§ 2.56 p.m.
§ Lord CrathorneMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the Theatre Museum to open.
The Minister of State, Privy Council Office, and Minister for the Arts (The Earl of Gowrie)My Lords, assuming that the building work proceeds on the timetable envisaged, the Theatre Museum's Covent Garden premises should be ready to be opened to the public during 1986 or early 1987. I hope it will be possible to let the building contracts for building starts very shortly indeed.
§ Lord CrathorneMy Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for that Answer. I am sure that he will be aware how much we are looking forward to the opening after this long delay, and the sooner the better.
§ Lord Jenkins of PutneyMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that the decision to locate the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden was announced in another place by a Labour predecessor of his in 1975? Since then, there have been three Conservative Arts Ministers who do not seem to have been hurrying themselves enormously in the last eight years. Nevertheless, is the noble Earl further aware that we warmly welcome the fact that at last he is able, apparently, to put a date on matters? Would he not agree that it is sad that the date 244 is as far away as 1986 or 1987? Nevertheless, will he accept that we are very glad to know that at least he has put a date on it? Will he do whatever he can to see that it goes ahead as quickly as possible?
The Earl of GowrieMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his welcome of my announcement. I would point out to him that a Labour predecessor may have announced the project in 1975 but I notice that no Labour predecessor of mine actually brought it to fruition.