§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what use she has put the money saved by ending the circulating exhibitions of the Victoria and Albert museum.
§ Mr. Oakes:The reduction in Civil Service manpower was not made to produce savings for use elsewhere in the public service. The financial provision for the V & A has been scaled down to take account of the reduction in costs.
§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what approaches she has made to national museums about providing a new system of circulating exhibitions to the provinces to replace the service no longer 111W provided by the Victoria and Albert museum; what financial support she has offered for the administrative and insurance costs of such exhibitions ; who will co-ordinate the arrangements ; and what response has been received.
§ Mr. Oakes:After discussions on this subject with the national museums, in which the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries participated, a number of national institutions have increased their activities and plans for a further increase are being discussed. The Government have given a substantially increased grant this year to the area museum councils, in the expectation that this will help towards improving local arrangements for circulating exhibitions. These measures have been well received.