HC Deb 13 February 1983 vol 54 cc18-9
30. Mr. Murphy

asked the Under-Secretay of State answering in respect of the Arts whether the Minister for the Arts has had any discussions with the trustees of national museums about the reintroduction of admission charges.

Mr. Waldegrave

My noble Friend has had no general discussions on this subject. He is considering with the national maritime museum the implications of its proposal to introduce admission charges from 1 April 1984.

Mr. Murphy

Does my hon. Friend agree that realistic admission charges, retained by the museums, would provide a valuable additional source of finance and should be encouraged?

Mr. Waldegrave

It remains the Government's policy that if the trustees of any museum wish to put forward proposals they will be discussed with them.

Mr. Tony Banks

If the Government's proposals for the abolition of the GLC go through, what will be the position of the Horniman museum? The Government's proposals are that it should be transferred to the British museum. Bearing in mind that the Horniman museum was given to the old London county council in perpetuity as a free museum, what will be the policy if the: British museum decides to introduce an admission charge?

Mr. Waldegrave

The trustees of the British museum in those circumstances would put forward proposals. Presumably if that was not in the foundation charter of the Horniman museum, they would not put forward such proposals.

Mr. Rhodes James

Has my hon. Friend had discussions on this matter with the trustees of the five university museums, whose needs and problems are still inadequately appreciated by the Government?

Mr. Waldegrave

I remember from my previous job the problems of the university museums and their relationship with the University Grants Committee. I shall draw those continuing problems to the attention not only of my noble Friend but, more directly, of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

Mr. Meadowcroft

Does the Minister accept that at a time of great unemployment it would be better to encourage people to go to museums instead of trying to put restrictions in their way in the form of any charge for admission?

Mr. Waldegrave

It is a matter for the people who are running the museums. Ironically, many of the exhibitions for which there are charges are exceedingly well attended. If trustees of museums think it in their best interests to make such proposals, it would be wrong of the Government not to consider them seriously.

Forward to