§ 27. Mr. Adleyasked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts if he will make a statement on developments concerning the power of museums to charge for entry.
§ Mr. WaldegraveThe Government's policy is not to impose general admission charges for the main collections of the national museums and galleries. It is a matter for the trustees' discretion. There is already a well-established practice of charging for entry to some museums, outstations and special exhibitions.
§ Mr. AdleyDo the Government believe in incentives? If so, may we be assured that if museums raise funds off their own bat, they will not be clobbered by the Treasury, which, amazingly, seems to want to reduce their grants by the very amounts of money that they have raised by using their initiative?
§ Mr. WaldegraveMy hon. Friend makes an important point. Discussions on the matter continue. We have had an arrangement in the first year at the Greenwich museum, whereby that has been the outcome.