§ Mr. GarnierTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if he will ensure that the Higher Education Funding Council's criteria for making funding awards to university museums are published; [6306]
(2) what proposals he has to co-ordinate policy with the Scottish Office and the Department of National Heritage with regard to the funding of university museums; and if he will make a statement; [6307]
(3) what proposals he has to review the criteria by which the Higher Education Funding Council allocates funds to university museums; [6310]
(4) if he will list the university museums which receive funds from the Higher Education Funding Council, stating in each case how much each museum has received in the last five financial years and how much it will receive in future financial years for which funding has been determined; [6316]
(5) if he will list the museums in England and Wales which receive non-formula funding from the Higher Education Council. [6318]
§ Dr. HowellsMost university museums are funded by their parent universities. In addition the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) provides "non-formula funding" in support of a number of university museums of national importance. These are listed in HEFCE Circular 9/95, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.
The HEFCE reviewed its non-formula funding of museums in 1993 and 1994 and announced its decisions in March 1995. The criteria for funding were published in HEFCE Circulars 5/93, 46/93 and 9/95, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.
Circular 9/95 listed the amounts that each museum would receive in 1995–96 and announced the Council's decision that, on the recommendation of its Museums. Galleries and Collections Review Group, the distribution of non-formula funding in respect of university museums would not be reviewed for at least five years. Funding allocations in support of university museums before 1995–96 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The Department for Education and Employment, the other Education Departments and the Department of National Heritage work together closely on policy for funding university museums. Funding of university museums in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales respectively.