HC Deb 02 April 1974 vol 871 cc309-10W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the total proceeds from admission charges collected during 1973 by the Victoria and Albert Museum at the Wellington Museum, Apsley House.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

The gross receipts from admission charges at the Wellington Museum in 1973 were £4,735.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the total proceeds from admission charges collected during 1973 by the Victoria and Albert Musum from visitors to Osterley Park House and Ham House, respectively, in its capacity as administrator on behalf of the National Trust.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

The gross receipts from admission charges in 1973 at Osterley Park House were £4,047 and at Ham House £3,716.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the reasons for the continuance of admission charges at the Wellington Museum, Apsley House, bearing in mind that this museum only differs from its parent institution, the Victoria and Albert Museum, in so far as its entire contents passed to the nation as a gift.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

The arrangements under which the public have paid to see Apsley House date from 1952 and were not affected by my statement about the abolition of the admission charges recently imposed. Having regard, however, to the great importance of the collection, to the relatively small number of people who see it, and the desirability for ensuring that it is more widely seen, I am considering whether the charges should be ended there as well.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether proceeds from admission charges to Osterley Park House and Ham House which are administered by the Victoria and Albert Museum on behalf of the National Trust are made available to the National Trust.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

Under the arrangements by which Ham House was leased to the Government in 1949 and Osterley Park House in 1953 the Exchequer bears the expenses of maintaining and showing the houses, displays there objects from the collection of the V. and A. Museum, and retains the receipts from the public.