§ Mr. Bakerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is in a position to make a statement on the restoration of the financial cuts in the estimates for 36W national museums, in view of the curtailment of archaeological research and the difficulty experienced in the maintenance of our museums.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe idea that there have been financial cuts in the museums is founded on a misapprehension. Government expenditure on museums in the current year exceeded the amount made available last year by £85,000. The Museum and Gallery Estimates for 1953–54 are now being considered and I cannot anticipate the results of that examination.