HL Deb 27 July 1972 vol 333 cc1499-500

3.28 p.m.

LORD STRABOLGI

My Lords, I beg leave the ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper,

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a Statement can now be made in connection with free access on one day weekly at certain national museums and galleries, if and when admission charges are introduced.

THE PAYMASTER GENERAL (VISCOUNT ECCLES)

My Lords, discussions with the museums and galleries concerned have not been completed. The Trustees of the Tate Gallery, however, have made an interesting proposal. They want to open the Gallery without charge from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays for an experimental period of one year. They will find half the cost of invigilating during those free periods from a special donation and half from funds at their disposal. Subject to the whole cost of the experiment being met without recourse to public funds, the Government warmly welcome this particular proposal.

LORD STABOLGI

My Lords, I thank the noble Viscount for that reply. May I ask him therefore to confirm whether the trustees who wish to have free days and wish to make similar flexible arrangements will not be opposed in their proposals by the Government?

VISCOUNT ECCLES

My Lords, that depends on whether the particular form in which the trustees might wish to have free days interferes or does not interfere with the main financial proposals of charging.

LORD MAYBRAY-KING

My Lords, is the noble Viscount aware that there are those who admire all he has done in the field of education and culture and that they would admire him more if he acted either to persuade the Government to drop the Bill or at least to grant the concessions which obtain in almost every museum and gallery in every other country in the world?

VISCOUNT ECCLES

No, my Lords. We have debated this point many times. It remains my firm conviction that the result of charging will, on balance, greatly increase the attraction, the size and the amenities of our main museums.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, would the noble Viscount agree that the "if" in the wording of this Question is far more important than the "when", and is there not still a distinct possibility that the "when" may not be realised?

VISCOUNT ECCLES

My Lords, the other place will be taking the final stages of the Bill shortly.