§ Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what method is used by non-charging national museums to count the numbers of their visitors; and what assessment she has made of(a) the accuracy of the method and (b) the auditing of the figures. [7055]
§ Mr. SproatIt is for the trustees of each national museum to determine how to assess the number of visitors, and the different methods used for this purpose by different museums. In the context of the review of museum policy which I am currently undertaking, and given the importance of having accurate figures for visitors, my officials will be writing to each of the national museum and galleries that the Department sponsors asking them what methods they use to count visitors, what arrangements they have for ensuring accuracy of the figures, and how they conduct their audit of figures.