HC Deb 06 March 1979 vol 963 cc661-2W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the decision was taken that the increase in grants to the area museum councils should be spent on circulating exhibitions; when the museum councils were so informed; and what their response has been.

Mr. Oakes

Each of the area museum councils is free to decide for itself how its Government grant should be spent, provided that the expenditure is for purposes approved in principle by the Government, has the approval of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries and is matched by local contributions. My noble Friend the Minister with responsibility for the Arts has on a number of occasions expressed his hope that the 28 per cent. increase in their grants in 1978–79 would result in an increase in the assistance provided by the councils for many years with the circulation of exhibitions in their areas. The further increase in grants proposed for 1979–80, which was announced by my right hon.

The following new earnings survey estimates of average gross hourly earnings exclude the effects of overtime pay and hours but still include the effects of piecework, productivity and other incentive payments and of premium payments for shift, night and weekend work. They relate to April 1978 and to full-time workers of all grades in all manual occupations including supervisors and workers other than operatives. Since they do not relate to directly comparable ranges of jobs precise comparisons with the Remploy figure are not very meaningful.

Estimates are not available for bookbinding, outerwear manufacture and light engineering. The estimates are rounded to the nearest penny.

Friend on 14 February 1979—[Vol. 962, c. 543.]—should allow such improvements to be sustained. The success of these efforts will depend on the willingness of local museums to make their requirements clearly known and to make a contribution from their own resources.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she intends to implement the Drew report's recommendation that extra funds be provided to area councils and national museums for circulating exhibitions.

Mr. Oakes

My right hon. Friend is studying the recommendations of the Drew report. The proposed grants to area museum councils for 1979–80, which were announced by my right hon. Friend on 14 February 1979—[Vol. 962, c. 543.]—are higher than those for the present year. I hope enough money will be available to the national institutions in 1979–80 to allow them to increase the number of travelling exhibitions.