§ Mr. MillerTo ask the Minister for the Arts (1) what proportion of the collections acquired by them have been displayed to the public during the last three years in(a) the Tate gallery, (b) the National gallery and (c) the British museum;
(2) what proportion of the collections bequeathed to them have been displayed to the public during the last three years in (a) the Tate gallery, (b) the National gallery and (c) the British museum.
§ Mr. LuceAll the pictures in the National gallery collection, whether bequeathed or acquired by other means are on permanent display to the public. This is not possible for the Tate gallery or the British museum whose collections are very much larger. Statistics are not available in the form asked for, but all the national museums and galleries are aware of the priority I attach to improving public access to their collections. Any items not selected for permanent display, either because constant exposure would damage them or because space is not available, are, however, available to the public on request. In addition, both institutions regularly rotate items between their reserve collections and public display. I continue to encourage our great national museums and galleries to make the national treasures which they house more widely accessible.