HC Deb 02 February 1987 vol 109 cc539-40W
Mr. Frank Field

asked the Minister for the Arts if, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Birkenhead on museum collections not on show to the public of 26 January, Official Report, column 76, he will list similar information for the Victoria and Albert museum.

Mr. Luce

Due to the great variety of objects in the Victoria and Albert museum's collections, it is not possible to give a simple answer to this question.

All objects are available for viewing by the public including those that for conservation reasons cannot be constantly on display in public galleries—for example, light-sensitive works.

The percentage on show ranges from 95 per cent. for ceramics to only 5 per cent. for the light-sensitive objects.