HC Deb 10 July 2000 vol 353 cc605-6
1. Maria Eagle (Liverpool, Garston)

How many people have visited Tate Modern. [128195]

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Chris Smith)

At close of business on 7 July, Tate Modern had attracted 1,180,002 visitors.

Maria Eagle

Does my right hon. Friend agree that those numbers are a vindication of the Government's policy to encourage free entry to our great national collections? Does he also agree that that contrasts markedly with the policy of the Conservative party when in government? The previous Government encouraged museums and galleries to charge for entry amid plummeting visitor numbers.

Mr. Smith

I agree with my hon. Friend and I am delighted that, as a result of our decision to increase the funds available to the Tate galleries by £5 million this year and £6 million next year, Tate Modern has been able to open with free entry to visitors. That has been a crucial part of the new gallery's success.

Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet)

Without pre-empting Question 2, does the Secretary of State believe that the success of Tate Modern is due to the fact that the British people prefer modern art to the contents of the dome, or that it is due to free entry? Getting into the dome is very expensive.

Mr. Smith

The hon. Gentleman should realise that well over 3 million people have already visited the dome and the majority of them have greatly enjoyed the experience. As to comparing the dome with Tate Modern, they are very different institutions.

Mr. Robert Sheldon (Ashton-under-Lyne)

Will my right hon. Friend accept the congratulations of all of us who have pressed for free admission to museums and art galleries? Does he accept that his splendid work on ensuring that people realise the value of art, especially modern art, has been vindicated and that people have reacted favourably to the free admission policy that he has conscientiously pursued?

Mr. Smith

My right hon. Friend has also pursued the matter with great diligence and skill, and I am grateful for his support. We have guaranteed to all the museums that are currently free—that includes the Tate—that they can continue to be free to everyone. We have also ensured that, from April last year, all children have been able to visit for free the national museums that charge for entry, something which we inherited from the Conservative party. That has led to a 21 per cent. increase in the number of children visiting those museums. From April this year, those museums have been free to all pensioners.