§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether her Department gave instructions to members of the staff of the Victoria and Albert Museum to refrain from writing to the Press or appearing on television during the month of January; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsMembers of the staff of the museum, like all other civil servants, must seek special permission before they comment in public on matters relating to their work. Taking account of the established principles for dealing with such questions my Department turned down a request by some members of the staff to write to the Press about the affairs of the museum. In January the director received two invitations to appear on television; he was advised against accepting the first and was left free to accept the second. I am normally willing to permit him, as head of the museum, to appear on television or write in the newspapers if he wishes to do so.