§ Mr. AtkinsonTo ask the Minister for the Arts what is his response to the Audit Commission report "The Road to Wigan Pier" on the funding of local museums; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonI welcome the Audit Commission's report, "The Road to Wigan Pier?" which makes a number of constructive recommendations for local authorities and their museums and galleries. Officials from my Department have had a constructive discussion with the Audit Commission on the report.
The Audit Commission's report covered similar ground to the recently published Museums and Galleries Commission report on local authorities and museums. I will be responding to that report in due course.