HC Deb 17 July 1989 vol 157 c57W
50. Mr. Stern

To ask the Minister for the Arts how many of the national museums and galleries have established branches outside London.

Mr. Luce

Of the 10 London-based national museums and galleries five have established outstations outside the capital—the British museum (natural history), and Imperial war museum, the National portrait gallery, the Science museum and the Tate gallery. The Victoria and Albert museum is considering relocating part of its Indian collection to Bradford. Since 1986, the national museums and galleries on Merseyside have been supported from the arts programme.

I greatly welcome these developments which help to make our national collections more accessible to a wider public.