§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Minister for the Arts if he will make a statement on the future funding of the English National Opera and London Festival Ballet.
§ Mr. Luce[holding answer 28 July 1988]: These companies receive their public funding from the Arts Council and from Westminster city council, on behalf of London generally. I am aware of the anxieties which have been expressed about the continuation of Westminster's contribution when the basis of local authority finance is changed. I hope that all the parties which currently
Number1 of visitors to National museums and galleries 1978–1987 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 British Museum (Natural History) 2,901 2,869 2,410 3,299 2,869 3,193 3,022 3,354 3,240 1,999 Imperial War Museum 1,462 1,419 1,449 1,160 1,180 1,256 1,366 1,291 1,176 1,185 National Maritime Museum 1,260 1,102 1,145 997 997 600 600 600 380 442 NMGM — — — — — — — — 1,163 1,329 Science Museum 5,176 5,147 5,790 5,464 4,554 4,784 4,510 4,608 4,825 4,733 Tate Gallery 1,081 1,141 1,331 891 1,219 1,270 1,266 997 1,153 1,742 Victoria and Albert Museum 1,937 1,992 1,724 1,711 2,058 2,221 2,079 2,067 1,439 1,399 Total 13,817 13,670 13,849 13,522 12,877 13,324 12,843 12,917 13,376 12,829 1 in thousands.