§ Lord REIGATEasked Her Majesty's Government:
- (1) What was the cost of mounting the exhibition of the work of the PSA in the Banqueting Hall, Whitehall;
- (2) what was the public attendance;
- (3) how long did the exhibition last;
- (4) what was the estimated loss of revenue caused by suspending admission charges during that period.
Baroness BIRK: The exhibition was held to commemorate six hundred years of building for the Crown and State starting from a central organisation created in the fourteenth century, and to give the public an opportunity to see how a wide range of civil and defence construction work is currently being undertaken.
The cost of mounting the exhibition was about £18,000. Some of the material will be re-used at exhibitions in other parts of the country; for example at open days at defence establishments. In addition £4,240 was spent on publicity and leaflets, including those which will be used at the other exhibitions.
The public attendance was about 5,500.
The exhibition was open for 12 days between 25th April and 7th May 1978.
Had the exhibition not been held, the admission charges to the Banqueting House would have amounted to about £400.
House adjourned at twenty-six minutes before nine o'clock.