§ 7. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will encourage national museums and art galleries unable to exhibit all the treasures in their possession to make arrangements for them to be lent to local museums or private exhibitors.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeMy noble Friend strongly supports making loans of reserve material from the national collections to local museums which can provide a suitable standard of care and security. The powers of some museums and galleries are defined by Statute. The problems of finance and security are becoming more difficult in respect of loans whether to museums or to other exhibitions.
§ 30. Mr. Straussasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate she made of increased staff costs in arriving at her estimate of the net yield from entrance charges to museums and galleries.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeThe current estimate for a full year is £165,000.
§ 53. Mr. Straussasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what changes she has made concerning the commencing date on which national museums and galleries are to impose entrance charges.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeAs my noble Friend announced on 9th December, the Government have decided to postpone the date for the general introduction of charges. They will be introduced as soon as convenient after the Museums and Galleries (Admission Charges) Bill has passed through all its stages.