HC Deb 07 March 1983 vol 38 cc561-2
29. Mr. Jessel

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made towards establishing the theatre museum.

Mr. Channon

Subject to the satisfactory completion of lease negotiations, about which I foresee no problems, between the Greater London council and the Property Services Agency, building work on the theatre museum project in Covent Garden is planned to start in May.

Mr. Jessel

When is the theatre museum likely to be opened?

Mr. Channon

The building work is likely to take about two years. That will be followed by the fitting-out of the museum and I cannot, at this stage, say how long that will take. It will be for the new trustees of the V and A to decide when the theatre museum will be opened, but the main building work will take approximately two years.

Sir David Price

Will my right hon. friend ensure that when this great moment comes there will be adequate access for the disabled, which, as he knows, does not happen in certain other great national galleries?

Mr. Channon

I have particularly taken note of my hon. Friend's views about that matter and I shall take the opportunity of drawing the point to the attention to the new trustees of the V and A.