HL Deb 23 May 1990 vol 519 cc1014-6WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What over the years, in current values, is their estimate of the sums which have been invested by the tax payer in (a) the Victoria and Albert Museum and (b) the British Museum (Natural History) (including the Geological Museum).

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)

The level of grant-in-aid for running costs since 1979-80 for the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum (including the Geological Museum) is as follows:—

GRANT-IN-AID RUNNING COSTS
£'000 Victoria & Albert Museum Natural History Museum Geological Museum
Actual 1990/91 prices Actual 1990/91 prices Actual 1990/91 prices
1979/80 4.584 9.782 5.725 12.217 0.865 1.845
1980/81 6.040 10.890 7.307 13.174 1.023 1.845
1981/82 6.589 10.819 8.336 13.687 1.124 1.845
1982/83 7.181 11.001 8.880 13.604 1.205 1.845
1983/84 7.86511.506 9.235 13.510 1.261 1.845
1984/85 8.906 12.414 9.541 13.300 1.324 1.845
1985/86 9.525 12.601 11.225 14.850
1986/87 9.878 12.643 11.597 14.844 From 1st April 1985 the Geological Museum was amalgamated with the Natural History Museum
1987/88 10.535 12.800 12.176 14.793
1988/89 10.988 12.460 12.859 14.582
1989/90 11.308 12.043 13.211 14.069
1990/91 13.017 13.017 14.856 14.856

Additionally since the office of Arts and Libraries took over responsibility for the building programmes of both museums in 1988/89, funding allocation for major building work has been as follows:

GRANT-IN-AID BUILDING COSTS
£'000 Victoria & Albert Museum Natural History Museum (including the Geological Museum)
Actual 1990/91 Prices Actual 1990/91 Prices
1988/89 6.891 7.814 5.786 6.561
1989/90 7.524 8.013 5.863 6.244
1990/91 8.755 8.755 7.693 7.693

Prior to this date payment was made by the PSA and figures for individual national museums and galleries are unavailable.