§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Minister for the Arts what financial support his Department gives to working industrial museums.
§ Mr. LuceThe many working industrial museums around the country play an important part in preserving our industrial heritage.
Funding from the Office of Arts and Libraries for local museums in England is disbursed via the Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC) and the network of seven area museum councils and a number of working industrial museums benefit from these funds. Additionally, the Science museum, on behalf of the MGC, administers a grant scheme which has recently expanded in scope to assist with the preservation as well as the purchase of industrial and scientific material. In November 1989 I announced an increase of £1 million over the next three years to the local museums purchase funds, of which this is one.
The MGC is also able to offer professional advice and operates a capital grant scheme to assist with the cost of 111W housing collections. Area museum councils give grants for restoration and conservation and also offer advice on a wide range of subjects, including interpretation, training and marketing and management.