§ Mr. John Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will arrange an application to the Court of Session for an interpretation of the conditions contained in the will of Henry Vaughan relating to the exhibition of pictures in the National Gallery of Scotland, in the light of the Government's intentions regarding the implementation of admission charges.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellNo. Both of the interpretations of the relevant conditions which have been put to me will be met under the arrangements I have in view.
I have arranged that admission to the National Gallery at the Mound will be free in January each year. I have also asked the trustees to ensure that at other times the Turner drawings will be available 348W for inspection or copying by interested members of the public, subject to the same rules and regulations as are in force at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge. With these arrangements, I am satisfied that the conditions in the will of Mr. Henry Vaughan would not constitute an impediment to charging on the basis proposed.