§ Mr. MacKayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account her Department took of the Museums Association Code of Practice for Museum Governing Bodies in the preparation of the draft Museums and Galleries (NI) Order 1997. [21134]
§ Mr. Worthington[holding answer 16 December 1997]: The Department took into account the comments received from the Museums Association on the proposal for a draft Order. Its comments would obviously reflect its code of practice.
§ Mr. MacKayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the draft Museums and Galleries (NI) Order 1997, what representations were received from the Museums and Galleries Commission on the subject of powers to override trusts or conditions which prohibit or restrict the disposal of objects donated to museums and galleries. [21132]
§ Mr. Worthington[holding answer 16 December 1997]: The Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC) expressed concern that the powers of disposal contained within the first draft Order which was published in March 1997 were too wide-ranging and suggested wording similar to that used in Scottish legislation.
These views were taken into account in framing the revised draft which was laid on 25 November 1997 and which restricted the circumstances in which disposal could be considered.
On the day the draft Order was considered by Parliament, the Government received a letter from MGC expressing the view that although the revised draft represented overall a considerable improvement, they considered that the revised wording allowed scope for disposal beyond what they considered appropriate.
§ Mr. MacKayTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what account her Department took of the298W guidance in the Department of National Heritage Review of Museum Policy in the preparation of the draft Museums and Galleries (NI) Order 1997. [21135]
§ Mr. Worthington[holding answer 16 December 1997]: As the policy document "Treasures in Trust" was essentially an English document relating to English museums, it was not taken into account in detail by the previous Government when it proposed the draft Order. However, account was taken of many of the general principles expressed, where appropriate.