HC Deb 26 January 1973 vol 849 cc268-70W
Mr. Prescott

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the chartering cost to his Department for the tug "Statesman", and for what length of period.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

£1,500 per day for one month, with an option to renew.

Mr. Prescott

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the chartering fee for the tug "Statesman" is paid to the Liberian company or the British chartering company; and whether the fee reflects the dangerous nature of the operation.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

To the British company. The operation is not regarded as more dangerous than other charters, and the fee is at the standard rate.

Mr. Prescott

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which British company has chartered the Liberian tug "Statesman" to his Depart-

1969 1970 1971 1972
British Museum: (Thousands)
Bloomsbury … … 2,051 2,260 2,579 2,762 (1)
Burlington Gardens … … — — 101 123
Tutankhamun Exhibition … … — — — 1,650*
Science Museum … … 2,126 2,121 1,942 1,936
Victoria and Albert Museum … … 1,263 1,473 1,786 1,360
Bethnal Green Museum … … 151 202 132 126
Imperial War Museum … … 622 597 557 586
London Museum:
Museum … … 284 289 308 342
State Apartments … … 149 162 204 34 (2)
National Gallery … … 1,553 1,750 1,859 1,774
National Maritime Museum:
Museum … … 719 797 1,076 1,000 (3)
Old Royal Observatory … … 402 509 514 500 (3)
National Portrait Gallery … … 323 714 513 423
Tate Gallery … … 933 935 936 913
Wallace Collection … … 150 156 153 135
British Museum (Natural History) … … 1,368 1,489 1,510 1,517
Zoological Museum Tring … … 73 79 66 96
Geological Museum … … 502 407 345 395
National Gallery of Scotland … … 179 220 241 196
Scottish National Portrait Gallery … (4)
National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland … 101 107 57 70
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art … … 223 218 94 68
Royal Scottish Museum … … 590 575 534 507
National Museum of Wales … … 436 455 383 346
Welsh Folk Museum … … 156 172 185 195
Total … … 14,354 15,687 16,075 17,050
*Provisional figure

Notes

(1) Admissions to the Tutankhamun Exhibition, which exceeded 1,650,000 between April and December 1972, are shown separately. Attendance at other special exhibitions is included in the remaining total.

(2) The State Apartments have been closed to the public for refurbishing since April 1972.

(3) Only estimated figures for 1972 are available.

(4) The Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the National Musuem of Antiquities of Scotland share a building with a common entrance.

ment; what is its relationship to the Liberian company to which the tug belongs; and whether the British company owns any trawlers presently in Icelandic waters which the tug has been sent to protect.

Mr. Anthony Stodart

United Towing Ltd. has chartered the vessel to us; the Liberian company has a long-term charter arrangement with the British company; no British fishing vessels off Iceland are registered as belonging to United Towing.