§ 20. Mr. Adleyasked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the arts if he will take further steps to advance railway preservation; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaldegraveA number of measures already exist to help railway preservation. My noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for the arts sees no present need to extend these.
§ Mr. AdleyIn thanking my hon. Friend for his answer, and in contradistinction to Opposition Members, I welcome him to his position in the House. He is a known railway enthusiast. Will he ensure that our noble Friend the Minister realises the key role that the national railway museum plays—it is really a pastoral role—in railway preservation in Britain? Will he encourage our noble Friend to pay an early visit to the national railway museum in York?
§ Mr. WaldegraveI am grateful for my hon. Friend's kind words. I am a student of his very much greater expertise in these matters. I am sure that my noble Friend is well aware of the important role played by the York 343 museum and will doubtless be considering his diary in relation to a visit. There is no doubt about the museum's importance.