§ 31. Mr. Straussasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what her latest estimate is of the yearly income likely to accrue to the Treasury from entrance charges to the national museums and galleries taking into account the reduction in some of these charges since the scheme was first proposed and the current attendance figures.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasGross annual receipts from admission charges are estimated at about £1.2 million, of which £1.1 million will be appropriated directly in aid of the Votes of the museums and galleries and £0.1 million will be due to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise as value added tax, though a roughly equivalent sum of input tax will be recovered by the museums and galleries because they charge for admission. The cost of collecting the charges will be about £0.2 million, most of which will be the cost of staff borne on the Votes of the museums and galleries.
§ Mr. Straussasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what her estimate is of the net Government expenditure on the national museums and galleries during the fiscal year 1973–74.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasAbout £23 million, for national museums and galleries in England, Scotland and Wales and including the British Museum (Natural History) and the Geological Museums. This includes the estimated net extra cost arising from special purchase grants, pay increases already authorised in stage 2 of the counter-inflation programme and the shortfall in receipts consequent upon the postponement of the introduction of admission charges until 1st January, 1974.