§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why she did not obtain the consent in principle of the Boards of Trustees of the National Museums and Galleries before the Government's announcement of 27th October, 1970, was made and before the consequent discussions of the practical problems involved, that the trustees would impose admission charges on their authority.
§ Mr. van Straubenzee:The decision to impose admission charges was part of a group of decisions relating to public finance, and it is for the Government to decide what consultations are desirable or necessary in such circumstances before a public announcement is made. Once the decision has been taken that charges should be made, they have to be made on the authority of the Trustees whose powers must therefore be adequate for this purpose.