§ Mr. Hanleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the recent flood at the Victoria and Albert museum.
§ Sir George YoungOn the night of 21–22 March a joint on a temporary water main at the Victoria and Albert museum failed, causing serious flooding of the basement area.
As I understand at the present, the leak was discovered by the museum's warding staff on a routine patrol at about 6.30 am on 22 March. The water main was immediately turned off by the warding staff, and flood water was pumped from the building with the assistance of the fire brigade. The PSA site control officer, and other engineering staff, were also called out and took immediate steps to ensure the safety of electrical supply services, and of heating and air conditioning plant in the building. Water supplies have now been restored and made safe.
As part of a planned programme of renewal and maintenance of the buildings at the museum, PSA's contractors are laying a new main drain to the east of the main museum building. To avoid possible damage to pipes by contractors' machinery, a new temporary water supply main has been laid to avoid these works. I understand that a connection was made from this temporary main to the museum's supply system at 4.15 pm on 21 March. This was the third connection of this kind to have been made 424W during the course of these works. The new connection was monitored for two hours, and was working satisfactorily when the contractor left the site at about 6.15 pm.
I deeply regret the damage that has been caused to the Victoria and Albert's collection as a result of this unfortunate accident. The immediate concern must be to rescue and restore the damaged artefacts and if there is any way in which my Department can help, for example by providing accommodation, we shall do whatever we can. Meanwhile, in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts, I have ordered a full independent investigation into the accident. I shall publish the report.