§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) when officers of the national museum of Wales asked Dr. Roderick Bowen, QC to undertake the inquiry into allegations of professional misconduct in the department of art; when these instructions were confirmed to him in writing; when members of staff of the national museum were requested to submit their statements of complaint; and what disciplinary action was taken subsequently with respect to the writer of the unauthorised letter to the president of the national museum, dated 16 September 1982, alleging professional misconduct;
(2) what were the allegations of professional misconduct in the department of art of the national museum of Wales as a result of which a senior member of its council conducted an inquiry in 1982; and when the keeper of the department of art was provided with them in writing;
(3) when the letter of intent relating to the loan of exhibits to Japan by the national museum of Wales was first received by the then acting director; when this letter was first received by the president; when the draft contract was first received by the officers; and when the treasurer undertook to check out the financial arrangements proposed in that draft contract;
(4) when the officers of the national museum of Wales gave their approval for preliminary negotiations to be undertaken by the keeper of art for the loan of exhibits to Japan; when the officers reported their action to the council of the national museum and obtained that body's approval; when the report by the keeper of art on the 1986 fund-raising exhibition in the far east and the attached draft agreements was submitted to the council for its consideration; and who undertook the technical examinations of the venues in Japan on whose judgment the council based its decision to approve the loan.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsUnder the terms of the museum's royal charter, these are matters for which the council has direct management responsibility. I suggest the hon. Gentleman writes to the director.
§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the staffing recommendations of his Department's staff inspectors for the department of art of the national museum of Wales in July 1983; and at what dates each of the new posts recommended were first filled.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe Welsh Office staff inspectors recommended certain grading adjustments and other changes, the net effect of which would have been an increase in the complement of the department of art by one conservator grade E, one half (full-time equivalent) conservator grade G/F. The technician III post also882W recommended already existed. After taking account of the overall staffing situation the museum decided against implementing these recommendations.
§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Wales which consultants were employed to review the functions and management structure of the department of art of the national museum of Wales in 1986; what previous experience those consultants had of museums; and how much of their fees was met from the grant-in-aid.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsTouche Ross and Co was appointed by the national museum of Wales which considered it qualified to conduct this inquiry. The fees were paid from grant-in-aid.
§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on why the national museum of Wales purchased advertising space in the June 1986 issues of The Burlington Magazine, Apollo and the Museums Bulletin to apologise for any defamation that may have accrued to its former keeper of art; how much these advertisements cost; and, in terminating his services by mutual agreement, whether any funds were expended beyond a normal severance payment.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsMy information is that the advertisements were of an explanatory nature and were placed as part of the severance agreement with the former keeper of art. The question of their cost should be put to the museum authorities. The severance payment comprised various moneys to which the former keeper of art had a contractual entitlement, a payment for the completion of research already begun and a £3,155 exgratia payment to facilitate the mutual termination of his employment.