§ Mr. Moneyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the light of recent incidents at the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, he is satisfied with the arrangements for the safety of works of art in national collections; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Hugh JenkinsOn 10th March a vase at the British Museum was kicked by a visitor and smashed. On 24th March at the Victoria and Albert Museum a visitor threw a pot of paint into a display cabinet containing stem glasses, damaging 54 of them. In each case a person has been charged and is currently before the courts. Except for the Victoria and Albert and Science Museums, which are the direct responsibility of my right hon. Friend, security arrangements of the national museums and galleries in England are the responsibility of the Trustees. All the institutions may call upon the advice of the Security Adviser to the National Museums and Galleries who is on the strength of the Department of Education and Science. In general, I am satisfied that the security arrangements are as good as can be achieved, but it is hardly practicable in a public place to guarantee complete protection against acts of wilful and irrational damage.