HL Deb 12 March 1990 vol 516 cc1454-5WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any more alterations are proposed to the interior of the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, and if so what, and whether English Heritage has been consulted.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trurnpington): The Trustees of the Natural History Museum have a long-term programme for developing their exhibitions to the public. New and updated displays are needed as science advances and as display techniques evolve. Work is currently in progress on a major new ecology exhibition.

The galleries in which exhibitions are housed have been maintained and restored at considerable cost and to a very high standard. As provided for in Circular 18/84 issued by the Secretary of State for the Environment, the local planning authorities are always consulted when alterations to exhibitions involve work that would materially affect the fabric of the building; local planning authorities notify English Heritage of such consultations.