§ 1. Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to announce the allocations for Northern Ireland museums for 1987–88.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Dr. Brian Mawhinney)I refer my hon. Friend to the announcement that I made on 5 March 1987. The total museums' recurrent grant for 1987–88 has increased by over 8 per cent. to £4.3 million and both purchase grants and capital works allocations have been substantially increased. Further details are available in the Library.
§ Mr. AtkinsIs my hon. Friend aware that many of us will welcome this increased funding and particularly his announcement about the business sponsorship scheme? Will money from the scheme be available to help museums?
§ Dr. MawhinneyI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his kind words and welcome. I believe that the £100,000 which 448 I was able to announce for the scheme has been welcomed by those in the arts world and those in the museums world. I can confirm that the money will be available to the museums.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownDoes the Minister intend to establish a maritime museum at Harland and Wolff? If he does not, will he explain what this year's £64 million of subvention to Harland and Wolff is for?
§ Dr. MawhinneySo far as I am aware, I do not have any direct responsibility for establishing museums.