§ 95. Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Minister for the Arts if he will estimate the number of staff in post at museums now; and what was the figure 10 years ago; what has been the average real increase in rates of pay since 1979; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceThe most recent available figures for museum employment in the United Kingdom are for 1984 when the census of employment showed some 28,000 people employed in museums and galleries. Numbers of staff in post at the national museums and galleries which I sponsor are currently 5,413, compared with some 4,200 in 1979, at which time the national museums and galleries on Merseyside were not include in the figures.
Estimates of average real pay increases for museum staff are not available. However, for all non-industrial grades in the Civil Service, with which staff in the national museums and galleries are analogous for pay and grading purposes, real salaries have increased by around 20 per cent. since 1979.