§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Minister for the Arts what responsibilities he has in respect of the level and type of academic research carried out by the British Museum (Natural History); and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceThe day-to-day running of the Natural History museum, and decisions on the museum's research programme, are matters for the director and trustees of the museum.
I understand, however, that the Natural History museum fully intends to continue to undertake a wide range of academic research work, but that it plans to concentrate research effort primarily into important scientific programmes relevant to contemporary needs and issues such as the environment and human health.