HC Deb 21 December 1973 vol 866 cc475-7W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will introduce legislation to enable all nonprofit making museums and galleries to qualify for the benefits of charitable status.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

No. A non-profit-making museum or gallery has charitable status unless its property either is not held on trusts or is held on trusts for purposes not regarded by the law as charitable. It would not be appropriate to confer the benefits of charitable status on such museums and galleries.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy under the newly announced arrangements for the administration of the charging scheme at the national museums and galleries, regarding the free access to lecture rooms within the institutions, both during normal opening hours and after closing time.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

In general, there will be no charge for admission to lectures as such, but, apart from free days, if admission to the lecture room during normal opening hours cannot be organised without granting admission also to the collections, normal entrance chages will be paid, except by those, such as prearranged educational parties, who are otherwise exempt. Special arrangements according to circumstances will need to be made, as at present, for the use of lecture rooms after normal closing time.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy, under the newly announced arrangements for the administration of the charging scheme at the national museums and galleries, regarding the issue to members of the curatorial and scientific staffs of those institutions of season tickets at no charge, having regard to the professional advantage of their having access to institutions other than their own.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

If any of the staff of a national museum or gallery is required in the course of his duty to visit another of the institutions he will normally be an official visitor and will be admitted free. If he is not on duty he will be treated as a member of the public.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy, under the newly announced arrangements for the administration of the charging scheme at the national museums and galleries, regarding the free admission of registered handicapped persons and their attendants.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

An attendant required to assist a registered handicapped person on a visit to one of the national museums and galleries may, at the discretion of the institution concerned, be admitted without charge. The charge for a single visit by a registered handicapped person will be 5p throughout the year; for a season ticket admitting to all 18 national museums and galleries for a year the charge will be 50p. It is for the authority of each museum or gallery to make the detailed arrangements for the admission of such persons.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy, under the newly announced arrangements for the administration of the charging scheme at the national museums and galleries, regarding free access to specialised libraries within the institutions and also to study rooms for the examination of objects of historic, scientific or artistic interest, such as drawings or prints; and whether she will ask that steps be taken to apprise visitors of these facilities before payment is claimed.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

As has already been announced, there will be no charge for bona fide library readers or for students and scholars on prearranged visits. It is for the authorities of each museum or gallery to make the detailed arrangements for giving effect to these exemptions from charges.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy, under the newly announced arrangements for the administration of the charging scheme at the national museums and galleries, towards the trustees of these institutions, at their discretion, issuing season tickets without payment to persons who, in their judgment, have rendered services to their institutions, whether financial or otherwise.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

In answer to a Question by the hon. Member on 14th November 1972—[Vol. 846, c. 106–7]—I gave details of arrangements for friends of the institutions and for contributors to the National Art-Collections Fund and the Contemporary Art Society.

Mr. Money

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the security arrangements for the national collections during the period of the proposed power cuts.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

Yes.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the Wallace Collection is a charitable institution.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

The Wallace Collection is not registered as a charity.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the London Museum is a charitable institution.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

The London Museum is registered as a charity under Section 4 of the Charities Act 1960.