§ Sir Nicholas FairbairnTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much expenditure on local museums has increased since 1979, both in terms of Government grant-in-aid and expenditure by local authorities.
§ Mr. Allan StewartGovernment support for local museums is channelled through the Scottish Museums Council, which works to improve the quality of local museums and gallery provision in Scotland. The council's grant-in-aid from Government has increased from £145,000 in 1979–80 to £665,000 in 1991–92, an increase in real terms of 98 per cent. Information on local authorities' expenditure on museums was not available separately until 1983–84. However, expenditure on museums and libraries has increased from £27.8 million in 1979–80 to £93.8 million in 1991–92, an increase in real terms of 46 per cent. On museums alone the increase in expenditure from 1983–84 to 1991–92 is 24.1 per cent. in real terms.