§ The Earl of Clancartyasked Her Majesty's Government:
In the light of the omission of the term "universal free entry" (to the national museums and galleries) from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's framework document A New Cultural Framework, and in light of their statement that "funds have also been set aside to take this programme (of broadening free access) further in 2001", whether they will reiterate their commitment made in July to the reintroduction of universal free entry to the national museums and galleries in 2001. [HL315]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe Government remain firmly committed to broadening access to museums and galleries.
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State announced on 14 December that funds had been allocated in two stages to allow trustees of currently charging national museums in England to introduce free admission for children in 1999–2000 and pensioners in 2000–01. This reflects our expectation that they will endorse the first two stages of our programme to widen access.
Funds have also been set aside to enable those national museums and galleries in England that wish to offer universal free access in 2001–02 to do so, and discussions about this will take place between my department and the museums over the coming year.
Decisions about free entry will continue to be a matter for the trustees of individual museums.
§ The Earl of Clancartyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have a strategy to ensure that the current admission price for adults to each of the charging national museums and galleries will not increase to compensate for any decrease in income from the introduction of free entry for children in 1999; and, if so, how this strategy will be monitored. [HL372]
14WA
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy right honourable friend the Secretary of State announced last month that funds have been allocated to allow trustees of currently charging national museums in England to introduce free admission for children in 1999–2000.
It will not be necessary for admission charges for adults to be increased, as the funds available will compensate the museums in full for the reduction in income resulting from free admission for children.
Decisions about admission charges remain with the trustees of individual museums.
§ The Earl of Clancartyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will scrutinise and monitor the level of admission charges at each of the national museums and galleries and assess the validity of all proposed increases; and, if so, how they will do this. [HL373]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy right honourable friend the Secretary of State's announcement on 14 December made funding proposals which will enable those national museums and galleries in England which currently charge for admission to extend free access to their collections. Where charges continue to be made, their precise level is a matter for the trustees of the institution concerned. My right honourable friend continues to monitor carefully the overall efficiency and value for money achieved by the national museums and galleries in the light of the substantial grant-in-aid funding they receive.
§ The Earl of Clancartyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will define or issue special guidelines to the national museums and galleries on the upper age limit for school children who will be allowed free entry to such museums and galleries in 1999. [HL374]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy right honourable friend the Secretary of State announced last month that funds have been allocated to enable trustees of currently charging national museums in England to introduce free admission for children in 1999–2000. We expect that this will permit all these museums to allow free entry to all children aged 16 years and under from April 1999.
Decisions about admission charges remain with the trustees of individual museums.