§ Mr. DevlinTo ask the Minister for the Arts how many and which national museums do not have adequate fire alarms(a) at their main gallery and (b) at any storage warehouse; what proposals he has to remedy this defect; how many do not currently meet fire regulations; when they were last inspected for safe electrical wiring; and what was the result of these inspections.
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§ Mr. LuceAll national museums and galleries have fire alarm and precaution systems which, since the institutions untied from the Property Services Agency, are subject to inspection by the appropriate local authority fire officer. Fire alarm systems, which are often combined with security systems, are upgraded and updated as and when necessary, in consultation with the fire officer. A completely new fire and security system is being installed in the National gallery to coincide with the opening of the Sainsbury wing and the British museum is also planning to replace and upgrade its present system.
Institutions carry out regular inspections of their wiring, and replace it when necessary. Work is in progress, for example, on a major new high voltage ring main system serving all three of the South Kensington museums.
Directors very rightly treat these basic safety matters as of high priority.