HC Deb 30 April 1969 vol 782 c237W
75 and 77. Mr. A. Royle

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plans he has for making alterations to the public access to Kew Gardens in the future;

(2) how many visitors entered Kew Gardens annually during the past 20 years; and what are the terms of the gift of the Gardens to the nation by Queen Victoria in 1840.

Mr. John Mackie

I can give the hon. Member a categorical assurance that my right hon. Friend has no plans for making alterations to the public access to Kew Gardens. These Gardens were given to the nation by Queen Victoria for scientific and educational purposes and for use as a public amenity. I will send the hon. Member the statistics of the number of visitors during the past 20 years, but the yearly number of visitors is around 1 million.