§ Baroness Gardner of Parkesasked Her Majesty's Government:
What future arrangements are envisaged for the local museum purchase grant schemes at present administered by the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum.
The Earl of GowrieIn the light of the consultations last year, and of subsequent discussions with the two museums and the Museums and Galleries Commission, I have decided to confirm the proposal to transfer responsibility for the local museum purchase grant schemes to the commission with effect from April 1985. The Victoria and Albert and Science Museums will, for the time being, continue to administer the schemes on behalf of the commission, within guidelines agreed between them and the commission. The operating arrangements will be subject to review in the light of experience.
This solution takes account of the views expressed during the consultations that the transfer would be in keeping with the developing role of the commission and with the newly-acquired trustee status of the two museums, which makes it less appropriate that they should continue to be the sole agents for the disbursement of these centrally-provided funds. It also responds to the widely-voiced concern that any changes should be such as not to inhibit the speed and flexibility of handling grant applications, or to forgo the valuable expertise and continuity provided by the museums. I pay tribute to the skill with which the museums and their staff have operated the schemes over the years, and which I am confident will be preserved under the new arrangements.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the Supply Estimates for 1985–86 will provide for the transfer of Vote accountability for the grant funds, which will remain at the levels planned in 1984–85 despite the reductions I am making in purchase grants elsewhere.