HC Deb 22 May 1989 vol 153 cc398-9W
60. Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the state of repair of the buildings of the national museums and galleries.

Mr. Luce

The national museums and galleries which I sponsor provide information on the state of their buildings in their corporate plans which are updated each year and which I and my officials discuss with them.

61. Dr. Marek

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on staffing costs as a percentage of total running costs in the national galleries and museums.

Mr. Luce

As an average, staffing costs for national museums and galleries represented 73 per cent. of total running costs for the year 1988–89.

65. Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the education budgets of the national galleries and museums.

Mr. Luce

Education is very much a part of the function of the national museums and galleries and one to which they attach great importance. Details of their activities are contained in their trustees' reports, which are publicly available.

69. Mr. Battle

To ask the Minister for the Arts when he last met the chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission to discuss the acquisition, maintenance and staffing budgets of the national museums and galleries.

Mr. Luce

I meet the chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission quite frequently and on a wide range of subjects which have included matters raised in the commission's May 1988 report on the national museums.

70. Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Minister for the Arts what steps he will take to ensure that museums and galleries have adequate resources for structural maintenance to ensure adequate safeguarding of their collections.

Mr. Luce

I recognise this as a priority area and have made substantial increases in the provision for building and maintenance work at the national museums and galleries which I sponsor. The current year's provision of £48 million represents a 50 per cent. increase in real terms since 1979–80. Further increases will bring the figure to £55 million by 1991–92.

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