HL Deb 27 July 1999 vol 604 cc174-5WA
Lord Freyberg

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will confirm the statement in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport news release of 12 July that the Secretary of State will scrap admission charges for national museums and galleries for everybody in 2001; and whether they will give further details of how this will be achieved. [HL3700]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

Funds are available to the national museums and galleries in England which currently charge for admission to permit free access for children from April this year and for pensioners from April 2000. Reserve funds have been set aside to broaden access further in 2001.

Discussions are being held with these institutions concerning the introduction of free access for all visitors in 2001. Decisions concerning admission charges are for the trustees of the institutions themselves and not for the Secretary of State.