HL Deb 03 February 1986 vol 470 cc888-90

2.40 p.m.

Lord Lovell-Davis

My 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 what progress has been made towards the provision of a new museum in the London Docklands in association with the Museum of London, to present London's role as a port, industrial and commercial centre, upon which the Minister for the Arts sought the views of the Museum and Galleries Commission in 1980.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)

My Lords, with financial assistance from the London Docklands Development Corporation, the Museum of London has been developing proposals for a Museum in Docklands in London's West India Docks. I understand that a Museum in Docklands Trust which will be responsible for fund raising and future developments is now being set up independently.

Lord Lovell-Davis

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that informative and fairly encouraging reply. Is he able to tell the House what progress has been made in funding the new museum and whether the necessary approvals are being expedited, since developers tend to get impatient once they start work on a project? Will he seek to encourage the developers in this particular area to give their fullest support to the scheme so that this year, which appropriately is Industry Year, may see the founding of London's new Museum in Docklands?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I understand that the new trust body will be seeking funds from a variety of sources and will be in discussion with the London Docklands Development Corporation and the local authorities concerned, and that the estimated cost of the development is some £7.5 million. If the noble Lord will forgive me, I do not think that it would be appropriate to go into the details of planning here. As regards the Government giving support, that is a matter for the trust but we welcome the proposal as an imaginative contribution to the redevelopment of the docklands.

Lord Mellish

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the principle of a museum is welcomed very much by the Docklands Development Corporation? The big question mark—and it is the oldest one in the world—is exactly what site it will be, what is suitable for the museum, and also, as the Minister has said, the whole question of funds. As to that, I understand that the Docklands Development Corporation will certainly make a contribution. The maintenance of the museum and so on is quite another matter, but the principle is accepted and that must be important.

Lord Belstead

My Lords, the site is on the north quay of the old West India Dock—

Lord Mellish

I know, my Lords.

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I thought that the noble Lord asked me. The Docklands Development Corporation has indeed been very much involved in this. My information is that it has made funds available so that preparatory work can begin on collecting material, for instance, very near to the site where it is proposed that the museum shall be.

Lord Strabolgi

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that this museum is expected to attract about 400,000 visitors a year? Will the Government do all they can to help and encourage it, as it will also do much to redress the imbalance of the cultural provision between Docklands and the rest of London?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I understand that the intention is for the new museum to be self-financing through an admission charge, trading activities and other things. Of course, we are watching this closely and sympathetically, because the Government have their part in the Museum of London.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is the Minister aware that his last remark about the admission charge is the only unwelcome news we have had on this subject so far? Will he say that it is his hope that the funding will be on a basis on which the museum will not be forced to have to charge the public for entry?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, that is the expressed intention, as I understand it through the Museum of London, for the new museum.

Viscount St. Davids

My Lords, will Her Majesty's Government consider repealing the Dock Labour Act, and thus prevent London's port becoming only a museum? Although this may not be quite the same question and therefore not answerable at this moment, will they consider it?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I think that is getting a bit wide of the original Question.