about his job—as I am sure he does most of the time—will he ensure that he never loses sight of the importance of this less fashionable, but well worthwhile, aspect of his responsibilities?

Mr. Channon

I give my hon. Friend that assurance. It is a pretty easy assurance to give, because as my hon. Friend talks to me about it nearly every day it would be difficult to forget it.

Mr. Cormack

May I express the hope that my right hon. Friend's visit to York will be but one of a series of regional visits? Is he aware that arts and heritage organisations all over the country would be very glad to see and talk to him about their problems?

Mr. Channon

I assure the House that I have every intention of visiting as many parts of the country as I can, in order to find out the problems and see what I can do to help.

Mr. Alexander W. Lyon

Given that the right hon. Gentleman has responded favourably to the question, does he recognise that a complete change of situation has taken place? It used to be thought impossible to have a national museum outside London.

Mr. Channon

Events have shown that the hon. Gentleman's constituency has housed the National Railway museum with extreme skill and care.