§ 2. Mr. Graham Allen (Nottingham, North)When she plans to meet the Council for Museums and Libraries to discuss the funding of regional museums in Nottingham. [34228]
§ The Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting (Dr. Kim Howells)My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts regularly meets Lord Evans of Temple Guiting, the chairman of resource, the Council for Museums and Libraries, to discuss the funding of museums in all the English regions, including the east midlands.
§ Mr. AllenMy hon. Friend will be aware of the rich diversity of museums in Nottingham: there is not just the traditional Robin Hood, Nottingham castle, Newstead abbey and Wollaton hall, but contemporary shows such as the Warhol exhibition and very good outreach work by the city council in the education sector. Will he take the opportunity to visit Nottingham in the near future, above all to discuss the co-ordination between the four counties of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire on the renaissance in the regions fund? There is £267 million in that fund, and I assure my hon. Friend that if he comes to Nottingham we will make a good case as to why we should have at least our fair share of that.
§ Dr. HowellsI look forward to that visit, and I am sure that my hon. Friend will make a good case; he always does.