§ Mr. Ancramasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the light of the establishment of the national heritage memorial fund, he will make a statement about the future of the heritage grant for Scotland.
§ Mr. YoungerWhen extra funds to assist with the preservation of the national heritage were first made available in 1978, it was decided that the Scottish share should be kept as a central fund which was entitled the Heritage Grant for Scotland, to which any public of nonprofit-making private museum, gallery or similar institution in Scotland could apply for assistance with purchases. In the light of experience of the administration of the Heritage Grant, and in view of the establishment from 1 April 1980 of the national heritage memorial fund, whose resources are available to assist with the preservation of the national heritage throughout the United Kingdom, I have decided that the Heritage Grant for Scotland should cease to operate from 31 March 1981. The 279W sums allocated to it—£424,000 for 1981–82—will be added to the purchase grants of the four national institutions and the local museums purchase fund.