HC Deb 30 January 1978 vol 943 cc34-5W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the likely commencement and completion dates of the extension to the Tate Gallery, the building of the new galleries at the British Museum, the building of the new galleries at the Science Museum, and the extension of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Mr. Oakes

Outstanding work on the second phase of the extension to the Tate Gallery is due for completion at the end of 1978. The third phase will follow shortly thereafter and is expected to be completed early in 1980.

The new galleries at the British Museum were started in November 1975 and building work should be completed shortly after Easter 1978.

Building work on the new galleries for the Science Museum is now finished.

Conversion of the Henry Cole Building, previously known as the Huxley Building, in Exhibition Road, to provide additional accommodation for the Victoria and Albert Museum should commence shortly and is expected to be completed in about mid-1980. The adaptation of premises in Covent Garden for the museum's theatre collection is planned to begin soon and to take approximately 12 months to complete.