§ Mr. Stan Crowtherasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she will decide whether or not to approve the proposal of the Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum to abolish the regional loan service; how many exhibitions have been sent on tour by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the last 12 months; and in how many towns they have been presented.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonWhen the Director's final proposals for effecting cuts in the staff of the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Staff Side comments are received my right hon. Friend and my noble Friend will consider them in relation to all the relevant circumstances. 69 exhibitions were sent out by 279W the Museum's Loan Service in the last 12 months, which were shown on 297 occasions in 119 towns. In addition, 194 collections of objects were sent to 846 exhibitions in 152 colleges of art and polytechnics during the last academic year.