HC Deb 13 April 1978 vol 947 cc516-7W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to whom the details of the distribution of the additional £1 million for the preservation of the national heritage in Class X of the Estimates were made available before they were communicated to the House; when such details were made available to these parties; what use was publicly made of the details; and if she will give an assurance that no steps will in future be taken to make public matters which are the exclusive concern of the House before hon. Members are given the full details.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

As is the custom with a number of other grant-aided bodies, an advance indication for planning purposes of the amount they might expect to receive as acquisition grants is given to the directors of the English national museums and galleries—this year this was done at the end of January. This information is given in strict confidence to enable those concerned to have a basis for planning their expenditure in the financial year ahead. No public use is made of this information, and it is made clear to all that the sum is subject to approval by Parliament.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special steps she has taken since 3rd April to make public the details of the breakdown of the additional £1 million for the preservation of the national heritage contained in Class X of the Estimate for 1978–79; how long elapsed between the formal presentation of those Estimates to the House in dummy and the publication of the details; and whether the delay is longer or shorter than was the case for analogous estimates in the last three years.

Mrs. Shirley Williams

On the day that Class X of the Estimates was published, 6th April, I commented on the provision for the arts in a Written Answer to a Question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Strauss) and my noble Friend the Minister for State with responsibility for the arts held a Press conference later that afternoon. The Estimates were formally presented to the House in dummy on 24th February. In the last three years the relevant dates have been as follows:

Presentation of Estimates in dummy—

  • 11.2.75
  • 17.3.76
  • 22.3.77

Publication of Class X

  • 11.4.75
  • 2.4.76
  • 29.3.77