§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Minister for the Arts how many representations he received, prior to the publication of his consultative paper "Powers of Disposal from Museums and Gallery Collections", from directors of national museums and galleries requesting a widening of powers of disposal.
§ Mr. Luce[holding answer 7 November 1988]The directors and trustees of the national museums and galleries are considering the adequacy of their powers of disposal in the light of the consultative paper. Two institutions had already indicated prior to the publication of the paper that they would welcome some widening of the powers.
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§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will list separately the present powers of disposal enjoyed by each of the national museums and galleries.
§ Mr. Luce[holding answer 7 November 1988]The powers of disposal available to the trustees of the national museums and galleries for which my Department is responsible are laid down as follows:
British Museum
- British Museum Act 1963 Section 5
British Museum (Natural History)
- British Museum Act 1963 Sections 5 and 8
Imperial War Museum
- Imperial War Museum Act 1920 Section 2
National Gallery
- National Gallery and Tate Gallery Act 1954
- Sections 2 and 6
National Maritime Museum
- National Maritime Museum Act 1934 Sections 2 and 6
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside
- The Merseyside Museums and Galleries Order 1986
- Article 6
National Portrait Gallery
- Treasury Minutes of 2 December 1856 et seq appear to preclude disposals
Science Museum
- National Heritage Act 1983 Section 14
Tate Gallery
- National Gallery and Tate Gallery Act 1954
- Sections 1, 2, 5 and 6
Victoria and Albert Museum
- National Heritage Act 1983 Section 6
Wallace Collection
- Deed of Trust of 27 July 1899 appears to preclude disposals