§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, prior to taking a final decision on the location of a National Railway Museum, she will consider all rail-connected sites located so as to be convenient to the largest possible number of people in this country.
§ Mrs. ThatcherMy noble friend the Paymaster-General cannot undertake to consider schemes for a railway museum which are not fully worked out and supported by any necessary guarantees of finance. If a national railway museum is to be established outside the London area the site at York, for which planning is far advanced, is suitable. My noble Friend regrets the delay in coming to a decision and now expects shortly to complete his consideration of proposals which have been put to him to retain in London the contents of the Museum of British Transport at Clapham. At this stage alternatives could be considered only if they had been worked out in detail and compared reasonably with the York scheme in terms both of cost to public funds and in time required for completion.
§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will consider housing the National Railway Museum in Brunel's Temple Meads Train Shed at Bristol.
§ Mrs. ThatcherNo proposals for a museum at the Temple Meads Train Shed at Bristol have been put to my noble Friend.