§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Minister for the Arts what is his latest estimate of the fall in visits by school parties to(a) theatres and (b) museums.
§ Mr. Luce[holding answer 6 November 1989]: I am currently monitoring the information available with the help of the Museums and Galleries Commission and the Arts Council.
£ thousand 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 British Museum 1,517 1,692 1,590 1,617 1,737 1,460 1,400 1,400 1,400 1,400 British Museum (Natural History) 113 157 171 181 190 190 190 190 190 190 Imperial War Museum 90 110 87 97 147 100 100 100 100 100 National Gallery 3,109 2,930 2,988 3,331 3,331 2,750 2,750 2,750 2,750 2,750 National Maritime Museum 244 178 182 203 203 205 205 205 205 205 National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside — — — — — — — — 750 1750 National Portrait Gallery 291 302 278 310 301 310 310 310 310 310 Science Museum 355 362 336 434 416 461 375 375 375 375 Tate Gallery 1,888 1,794 1,860 2,041 1,815 1,815 1,815 1,815 1,815 1,815 Victoria and Albert Museum 1,130 1,160 1,184 1,320 1,320 1,145 1,145 1,145 1,145 1,145